The scientific outreach project Alerta Verde, promoted by the Centre for Research in Technologies, Energy and Industrial Processes (CINTECX) at the University of Vigo and funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), has completed its first edition after bringing science closer to nearly 3,500 people throughout Galicia.
Thousands of kilometres travelled, dozens of schools visited, and participation in several science fairs have made it possible to share experiences with educational and social communities across Galicia. This journey has enabled hundreds of young people to engage with research for the first time, discover the role of engineering in building a more sustainable future, and understand that science is part of the solution to many of the challenges affecting society’s everyday life.
The main pillar of the project was the Alerta Verde Tour, which travelled across the four Galician provinces and trained more than 700 secondary and upper secondary students through an educational video game in which they had to solve a variety of scientific and technological challenges to “save their school.” This initiative was complemented by a hybrid event held at the CINTECX facilities, where more than 134 students explored laboratories and research infrastructures through an escape room experience. The programme also included activities organised during the Open Days of the School of Industrial Engineering and participation in fairs such as Ponteciencia, Val Miñor é Ciencia, A Ciencia que Vén and the Feelant Summit, where scientific posters created by participating students were also exhibited.
The project also went beyond the regional level through its participation in the SciComPt 2026 international conference, helping to raise awareness of the initiative among science communication professionals and audiences from Portugal.
“A breath of fresh air” to spark interest in science
The impact of Alerta Verde goes far beyond the numbers. The combination of gaming, science communication and direct interaction with researchers has made it possible to bring complex concepts closer to participants in an accessible and engaging way.
This is highlighted by Paloma Pérez Fernández, a teacher at IES Castro in Vigo, who describes the initiative as “a breath of fresh air during this academic year.” According to her, the project provided “motivation for students, turning particularly complex subjects into an enjoyable experience that encouraged them to continue expanding their knowledge.”
Alba Giráldez and Lea Melón, research support technicians at CINTECX and coordinators of the Alerta Verde tour across Galicia, share a similar assessment. “Two months on the road without stopping is exhausting, but it also brings the pride of having inspired scientific vocations through the Alerta Verde game,” they explain. For both of them, one of the project’s greatest achievements has been witnessing students’ response first-hand. “Coordinating the Alerta Verde tour across the four Galician provinces was a demanding challenge, but seeing students learn through the video game and the project’s outreach activities made every kilometre worthwhile,” they emphasise.
Inclusive science for barrier-free outreach
Inclusion was one of the project’s cross-cutting priorities. With the aim of bringing research closer to groups that often have fewer opportunities to participate in this type of activity, CINTECX organised specific sessions adapted to different profiles and needs. In this context, twenty-six young people from the Fundación Secretariado Gitano in Vigo and ten users from Down Vigo took part in the on-site experience at the centre’s facilities through activities adapted to their characteristics and levels of knowledge.
The participating organisations expressed a very positive assessment of the experience, highlighting both the interest of the content and the methodology used. Participants particularly appreciated being included in the initiative and emphasised the importance of developing accessible scientific activities for all citizens.
Alerta Verde continues: open resources for ongoing learning
Although the tour has come to an end, Alerta Verde will remain available to the educational community and anyone interested in discovering how science helps address the environmental and energy challenges of the present and the future. The video game developed as part of the project will continue to be accessible through the CINTECX website, allowing new users to keep playing the escape room game and tackle the challenges presented during the initiative.
Alerta Verde was made possible thanks to FECYT’s 2026 Call for Grants to Promote Scientific Culture and Innovation and the Grant for the Structure, Improvement and Support of Research Centres within the Galician University System (CIGUS), co-funded by European Funds under the Galicia ERDF Operational Programme 2021-2027.
