More than a hundred students from IES del Castro from Vigo visited the facilities of our center. Throughout the morning, the girls and boys learned from the research staff about different laboratories and projects that are being carried out by research groups related to industrial engineering, mining and energy engineering.
With visual and practical activities, the students approached, for example, the field of biomedical engineering and biomaterials and their contributions to improving the quality of life of society. The boys and girls also analyzed the use of marine resources for biotechnological and environmental purposes and hah practical experiences on issues related to chemical combustion reactions. They were algo able to carry out basic test with real samples on the behavior of the rock mass in the rock mechanics laboratory and tested the methods used for the evaluation of any cultural heritage conservation treatment such as graffiti.
Young people are living with concern the current situation regarding climate change, so we wanted to show the how the technology resulting from research in the industrial, energy and process areas can help in one of the greatest challenges we face as a society, as it is to solve, or at least reduce, the effects of industrialization on the environment.
‘IES do Castro from Vigo ’ – 2019
Activities
Biomedical engineering. Biomaterials.
Biomedical engineering provides solutions to many current clinical problems and contributes to improving the quality of life of society.
In this activity it is offered a vision of the contribution of engineering to the field of health, showing a range of medical devices, such as protheses, implants, stents, pacemakers and biomaterials.
BIOSUV – Use of marine resources for biotechnological and environmental purposes.
This activity is focused on analyzing the use of marine resources for biotechnological and/or environmental purposes.
Combustion
The fundamental objective of this experience is to strengthen the acquisition of certain basic knowledge related to chemical combustion reactions. The way to achieve this goal is to carry out practical experiences that are visually attractive in such a way that they arouse the interest of the students.
Examples: Bunsen burner practice, Whoosh bottle. Color Flames and Smite Tornado, among others.
In search of the exploitation of sustainable energy resources
Rock mechanics allows quantifying properties such as compressive strength, traction, permeability, etc. that will be used in different practical applications, for example, proposing the best extraction techniques, establishing the behavior of the rock mass and/or performing simulations with different scenarios, which will lead to determining the stability of a mine or work. In turn, the causes of past events, such as slope falls, tunnels, etc., can also be clarified.
In this activity, attendees will learn how a rock mechanics laboratory works and perform basic tests on real samples. They will know the importance of rock mechanics in technological development.
Preserving the built heritage
The conservation of built heritage involves the use of several types of materials: rocks, paints, consolidating products, etc. In this activity, attendees will be able to learn the ins and outs of a laboratory focused on evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning and conservation procedures used, on the one hand, in heritage rocks and, on the other, in mural paintings belonging to urban art or street art.
The methodology used to evaluate any conservation treatment will be presented and attendees will be able to use laboratory equipment such as binocular loupes, spectrophotometers, etc..
Images of the activity
