The Science Wagon sets off on its journey with a first edition dedicated to mental health
The Catalan Minister of Territory, Ester Capella, the rector of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Javier Lafuente, and the president of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), Toni Segarra, presented the Science Wagon on Thursday 21 September. This is a proposal of scientific dissemination on wheels promoted by the UAB with the collaboration of FGC, which has the support of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and which, in this first edition, is dedicated to mental health.
The carriage, which is part of a train on the Barcelona-Vallès line, offers users the chance to learn about the results of research and improve the scientific and technical education of society through different formats and themes, and becomes a laboratory for exploring different ways of disseminating information. Fifty-six researchers from eleven UAB departments, the Institute of Neurosciences (INc-UAB) and the Computer Vision Centre (CVC), as well as from the Vall d’Hebron and Parc Taulí hospitals took part in the first edition.
To differentiate it, the outside of the wagon has been covered with a vinyl with the name of the project. Inside, users will find information and illustrations related to mental health that can be expanded in audio format using QR codes. These contents include a dozen audio guides, which deal with transversal aspects such as stigmas, causes, rights or care, and “El pòdcast del vagó”, a podcast with 19 chapters, available on the wagon’s website and on the Spotify and Ivoox platforms, with interviews with researchers on aspects such as addictions, emotions, physical activity or suicide prevention.
The Science Wagon also incorporates the “Expert’s Seat”, an initiative that seeks to encourage interaction with users and in which a researcher will periodically occupy a seat in the wagon marked out for the activity and will make the train journey between Plaça de Catalunya and the UAB to answer questions, exchange experiences and maintain a dialogue about their field of knowledge. In addition, a suggestion box will allow users to contribute ideas for possible future research.