The first edition of Ciència Radical comes to an end

Barcelona, June 18, 2025 –

Science helps us understand the world; the humanities give it meaning; and art allows us to feel it. Though they are often presented as separate realms, these three pillars of human knowledge are deeply interconnected. Science reveals the laws that govern the universe, but it is through the humanities that we interpret their ethical and social implications, while art translates this knowledge into emotion and beauty, making the invisible visible.

When art meets science, it captures its depth and transforms it into a unique experience, bridging the rational and the emotional. Meanwhile, the humanities encourage us to reflect on scientific discoveries and to ask not only how, but also why, and for what purpose. Therefore, uniting science, humanities, and art is essential to addressing the complex challenges of our lives and the world around us with intelligence, sensitivity, and creativity.

To bring these concepts together, in early 2025 the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) launched the “Radical Science” program, its scientific culture initiative. This program was made possible thanks to the collaboration of ICFO, the ALBA Synchrotron, IBEC, IFAE, and the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia. “Radical Science” emerged from the research strategy funded by the Complementary Plans, coordinated in Catalonia through ICFO, ALBA Synchrotron, IBEC, and IFAE.

This week, after a series of science talks with leading researchers and student events, the program concluded with a visual journey to the frontier of knowledge: a video created by Hamill Industries with original music by Maria Arnal. This audiovisual piece invited the audience to experience artistic interpretations of science, traveling from the macroscopic universe to subatomic realms, blending real experiments with in-camera effects inspired by the main research topics explored through visits to the participating research centers.

As the guest speaker, Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science at Harvard, gave a lecture on the role of scientific knowledge in an age of disinformation and anti-scientific trends. She discussed how science has historically faced institutional conflicts and emphasized that science is not about opinions, but about evidence — claims that can be tested and reviewed by peers, offering a truthful view of the world based on scientific data. The session was introduced and moderated by physicist, writer, and debate curator Toni Pou.

Presentation of the poetry collection “Magmes”

The closing event also featured the launch of the poetry book "Magmes: Four Poetics of Radical Science", published by Godall Edicions. This volume gathers poems from a poetic residency involving Anna Aguilar-Amat, Lluís Calvo, Mireia Casanyes, and Pol Vouillamoz, who were linked to the project's research centers. The poetry residency was curated by scientist and poet Joan Duran.

At ICFO, poet Pol Vouillamoz was hosted for his residency. Over several months, he met with ICFO researchers to learn about the cutting-edge science conducted by various research groups at the institute: Prof. Dr. Carmen Rubio-Verdú, Dr. Lorenzo Rossi, Dr. Hippolyte Dourdent, Dr. Andreas Leitherer, and Francesco Flora.

His experience at ICFO was profoundly enriching both personally and professionally. The collaboration with scientists enabled a fluent and meaningful dialogue between two different ways of exploring the world: art and science. So much so that the poet dedicated the following words to ICFO in his book: “What struck me most during my stay at ICFO was learning that to fully understand light means, in some way, to give up seeing it,” capturing the beauty of the mystery of light and the particles that compose it.

Radical Science Program

The program began on January 20, 2025, with the inaugural session “Pioneering Science in Catalonia,” where the directors of four internationally renowned research centers —ICFO, ALBA Synchrotron, IBEC, and IFAE— presented today’s most strategic frontier research, reflecting on its impact on knowledge and society.

The project included a program of debates for the general public and schools on the research that will change the world, featuring speakers such as Ignacio Cirac, Anna Fontcuberta, Mar Reguant, Salvador Macip, Didier Queloz, among others.

We are pleased to have contributed to this initiative, which strengthens the connection between research and society.

“Radical Science” is a cultural project born from the research strategy funded by the Complementary Plans, coordinated in Catalonia through ICFO, the ALBA Synchrotron, IBEC, and IFAE.