10th edition, 6th to 17th July, 2026

Project status: Full!

Supercomputing for Next-Generation City Design
What if we could create a digital twin of the place you live to redesign it for a better future? How can supercomputers and AI accelerate this transformation?

In this project, you will create virtual replicas of your city and redesign them to enhance comfort, sustainability, accessibility, and safety. Throughout the process, we will count on the help of one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world: MareNostrum 5, a state-of-the-art pre-exascale system with a peak performance of 314 petaflops, located at the headquarters of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and serving the international scientific community.

Throughout the project, you will learn:
- How open data plays an important role in scientific development.
- How to search for and manage geographical data from a city you would like to analyse.
- How AI and data analysis (spatial data analysis, machine learning) are used to simulate urban interventions in the city.
- How to visualise the data on an interactive web map of the city.
Join us to explore the exciting world of AI and supercomputing and see how big data and complex simulations can shape the future of cities using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

Learning objectives
- Understand how high-performance computing can accelerate and improve research.
- Apply data analysis to gain insights from large datasets.
- Explore the role of research and technology in the urban decision-making process.
- Recognise the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to tackling the urban challenges of the future.
- Appreciate the importance of data visualisation in urban planning.
- Understand the importance of trustable data sources.
Matching profiles

This project is addressed to students interested in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Architecture and Urban Planning.

Required materials
- Laptop (don’t forget your plug and adaptor)
01/12/2025
Cosmic Rays’ detection: Astrophysics at your fingertips
The participants will have the opportunity to build a muon detector using plastic scintillators and silicon photomultipliers. The students will go through the basics of particle detection and will have the chance to understand what the role of each component in the detector is. They will figure out how we can catch the particles we want to observe and reject those we want to avoid. They will learn about light detection, properties of materials, and readout electronics working hand by hand with IFAE researchers.

Only when we understand how the detector work in detail we can then go out and ask nature about the behavior of cosmic rays. Only then we can think of other applications. Building and understanding detectors are crucial to making experiments with them. And to trigger your imagination.

The detector we are going to build is meant to be portable so that it can be taken outside and see what it can tell us about everyday life. The students will also design and perform experiments to understand the behavior of muons and cosmic rays in the atmosphere.

Come and build your own muon detector and learn how particles interact with matter, how they are created and destroyed in the atmosphere, what is a particle shower, and how particle detectors work. Be an experimental physicist: design your setup, answer your questions, ask new ones.

Learning objectives
- Understand the process of building a detector;
- Understand the uses and knowledge behind the cosmic rays;
- Discover the mysteries that an astrophysicist is trying to solve about cosmic rays;
- Determine the principles of particle detection and their use to detect them.
Matching profiles

Students interested in particle physics or astrophysics. Students willing to spend time in the lab doing experimental work with a clear goal but not a unique path to achieve it. It would be nice to have a working group with a wide range of skills & interests: some with computing skills, some with experimental & electronic interests, some more inclined to theory. Knowing how to work in a group is a must.

Required materials

A laptop would help but it is not required.
30/11/2024
Broadening Medical Expertise: from the clinic to the lab bench and back
Medicine is a pillar of wellness and health, and research is critical to meeting health challenges and improving health care. In this project, participants with an interest in science, medicine and healthcare will be involved in an active learning environment in a realistic, dynamic medical experience within the Hospital and with opportunities to participate in simulations.

For two weeks they will have the opportunity to discover the work in a University Hospital and learn about the challenges faced and the research developed in the different specialized Institutes/Centers of the Hospital Clínic. In small groups, students will have the opportunity to delve into some of these areas of medical specialization of their interest and, together with expert physicians and researchers, understand how a given clinical problem triggers specific research.

Students will attend lectures, learn and practice clinical and research skills, and explore healthcare careers with various medical professionals from different Institutes/Centers at Hospital Clinic.

We expect students to learn about the basics about diagnostics and treatment, working alongside physicians, nurses, and medical students in specialized small groups. Clinical activities will be complemented with training in a translational research environment in IDIBAPS and with an experience at the medical simulation laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona.

Finally, students will be able to investigate future career opportunities by being introduced to the network of Campus Clinic-affiliated healthcare professionals, and participate in engaging careers conversations to learn about their specialties and career paths as they relate some of their most memorable patient cases.

Last but not least, the experience intends the students to learn and practice critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills that will help them prepare for college, work, and life!

Learning objectives

Participants will have the opportunity to work and learn with the goal to:
- Be exposed to the complexity of clinical practice of excellence
- Understand how to address clinical unknowns through research.
- Be acquainted with the methods currently used in basic biomedical research.
- See how a clinical simulation laboratory can help in medical education.
Matching profiles

This project is addressed to students interested in Health sciences, Biomedicine or Biology.

Required materials

Laptop
12/11/2024
Innovation in Photochemistry and Drug Synthesis: Shaping a Sustainable Future
Understanding nature and its mechanisms at a fundamental level provides us with knowledge and tools that can be used to face global issues. In this regard, chemistry plays a crucial role, together with other fields of science and technology, in the design and preparation of new appealing materials with relevant applications in the field of sustainable energy, industry and medicine. Our research project intends to show how research in chemistry is performed and how it impacts society. You will have the opportunity to delve into three of the most relevant topics in chemical research:
- Medicinal Chemistry: Have you ever wondered how a drug is created? How is the active principle synthesized? Which tests should a medicine pass before being commercialized? These topics and more will be discussed in this section. Furthermore, the concept of synthetic chemistry will be introduced and the students will be able to synthesize, purify and characterize their own medicaments in the laboratory.
- Renewable Energies: One of our priorities as a species is to transition towards a more sustainable system to obtain the energy that we consume. Renewable energies stand as a promising alternative to the current fossil fuel-based system, but they present drawbacks such as intermittency, capacity or difficulty to storage. One of the approaches to overcome these limitations is the use of green hydrogen as an energetic vector. In this section, you will enter the fields of photo and electrochemistry in the context of hydrogen production. You will build your own electrolyzers by preparing the electrodes based on Nickel foam adorned with metallic oxides (NiOx, NiFeOx, CoOx or MnOx). A visit to a medium size electrolyzer is also planned. Finally, you will be able to understand the physical and chemical principles behind the solar cells and prepare Grätzel cells which will be used to produce green hydrogen using the electrolyzer previously created.
- Quantum Dots: To celebrate the recent laureation of quantum dots with the Nobel Prize in chemistry (2023), we dedicate a section of the program to this topic. In this part, you will learn about the quantum physics behind these nanomaterials and will synthesize different samples to observe their optical properties. With this project, we aim to boost your enthusiasm for science and research in a multidisciplinary environment. We want to consolidate and expand your knowledge in chemistry through direct contact with experimentation, as well as to introduce novel technologies and methods within the field.
Learning objectives
- To discover photo and electro and synthetic chemistry.
- To explore material science and quantum physics.
- To learn about automation, research methodologies in experimental chemistry.
- To familiarize with how to work in a laboratory.
- To introduce to green and sustainable chemistry.
Matching profiles

This project is addressed to students interested in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Nanomaterials

Required materials

Laptop, Lab coat
12/11/2024
The Neurobiology of trauma: effects on behavior and brain function
From the whole population, almost 70% of adults will suffer a highly stressful experience at least once in their lives. Stress and trauma are everywhere around us affecting our body, our brain, and our emotions. Despite being considered something negative, stress is an important reaction of our body that allows us to face real-life challenges and threats in order to keep us alive. Researchers and doctors are very interested in studying the mechanisms that regulate the stress response because their dysfunction results in damaging consequences for our health may trigger the appearance of mental disorders. One example is Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a very common mental disorder that may appear in some vulnerable individuals after experiencing a highly stressful event. People living with this disorder have disabling symptoms related to a deficient detection and management of threats in the environment, they also have strong and recurrent memories about their traumatic experience and some of them present considerable changes in their behavior that keep them hyper-alert and ready to avoid any cue related to their trauma. Importantly, these disorders are much more common in women compared to men and scientists still don’t understand why this is happening. Our research group is interested in knowing which neurobiological factors are making women and females more vulnerable to the effects of trauma and this time we are inviting you to join us in this journey.

In this project, students will work hand in hand with neuroscientists that use animal models to understand how stress affects behavior and brain function. They will acquire competencies to observe and analyze different kinds of behavioral tests that evaluate the levels of anxiety, exploration, memory, and social interaction, among others. They will explore how sex hormones interact with stress and try to rescue these negative alterations of behavior by using different pharmacological approaches shortly after trauma. Additionally, they will be able to evaluate the expression of crucial biomarkers of stress using biomolecular techniques. Using immunodetection assays, brain structures will be explored at a neuronal level, trying to identify which areas are the ones affected by stress.

During this project, students will learn about the impact of stress on the brain and gain the ability to make their own future hypotheses. They will use state-of-the-art techniques widely used in Neuroscience and collaborate with scientists in their day-to-day. Also, they will acquire data processing and analysis skills which are crucial for any modern scientist. We expect students to be highly motivated to learn about brain function and how it processes stressors. With their work, they will contribute to the understanding of brain function and stress processing, specifically in females.

Learning objectives
- To study brain’s responses to an acute stressor
- To learn about several laboratory techniques, such as molecular biology and histology
- To analyze behavioral data
- To interpret the results
Matching profiles
- Motivated by science and research
- Highly enthusiastic and collaborative
- Basic background in biology is recommended
Required materials
- Lab coat
- Personal laptop
12/11/2024
Heart Science 360º: Clinical Practice, Translational Research, and Data Innovation
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Managing complex cardiac patients requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines cutting-edge clinical care, translational research, and data-driven innovation.

This program offers BIYSC students a 360º immersive experience into the world of cardiovascular medicine and science. Participants will explore the continuum of cardiovascular care—from acute critical management to long-term strategies—while engaging in simulation-based learning, hands-on research activities, and data science applications to solve real-world health challenges.

In this project, students will deepen their understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical management of complex cardiovascular patients. They will gain hands-on experience through medical simulations and direct exposure to high-complexity clinical environments, developing practical skills essential for advanced patient care. Participants will also learn the fundamentals of translational research and its critical role in improving patient outcomes, while exploring how data science and bioinformatics can drive innovation in cardiovascular health.

Methodology & Activities
- Simulation Labs: Hands-on training in managing cardiac emergencies using advanced simulators.
- Clinical Rotations: Guided visits to critical care units, cardiac surgery, and interventional cardiology labs.
- Research Modules: Introduction to molecular biology, biomarkers, and translational projects at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL).
- Data Science Sessions: Learn how big data and AI are transforming cardiovascular medicine.
- Team Challenge: Students will work on a mini-project integrating clinical and research insights to propose innovative solutions for cardiovascular care.
Learning objectives
- Acquire a holistic understanding of cardiovascular disease management
- Develop practical skills in simulation-based medicine.
- Gain exposure to real-world research environments and learn how science translates into clinical practice.
- Understand the role of data-driven innovation in shaping the future of healthcare.
Matching profiles

This project is designed for high school students interested in Medicine, Health Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, or Data Science, and who are eager to explore clinical practice, medical research, and innovative approaches to cardiovascular health.

Required materials

Laptop
12/11/2024