On 10 December, we welcomed students from IES Antonio Gala and IES Miguel Delibes as part of the Community of Madrid’s new programme ¿Será mi vocación?, an initiative designed to bring young people closer to the professional world and help them discover potential career paths.

The day began with a welcome and introduction to IMDEA Materials, delivered by Sergio Peña, followed by an introductory talk by Raúl De Armas, who spoke to the students about quantum science and technology, highlighting how these advances open up new opportunities in research and technological development.

The students then took part in a tour of several of our laboratories, where they were able to learn first-hand about the different research lines developed at IMDEA Materials. During the visit, they toured the flame-retardant materials laboratory with Nerea Rodríguez and learned about materials for energy storage applications from Ana Inés de Isidro Gómez.

Finally, Ángela García de la Camacha presented the potential of 3D printing for biomedical applications, focusing on the use of additive manufacturing in the healthcare field.

The visit concluded with a final talk and a dynamic closing activity led by Blanca Limones and Dr Mónica Echeverry, who shared their professional experiences and research careers, offering students a close and inspiring insight into the scientific pathway.

Initiatives such as this reinforce IMDEA Materials’ commitment to science outreach, education and the promotion of research vocations, bringing science and technology closer to new generations.

Our thanks to the participating schools and to all the staff at IMDEA Materials who made this activity possible.