SMART4ENV Science Café at UVIC-UCC, Spain
The Science Café was held on 9 April 2026 in Vic (Spain) organised by UVic-UCC. It was designed as an informal, participatory engagement activity to foster dialogue on climate change challenges in the Mediterranean basin.
The session brought together perspectives from Türkiye, Egypt, and Spain, creating an open and accessible space to discuss current challenges, share research insights, and reflect on practical experiences beyond a purely academic setting. It aimed to discuss both the evolving climate context in these regions and the practical relevance of the technologies and approaches presented during the preceding technical visits and training sessions, particularly in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Building on these inputs, the Science Café encouraged participants to move beyond technical understanding and consider how such solutions operate in real-world contexts, including wastewater treatment, environmental monitoring, and circular bioeconomy applications. Particular attention was given to issues of implementation, transferability across regions, and the interaction between technological innovation and decision-making processes.
Participants included senior and junior researchers and mobility fellows with diverse expertise:
- Senior researcher — Environmental Engineering
- Postdoctoral researcher — Environmental Science and Technology, Engineering, and Analytical Chemistry
- Specialist — Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Researcher — Agrobiology
- Research technician — Environmental Technologies
- Researcher — Science for Diplomacy and Cooperation
By moving beyond formal presentations, the Science Café enabled participants to reflect on the societal relevance of research, strengthening the link between science, policy, and real-world application.
The event represents another important step in SMART4ENV’s mission to enhance scientific capacity and promote collaborative, impact-driven solutions for climate challenges across Europe and beyond.
