The cloister of the Fonseca Palace was packed during G-Night 2026, an event in which science left the laboratories behind to engage with the public through participatory and hands-on activities. Within this framework, the CRETUS workshops focused on marine environment protection, sustainability, soil recovery and the circular economy, bringing research closer to the public in an accessible, practical and fun way.
Through a cooperative game, participants had to make decisions to protect an estuary and discover how our actions affect the marine environment and the sustainability of activities linked to the blue economy. Other challenges, inspired by video games, addressed the issue of marine litter and encouraged participants to reflect on how small actions and decisions can contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems.
Experimentation also played a leading role in the creation of technosols. Participants were able to work with materials used in research and design solutions to real environmental problems, discovering how science can contribute to the recovery and restoration of degraded soils.
The circular economy brought the workshop journey to a close, showing how waste from fishing activities can be transformed into new value-added materials, such as gelatin and biodegradable bioplastics. Through this activity, participants discovered new ways of making the most of resources and learned about the role of research in finding more sustainable solutions.
In addition, as part of the presentation of the game, and in coordination with the Esculca research group from the Faculty of Education Sciences, a workshop was organised around the game Come San, Come Sostible.
CRETUS would like to thank everyone who took part and, especially, the research team for their commitment to science communication and for sharing their work with such enthusiasm and passion for science.
