Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) is participating once again in Madrid Science and Innovation Week 2026, hosting a total of 72 scientific outreach activities, up from 61 in the previous edition. The event takes place from November 16 to 29 across its campuses in Colmenarejo, Getafe, Leganés, Madrid-Puerta de Toledo, and the C3N-IA Science Park, as well as at partnering venues and institutions throughout the Region of Madrid.
The event aims to bring R&D+i closer to diverse audiences and regions, engaging citizens as well as secondary school, baccalaureate, and vocational training students in scientific, technological, and innovation topics. The activities, which offer free registration via the event website, feature courses, workshops, panel discussions, lectures, guided tours, educational itineraries, open houses, murder mystery games, and escape rooms addressing subjects such as artificial intelligence, energy and sustainability, robotics, cybersecurity, cryptography, cultural heritage, and space exploration, among others.
Key highlight themes for this edition include Spain’s 40th anniversary in the European Union—with in-person and online activities exploring the evolution of journalism and AI in Europe, social media discourse surrounding the European community, and how the EU influences daily life—and mental health, featuring an online course on emotional management and a lecture aimed at breaking the stigma around researchers' mental health and dispelling the "mad scientist" myth.
In terms of accessibility, a standout event is the hackathon on November 20 at the Leganés campus, designed to teach people with disabilities how to program an AI system that can serve as an academic tutor. Other novel offerings include the concert "Jazz Meets Science" on November 27 at the Madrid-Puerta de Toledo campus, as well as the family storytelling session "Reading to Understand" on November 25. Additionally, an interactive murder mystery game titled "The Death Algorithm: Find the Killer!" will take place on November 18 in Leganés and November 26 in Colmenarejo.
UC3M offers scheduled activities from Monday to Sunday across almost all times of day, presenting innovative formats such as space photography workshops, light painting, ancient coin minting, and the use of technology to optimize athletic performance.
For secondary, baccalaureate, and vocational school students, UC3M has planned numerous dedicated activities, notably the "Science Pills for Secondary Education: UC3M Research Micro-Talks," along with courses in microrobotics, nest box construction workshops, and several themed escape rooms.
This year's activities will also extend to other research facilities across the region spanning various fields of knowledge, including the Royal Collections Gallery, the Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain, the National Archaeological Museum, the Pantheon of Spain, and Banco Santander headquarters, as well as municipal venues in towns such as Arganda del Rey, Collado Villalba, Colmenarejo, and Pedrezuela, among others.
Madrid Science and Innovation Week is organized by the Regional Government of Madrid through the madri+d Knowledge Foundation. UC3M participates through the Science and Innovation Information and Outreach Office (OIDCI), under the Vice-Rectorate for Communication, Culture, and Transparency, supported by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.
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