The Science Museum of the University of Navarra has organised StudIAS, a nationalcongress for secondary school students on invasive alien species. The aim of this event, which will take place from 31st May to 3rd June at the University of Navarra's campus , is to raise awareness among the younger generations of the impact that these species have on ecosystems.

"The goal of this congress is to offer a tool professor and a point of meeting among ESO students, as well as to promote the knowledge and awareness of Invasive Alien Species in the Iberian Peninsula", explains Rafael Miranda, director of the congress and researcher of the Biodiversity and Environment Institute of the University of Navarra.

The participating teams, which will consist of a maximum of three students and a teacher, will present a project related to the impact caused by invasive alien species. The works will be evaluated by a scientific committee on the basis of their scientific rigour, interest and creativity.

The first award consists of a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to a National Park, to be chosen from the following options: Islas Atlánticas de Galicia and the natural park of Dunas de Corrubedo and the lagoons of Carregal and Vixán; Tablas de Daimiel and the lagoons of Ruidera and the motilla de Azuer; and Ordesa y Monte Perdido and the Natural Park of Sierra y Cañones de Guara. The winning team will be accompanied by a scientific expert who will be guide, showing the most outstanding aspects of the fauna and flora of the National Park. The second prize award is a field kit for the observation of the fauna and flora, and the third prize award is a set of products from School of Sciences of the University of Navarra.

A programme of activities from knowledge dissemination of Science

StudIAS 2022 kicks off on Tuesday 31 May at the auditorium del Sciences Building of the University of Navarra with an inaugural lecture at 16:30 hours at position by Rosa Porcel, researcher at the Universitat Politècnica de València and science communicator. At 18:30 the winning film of the III edition of #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival.

On Wednesday, June 1 at 9:00 a.m., Ignacio López-Goñi, Full Professor of Microbiology at the University of Navarra and scientific disseminator, will give the inaugural lecture lecture entitled: "Invasive microorganisms". From 10:00 a.m. until lunchtime, the oral communications of the congress participants will take place. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a census of fish in the river, an open-air activity guided by researcher Rafael Miranda.

On Thursday June 2 at 9:00 am will be held the masterful lecture "Invaders with a lot of Chemistry", to position José Ramón Isasi, Full Professor of department of Chemistry of the University of Navarra and researcher of Biodiversity and Environment Institute. This will be followed by oral communications and at 17:30, Enrique Baquero, zoologist and researcher of Biodiversity and Environment Institute, will guide the attendees on an urban safari through Pamplona, to learn about the different species that inhabit the city.

And on Friday 3 June from 10:00 a.m., participants will visit the Señorío de Bértiz Natural Park (Navarre) with scientists who will explain the research projects being carried out in the park.

StudIAS is a congress for students on knowledge dissemination of invasive alien species organized by the Science Museum of the University of Navarra at partnership with the Biodiversity and Environment Institute of the academic center, in the framework of the actions developed in the LIFE Invasaqua program. 

Life Invasaqua is a European project on invasive alien species in freshwater and estuarine systems, a governance and communication project co-funded by the European Union to advance awareness and training on IAS in Spain and Portugal.