The University of Navarra reinforces its commitment to public health through INS-DIVULGA

The University of Navarra, through its Institute of Nutrition and Health (INS), has launched INS-DIVULGA, an initiative aimed at promoting knowledge dissemination projects capable of transferring knowledge to society and generating a real impact on public health.

The call for entries, now in its first edition, "was created with the aim of transforming research nutrition and health into transformative educational initiatives aimed at different audiences and capable of improving knowledge, attitudes, and habits," says José Manuel Moreno, director INS.

In this 25/26 edition, three projects have been selected that focus on priority areas for the Institute, such as sports nutrition in adolescents, Education in childhood, and the promotion and support of breastfeeding. All initiatives share a approach based on scientific evidence, active participation, and the measurement of their impact.

Science versus misinformation in adolescents

One of the projects will focus on the relationship between diet and sports in Education and high school diploma students, an age group that is particularly exposed to inaccurate messages on social media.

The project "Food Week: Nutrition and Sport," led by Marta Cuervo, professor at the School Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Navarra, offers an educational experience for schoolchildren that combines informative content, practical workshops, and roundtable discussions with professionals and athletes.

"Teenagers constantly receive information about nutrition and athletic performance, but it is not always backed by scientific evidence. Our goal to offer solid criteria that allow them to make informed decisions about their health," he explains.

This initiative seeks to encourage critical thinking and bring young people closer to the university and professional world of nutrition.

Education from childhood

Another of the selected projects will be developed in intermediate Education courses, with the goal reinforcing nutritional literacy from an early age. The proposal, "Eat Well, Live Better," will integrate teaching resources and practical activities aimed at transferring learning to the family environment. "Learning about nutrition is not about memorizing concepts, but about acquiring skills that can be applied in everyday life," says Nerea Martín Calvo, pediatrician and professor at the School Medicineand coordinator of project.

The program will address core topic building a balanced meal, reading labels, and identifying hidden sugar in foods, and will incorporate assessment tools assessment measure its impact.

Support for breastfeeding based on evidence

The third project will be developed within the framework European Breastfeeding Week 2026 and will be aimed at the university community, healthcare professionals, and interested members of the public.

The initiative will combine training , awareness-raising activities, and opportunities for dialogue to strengthen a culture of support for breastfeeding based on scientific evidence. "Breastfeeding is not just an individual decision, but also a social issue that requires informed and supportive environments," emphasizes Maider Belintxon, professor at the School Nursingand project coordinator.

The NS-DIVULGA 25/26 call for proposals has prioritized proposals with the capacity to generate active participation, measure results, and consolidate over time. With this, the University of Navarra reinforces its commitment to knowledge dissemination that seeks to inform and actively contribute to improving public health. The details of each initiative will be announced in the months prior to its implementation, with the goal facilitating the participation of the target audiences.