Pontenciencia closes 13th edition with awards for local student science projects

School science fairs can feel like poster-board theater. Pontenciencia is trying to do something a little more ambitious. In Pontevedra this weekend, the 13th edition closed with awards for projects built over months of workshops, school research, and family experiments — not just one-day presentations. That matters because the whole point here is to make science feel like a method people can use, not a subject they memorize. ### What actually happened in Pontevedra? The fair wrapped up on Saturday, May 9, at the Escola de Forestais on the university campus, where Pontenciencia handed out prizes across three tracks: primary-school projects, family science, and older student research. The event ran on May 8 and 9 and served as the public finale for the program’s 2026 edition. (diariodepontevedra.es) ### Who won the main school prizes? In the “Ciencia no cole” category, the top Marie Curie prize went to CEE de Pontevedra for “Sonríe sin azúcar,” a project about sugar. Second place went to CEIP de Ponte Sampaio for “Carreira de podremia,” and third went to CEIP A Xunqueira 2 for “Alfonso X o Sabio influencer do século XIII.” Even that mix tells you what Pontenciencia is about — health, biology, history, language, and science communication all count if the work follows an investigative method. (diariodepontevedra.es) ### What stood out in the family category? The first family prize went to the González Dacal and Couñago Bugueiro families for “Se o vapeo afecta a unha semente ou un ovo, que me fai a min?” That’s basically a kid-scaled public-health question turned into an experiment. Second place went to the Dalama Ave family for “Océanos en cambio: como afecta a acidificación ao crecemento dos moluscos bivalvos,” and third to the Said Valcarce family for “Os limpadores da ría.” (lavozdegalicia.es) ### Why does the ocean-acidification project matter? Because it connects a global climate problem to a very local economy. Ocean acidification changes seawater chemistry and can make life harder for shell-forming animals like bivalves. Galicia’s coast is deeply tied to shellfish and marine ecosystems, so a family project on how acidification affects mollusk growth is not some abstract classroom topic — it points straight at the region’s environment and food system. (lavozdegalicia.es) ### How big was this year’s event? Pretty big for a city education program. Pontenciencia brought together about 350 students from 13 schools and institutes, after 43 workshops held beforehand in participating centers. The final fair combined more than 27 investigations with over 20 outreach activities, including public workshops and even solar observation. That scale is the real story — the awards are the visible end of a much longer pipeline. (oceanacidification.noaa.gov) ### Who is behind Pontenciencia? The program is organized by Pontevedra’s education department with funding from FECYT, the Spanish science foundation tied to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. It also leans on university and CSIC researchers, including staff from the Oceanographic Center of Vigo and the Misión Biolóxica de Galicia, who serve on scientific committees. So this is local government, schools, and research institutions all pulling in the same direction. (diariodepontevedra.es) ### Why give out so many different prizes? Because the fair is rewarding different kinds of scientific habit. There are prizes for younger pupils, families, and older students, plus sponsored research awards and a marine-science distinction backed by the Oceanographic Center of Vigo. That setup tells students that science is not one narrow lane — it can mean testing fertilizers, measuring body statistics, studying hydrangea color and pH, or thinking about future vehicles and bioplastics. (educacion.pontevedra.gal) ### So what’s the point of all this? Basically, Pontenciencia is trying to normalize research early. Not “science” as prestige, but science as curiosity with structure. When 350 students spend months building questions, collecting observations, and defending results in public, the city gets more than a fair — it gets a small culture of investigation. (educacion.pontevedra.gal) (lavozdegalicia.es)