29 students discover the world of research at IMDEA Networks through the 4th ESO+Empresa programme

Students took part in hands-on activities to gain first-hand insight into telecommunications, research, and related career paths

26 March 2026

On 25 and 26 March, IMDEA Networks hosted 29 fourth-year secondary school students as part of the Community of Madrid’s 4th ESO+Empresa programme. During this educational visit, the students were able to experience the environment of an international technological research center and discover firsthand how different professional careers linked to science, technology, and management are developed.

The students, from IES Isaac Albéniz, IES Carpe Diem, IES Maestro Matías Bravo and IES Siglo XXI, explored how the institute operates through a programme combining talks, technical visits, and hands-on activities, designed to provide a comprehensive and realistic view of daily life in a research environment.

The first day began with an introduction to the institute’s internal operations by administrative assistant Alex Delgado, who explained how the different areas are coordinated. This was followed by a session led by communications manager Marta Dorado, who highlighted the importance of science communication and its strategic role in making research accessible to society. Students also took their first steps in creating a website using WordPress, as a tool to develop their digital identity or that of a company.

The morning continued with a talk by systems administrator Neftalí González, who explained how ICT infrastructures work. His presentation was complemented by a visit to the NEXTONIC laboratory and the data processing centre (CPD), where students gained practical insight into key concepts such as 5G networks and the use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

On the second day, engineer Daniel Amaro provided an overview of the evolution of communications, from its earliest forms to the present day. This session concluded with a practical activity in which students designed and set up their own network. Researcher Arivarasan Karmegam then introduced the fundamentals of blockchain, also addressing some of its main challenges, such as scalability.

The programme also included a telecommunications-themed escape room designed to reinforce learning in an engaging way. Coordinated by Beatriz Martín, this activity is part of the Teleco Renta project, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation and the European Union–NextGenerationEU through the UNICO-5G R&D programme under Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

As a final activity, the Projects & Funding team introduced participants to research funding through a role-play exercise. Organised into groups and assigned different profiles, they worked on real calls for proposals to develop project ideas, which they later presented to a panel acting as the funding body.

This initiative not only enables students to explore different career paths, but also fosters key skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity, helping to spark interest in science and technology.