IMDEA Networks, at the European Researchers' Night Madrid 2024

For yet another year, the IMDEA research team came out of the laboratories to publicize the important work they do for the benefit of the public

30 September 2024

Our professor Narseo Vallina Rodríguez participated on September 27th in the fifteenth edition of the European Researchers’ Night at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid together with his colleagues from the IMDEA Institutes. This annual event is coordinated by the Fundación para el Conocimiento madri+d and is part of an action framed within the European program Horizon Europe.

During the activity, the IMDEA Institutes research team spoke about their professional and personal commitment to a more sustainable planet and how science helps to achieve it. In addition, in this colloquium moderated by the directors of IMDEA Software and IMDEA Materials, Manuel Carro and José Manuel Torralba, the public was able to get to know firsthand the group of participating scientists, understanding what led them to dedicate themselves to research and serving as an inspiration to the students present in the room.

In his speech, Narseo explained how he ended up becoming an entrepreneur and how digital progress and human development do not always go hand in hand with environmental protection. He emphasized how research on the Internet, cybersecurity, and digital privacy is essential for a more sustainable, humane, and just planet and society, as it seeks to protect fundamental human rights such as privacy, anonymity, free access to information, avoid discrimination, and guarantee freedom of expression.

Analyzing the development and deployment of technology is fundamental to ensure the protection of our rights. In this way, we can avoid its misuse and abuse, and promote responsible technology that makes us freer, more equal, and also respectful of our planet and our peers. During the question-and-answer session, he stressed the need to use artificial intelligence and tools such as ChatGPT in a cautious manner, while inviting us to train our brains instead of our algorithms.

For its part, IMDEA Food made the audience aware of why it is necessary to take care of the intestinal microbiota through diet and lifestyle to prevent diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Nanoscience also mentioned the research they are doing in the nano world and its application in cancer. Energy discussed how they are driving environmental innovation and Materials talked about the importance of recycling aerospace materials and not just consumer products such as packaging and clothing. IMDEA Water developed the concept of “planetary boundaries” which is very fashionable and focused on water resources and biodiversity. Finally, IMDEA Software focused on “software security and privacy” issues.