First activity of IMDEA Water in the Science Week 2016.

On November 8, the activity " Electricity-producing bacteria: an old and new form of energy ", which has been organized by the researchers of Bioelectrogenesis Group of IMDEA Water on the occasion of the Science Week 2016, was held at IMDEA Water's facilities.

This 2-hour activity was attended by 38 students from 3rd year of ESO, who discovered a type of renewable energy based on the metabolism of microorganisms from natural environments and the different applications of this energy.

The activity began with an introductory speech, in which our researchers explained basic concepts of water, such as the origin of the water consumed in Spain and the number of liters consumed by each person per day, what wastewater is and how measure and treat the pollution of the wastewater. The students were also introduced in microbial electrochemical techniques, they learned what these techniques are and how can be applied to treat wastewater.

After the theoretical explanation of these concepts, 4 sub-workshops were developed to apply them in a laboratory. The workshops were divided into:

1. Artificial wetlands. In this workshop, an aquarium was used to recreate a wetland and its ecosystems.

2. MET (Microbial Electrochemical Technologies). Explanation of microbial electrochemical techniques, use of electrochemical instrumentation and its parts.

3. Microscopy. In this workshop the students were able to observe different bacteria through microscopes in the Microbiology Lab of IMDEA Water.

4. Water analysis. Explanation of the water analysis techniques through kits. They explained in the laboratoty how to analyze pH, nitrates, phosphates and water turbidity.

This activity has been conducted in collaboration with the University of Alcala and Nanoelectra.