During the week of 3 to 16 November 2025, the IMDEA Water Institute completed its outreach programme as part of Science and Innovation Week, one of the most important scientific events of the year in the Community of Madrid, with great participation and enthusiasm.

During these days, the centre offered six free activities designed to bring the general public and students closer to the world of water research. These included workshops, demonstrations and guided tours that showed how the institute’s scientists work every day for sustainable water management.

Some of the highlights:

• A visit to Canal de Isabel II’s Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Urban Drainage Techniques, where attendees were able to see a pioneering rain simulator in action.
• The workshop ‘Exploring the microbial diversity of water’ allowed participants to delve into the invisible world of aquatic microorganisms and understand how their DNA is analysed.
• The session ‘Beyond the visible: emerging contaminants of concern’ invited reflection on the presence of microplastics, pharmaceuticals and other substances in water and their environmental impact.
• The activity ‘Electroactive bacteria for monitoring water quality in remote environments’ demonstrated how certain microorganisms can act as biological sensors.
• There was also a practical experience to isolate and study bacteria from the garden in the workshop ‘Do you know the bacteria in your garden?’, where attendees faced the challenge of analysing bacteria present in irrigation water, soils and crops.

Through these activities, IMDEA Water has not only shared its scientific work with the public, but has also reinforced its commitment to environmental education and the promotion of scientific vocations among young people.