Following the success of the first edition, which brought together more than 3,000 participants, the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) is launching the second edition of Mariona’s Adventure—an educational and science outreach project designed to inspire children and teens to pursue scientific careers and to break gender stereotypes that often discourage girls from entering the world of research.
This year, Mariona is back with three new missions taking place in July, September, and November, culminating in a grand celebration on February 15, 2026, as part of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The event aims to honor scientific talent with a gender perspective.
The first event will be held on Saturday, July 19, at Tibidabo Amusement Park, with a fun and participatory day focused on the digestive system. Through workshops and activities designed by professionals at IR Sant Pau, children and families will learn how the digestive system works and take part in educational experiments and games.
A major highlight of this second edition is that one of the missions will take place at the Barcelona Zoo in September, reflecting the project’s commitment to expanding its locations and reaching new audiences in educational and accessible environments.
All activities are free and open to the public, and will be led by professionals from IR Sant Pau—researchers, healthcare professionals, technicians, and students—who will share their knowledge in a close and engaging way. Children and teens will accompany Mariona, an eight-year-old girl passionate about science, on an adventure filled with challenges related to the human body, health, and biomedical research.
More information is available on the website:
https://www.santpau.cat/es/web/public/mariona-investigadora
The first edition of “Mariona’s Adventure” featured three science-themed family events at the Tibidabo Amusement Park—held on July 20, September 21, and November 24, 2024—where children and families took part in interactive workshops, talks with female researchers, and educational missions to “activate” organs such as the brain, heart, muscles, and blood. All of these activities culminated in a grand finale on February 9, 2025, at Tibidabo, where more than 2,500 people came together to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.
Mariona the Young Researcher is an educational and outreach initiative developed by IR Sant Pau. Mariona is a character who represents an eight-year-old girl passionate about science and medicine. Her goal is to inspire children and teens to explore the world of scientific research. At the age of eight, girls often begin to lose interest in science, due to persistent stereotypes and a lack of role models—something this project aims to address.
Through a series of missions and challenges designed to take place at Tibidabo Amusement Park and the Barcelona Zoo, Mariona encourages children to discover the secrets of the human body. They participate in scientific experiments and learn the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.
The project also highlights the role of women in science, showcasing real examples of female researchers who share their professional and personal experiences to promote gender equality in the field.
IR Sant Pau actively promotes ongoing dialogue with society, in line with its RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation) plan and its goals for Science Education and Public Engagement. As a CERCA center and a Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit accredited by FECYT, its commitment to bringing research closer to society is unwavering. As the only research institute in Catalonia with a cross-cutting gender research program, IR Sant Pau serves as a spokesperson for the latest scientific advances. It emphasizes the importance of gender-focused research and the role of women in science and the future of a more inclusive scientific community.
Second edition activity calendar:
Last update: 08 de July de 2025
