The Marine Research Centre (CIM) of the University of Vigo will hold its open days from 6 to 8 November, featuring a programme designed to engage the public with marine research through laboratory visits, experimental activities, and scientific tours of the Ría de Vigo. Over three days, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the research conducted by the centre's teams, the scientific resources available, and their contributions to marine ecosystem knowledge and conservation.
This year's event coincides with two significant anniversaries: the 10th anniversary of the CIM and the 20th anniversary of the Toralla Marine Science Station (Ecimat). To commemorate these milestones, the centre has expanded its programme to include laboratory visits at the campuses in Vigo and Ourense, and for the first time, a scientific outreach expedition to the Cíes Islands, in collaboration with the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park.
While registration is required for most activities, the scientific fair at A Laxe will be open to all. The visit to the Cíes Islands will cost 8 euros per person. Through this initiative, the CIM aims to bridge the gap between research and society, promoting ocean literacy and demonstrating how scientific work contributes to understanding marine ecosystems, environmental changes, and challenges related to ocean conservation and sustainable management.
Programme of activities
Activities will commence on Friday 6 November with the opening of CIM laboratories at the Vigo and Ourense campuses. In Vigo, visitors can explore scientific facilities and learn about research related to ecology, biology, geology, zoology, chemistry, and marine resource management. Researchers will explain their ongoing projects and invite the public to participate in experiments and hands-on activities to discover the application of the scientific method. Visits will take place in three time slots at 10:00, 10:30, and 11:00, each lasting two and a half hours.
In Ourense, the EPhysLab research group will open its laboratories to showcase the techniques and tools used to study physical processes related to the environment and climate. The CIM's main research infrastructure, the Toralla Marine Science Station, will also be open to demonstrate its scientific equipment and services that facilitate experimental research at sea. Attendees will learn about the operation of various spaces and the work required to keep scientific facilities functional, as well as some of the experiments and projects conducted at the station. Visits on Friday will be organised in two time slots, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 12:30 to 14:30.
On the same day, from 17:00 to 20:30, science will engage with the public at the A Laxe shopping centre through the scientific fair 'Get to Know CIM on the Street'. The fair will feature workshops and scientific games for families, addressing marine trophic relationships through a microbial Jenga game, jellyfish feeding, water chemistry, and contaminant detection. Among the activities is AquaMission, a large-scale board game focused on sustainable aquaculture research, along with species identification and aquatic ecosystem conservation activities. The fair will also include a virtual escape room based on the CIM's scientific mural, the Port Authority of Vigo, and Campus del Mar, aimed at making ocean research accessible via mobile devices.
The Friday programme will also feature guided tours of the Nautilus at the Port of Vigo, which boasts a 19-metre-long underwater window. Between 16:00 and 18:00, CIM researchers will showcase the biodiversity residing beneath the port's waters and explain how biomimetic structures developed by the centre help create habitats and support marine organisms in port infrastructures. This activity requires prior registration.
Marine research in the Ría de Vigo
On Saturday 7 November, the CIM will offer two simultaneous initiatives to introduce the public to various aspects of marine research. The Ecimat will continue its open days, allowing visitors to tour the facilities, learn about the scientific projects underway, and participate in practical activities with researchers and technicians. Visits will be organised in six time slots, with departures at 09:30, 09:45, 10:00, 12:30, 12:45, and 13:00, each lasting two hours.
Simultaneously, one of the activities returning from previous editions, 'Embark with CIM on a Campaign!', will take place aboard the Nautilus training ship. Two trips through the Ría de Vigo are scheduled from 09:00 to 11:30 and from 12:00 to 14:30. During these excursions, CIM staff will accompany participants to various scientific points of interest and sampling stations in the estuary, explaining ongoing projects, demonstrating oceanographic sampling techniques, and sharing how data is collected to study biodiversity, environmental characteristics, and the functioning of coastal ecosystems.
Expedition to the Cíes Islands
The highlight of this edition will be a scientific outreach expedition to the Cíes Islands on Sunday 8 November, organised in collaboration with the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. This initiative will offer a unique perspective on this protected area, focusing on the study of its ecosystems and the natural processes that shape them. The visit, scheduled from 09:00 to 14:00 and costing 8 euros per person, will be guided by park staff and CIM researchers, who will lead participants in exploring the islands' geology, ecosystems, and marine biodiversity.
