"Let children get closer to science": the ETSi promotes STEM vocations from an early age

Last Friday, May 30, 2025, the CEIP Santiago Ramón y Cajal school in Puente Genil, Córdoba, had the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable experience thanks to a visit to the Higher Technical School of Engineering (ETSi) at the University of Seville. This activity is part of the ETSi's commitment to introducing science and engineering to younger generations from an early age, fostering interest in STEM degrees and promoting an early connection with the university environment.

For decades, the ETSI (School of Engineering) has been promoting educational initiatives that spark scientific vocations from an early age, conveying the message that science is accessible to everyone. The CEIP Santiago Ramón y Cajal school understood this, starting its school year with the motto "This year is fantastic," dedicated to Japanese culture, and readily adding this scientific experience to its enriching educational project.

The visit came about thanks to the enthusiasm of teachers and families after attending the ARCyTAN Conference organized by the ETSi in November 2024. After contacting the Deputy Director of Students, Carmen Hernández Mancera, the visit became a reality. Through a voluntary test based on a battery of 122 questions about science and technology, the 35 most motivated students from grades 3 through 6 were selected, and they experienced every step of the process with excitement.

During the day, the children participated in workshops on telecommunications, physics, and aerospace, used virtual reality headsets, learned key scientific concepts, and marveled at the wind tunnel. This experience not only reinforced their interest in science but also demonstrated that effort and motivation are drivers of learning that go beyond academic performance.

The visit to the ETSi workshops and laboratories was made possible thanks to the collaboration of professors Irene Fondón, Sergio Esteban and Alberto Casado who gave them practical demonstrations related to science and technology, so that they could see how these aspects are fundamental to the daily activities carried out in our society.

The staff at CEIP Santiago Ramón y Cajal have expressed their deep gratitude to the ETSi and its entire team for opening their doors and their hearts, demonstrating that science can also be taught through emotion and personal connection. This experience will undoubtedly mark a turning point in the lives of these young dreamers.