Researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), based at the University of Barcelona Science Park (PCB-UB), have participated in the 2025-2026 edition of the ALIA educational program of the Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB), an initiative that has brought together nearly 170 high school students to explore, together with researchers and artists, the challenges of future medicine from bioengineering, bioethics and artistic creation, culminating in a closing ceremony held on May 5.

This year’s edition, ALIA: Envisioning the Medicine of the Future, brought together around 170 high-school students from seven Barcelona-area schools. Over seven months, the pupils combined scientific research, ethical reflection, and artistic creation to envision the future of medicine.

Coordinated by the CCCB, the project has examined the impact of bioengineering on health, combining IBEC’s scientific expertise with ‘José y sus Hermanas’ creative approach. Students have explored key concepts such as tissue engineering and stem cell use, as well as the development of advanced technologies for regenerating and repairing the human body.

At the same time, the programme addressed the associated bioethical dilemmas, encouraging critical thinking and debate on issues such as the limits of medical intervention and the transformation of the human body.

As a final step, the participants devised and wrote short plays, which were performed at the closing ceremony held at the CCCB on 5 May 2026. These plays offered different visions of the future of medicine and the relationship between technology and society.

These plays imagine possible — and often unsettling — futures surrounding medicine and bioengineering. Through stories ranging from the quest for immortality and the genetic modification of bodies to the elimination of emotions such as fear and the pressure to achieve perfection, the plays raise profound questions about what it means to be human. Adapted and staged by the theatre company , these pieces demonstrate the students’ ability to connect science with ethics and personal experience, resulting in stories that combine critical reflection, creativity, and imagination.

IBEC’s contribution

Within the ALIA framework, IBEC has played a key role as a leading scientific institution. Scientists Josep Samitier, Núria Camarero, Nuno Miranda, Anna Ferrer, Juanma Fernández, Xavier Barceló and Xiomara Fernández have actively participated in talks, meetings and tours of the centre’s facilities, providing students with an insight into cutting-edge bioengineering research.

These sessions have given students first-hand experience of research areas such as photopharmacology, organ-on-a-chip models, 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering, and have introduced them to real-world applications aimed at improving human health. Furthermore, direct contact with research staff inspires scientific vocations and conveys the value of research as a driver of social transformation.

A well-established educational programme

ALIA is a well-established initiative run by the CCCB. Each year, it opens applications and invites schools to explore current scientific topics from a cross-curricular perspective. During the 2025–26 academic year, participants followed a programme structured in three stages: research and documentation, creation, and a final presentation. This required a commitment of around 40 hours throughout the year.

Combining classroom work with activities at the CCCB and in research centres, the programme is supported by specialists in science communication and artistic creation.

By participating in ALIA, IBEC strengthens its dedication to science communication and education, making bioengineering research more accessible to young people and encouraging a more comprehensive understanding of science as a technical, social, and ethical phenomenon.

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