The Barcelona Science Park announces the second edition of the "Professor Jordi Sabater Pi" Prize for students in their third or fourth year of secondary school. The prize's twofold aim is to promote the study of human social behaviour from an evolutionary perspective through direct observation of primates and to invite participating students to put forward their research findings in audiovisual presentations which the students themselves prepare. The competition is organised jointly by the "Social Brain" Chair at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Barcelona Consortium for Education, and the Barcelona Zoo. Support also comes from the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), the PCB's Sabater Pi Collection and other private institutions.

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The competition kick-off, held in the PCB’s Antoni Caparrós Auditorium, was presided over by Rosina Malagrida, PCB head of communications. Also on hand to speak were Jordi Sabater Pi himself, professor emeritus of the University of Barcelona and director of the Sabater Pi Collection; Marta Comas, head of programmes at the Barcelona Consortium for Education; Oriol Busquets, head of educational innovation and research in the Department of Education of the Generalitat of Catalonia; Óscar Vilarroya, director of the UAB’s “Social Brain” Chair; and the executive director of the Barcelona Zoo, Carme Maté.

The goal of the prize is to bring students closer to the world of primatology and biology so that, based on the behaviours they observe in primates, they can offer insights into contemporary society. Topics include learning, leadership, territorial distribution and conflict resolution. Additional aims include encouraging student interest in research and careers in the sciences, facilitating the use of new technologies within the schools, and bolstering teamwork.

As a programme sponsor, the Barcelona Science Park also wishes to stimulate students’ powers of observation and their creativity. As a result, a further prize will be awarded to the student who draws the finest naturalist’s sketch of a primate. In the words of Jordi Sabater Pi, “Drawing is a highly useful research tool, particularly in the field of biology, and it should be developed in the schools”. Sabater Pi also spoke on the need to prevent the disappearance of species now in danger of extinction, such as the gorillas, saying, “Drawing can lead to understanding, understanding to deep affection, and deep affection to protection”.

This year fifteen Barcelona schools and over 300 students will take part in the competition, tripling last year’s participation.