The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) held two training sessions devoted to language awareness and linguistic assertiveness. The sessions aimed to encourage reflection on language practices and to share strategies for incorporating Catalan effectively, naturally and respectfully into different everyday contexts and, especially, into the field of research. The sessions, delivered by UdGLlengües, benefited from the active participation of attendees.

The first session, entitled “Language awareness at ICRA: challenges and opportunities”, took place on 5 March and explored the importance of the Catalan language in the workplace and in social settings, while also encouraging reflection on individual and collective language practices. Through debate, participants identified areas of consensus to promote Catalan within ICRA, while being offered specific tools to incorporate it into daily work and research activities.

This first meeting addressed issues such as language as a tool for knowledge, communication and coexistence; the role of Catalan in a context of linguistic diversity and science; and the resources available to facilitate its everyday use, including good practice guides.

The second session, “Linguistic assertiveness workshop: from awareness to behavioural change”, was held on 30 April. This training session focused on strategies for maintaining the use of Catalan in different communicative situations, especially after becoming aware of one’s own language habits.

The workshop invited participants to reflect on the causes and consequences of language switching, as well as on the impact of language behaviour on their surroundings. It also addressed the reasons why people often switch to Spanish or English, and the cognitive adaptations that can condition these behaviours. Based on this reflection, resources were proposed to help participants feel more comfortable using Catalan in all contexts and to become linguistic role models within the scientific community.

These actions are part of the grants for CERCA research centres in Catalonia for initiatives to promote and use the Catalan language in the field of research (CERCA 2024), with the support of the Department of Research and Universities. Through initiatives such as this, ICRA strengthens its commitment to promoting Catalan as a language of communication, knowledge and coexistence within the scientific sphere.