During June and July, ICRA hosted three participants from phase 2 of the “Youth and Science” program of the Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera.

Students Pau Cufí and Lluís Carrasco carried out a research stay at ICRA from June 16 to July 4, 2025, under the supervision of researchers Gianluigi Buttiglieri and Josephine Vosse. During this period, they became junior researchers, setting up and conducting a hydroponics experiment to analyze how different conditions affect plant growth, while gaining hands-on experience in laboratory techniques and data analysis.

Meanwhile, student Jordi Huch participated in the project “Plastic additives: the hidden condiments of our vegetables?”, under the supervision of ICRA researcher Lucas Alonso, from June 30 to July 18, 2025. During his stay, he focused on preparing a survey to explore public perceptions of “calçot” cultivation, the irrigation water used, and its possible relationship with microcontaminants. He also collaborated in the laboratory analysis of plastic additives in cultivation samples.

All students had the opportunity to explore water quality and microbiology, meet scientists from different areas of ICRA, and finally present their findings as true scientists.