Last Saturday, the Aircraft Operations Lab UC3M visited the Gerardo Diego Institute in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, to explain the latest research on aviation and climate change to a group of 2nd-grade secondary students.
The climatic impact of contrails, currently being investigated in the E-CONTRAIL project was the focus of the workshop, led by UC3M researchers Manuel Soler, Raúl Quibén Figueroa, Bun-Kim San, and Adrián Zarzoso. The event aimed to immerse young minds in the world of aerospace research, with a particular focus on understanding the effect of aviation-induced clouds and contrails on climate change.
Around 20 gifted students from the Programa de Enriquecimiento Altas Capacidades (PEAC) Madrid Oeste could learn from an engaging presentation and participate in experiments to understand complex scientific concepts. From crafting simulated contrails to observing atmospheric behaviors, the hands-on activities provided a dynamic platform for exploration and discovery. By seamlessly integrating education and cutting-edge research, the activity not only inspired a genuine interest in science but also instilled a sense of environmental responsibility among the participants.
This activity was part of the Researchers at Schools programme in which UC3M participates. Collaborating in this activity are research staff from the E-CONTRAIL project (Artificial Neural Networks for the Prediction of Contrails and Aviation Induced Cloudiness), a two-and-a-half year project funded with 1 million euros by SESAR Joint Undertaking and its founding members through the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe (GA 101114795).
