On the weekend of February 8 and 9, 2025, SPI participated in the “Water, an Unfiltered Exhibition” held at the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, as part of the H2OforAll communication and dissemination initiative. This event provided an excellent platform to engage with the public (especially younger children) and communicate the importance of access to high-quality, uncontaminated water. H2OforAll was present alongside other H2OforAll representatives from the Departamento de Engenharia Química (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal), as well as a partner from the UPWater project (CSIC, Spain), reinforcing collaboration in water purification and sustainability research.
The primary focus of the H2OforAll exhibit was to raise awareness among children about water contamination and purification methods. Interactive demonstrations were designed to be engaging and educational, showing how certain materials can effectively remove pollutants from water.
One of the highlights was the column flow experiment, where visitors observed blue-tinted contaminated water being transformed into clear, purified water, as it passed through a special adsorbent material packed into the column. This visual demonstration effectively illustrated how filtration can remove contaminants from water sources. Alongside the column experiment, a hands-on vial experiment invited children and adults to mix an adsorbent material with “contaminated” water (containing one of several different food colorants), shake the vial, and witness the color removal process firsthand – the adsorbent material would deposit and drag the food colorant compounds along with it, leaving clear, uncontaminated water behind.
To further engage young visitors, the stand featured printed water-themed labyrinth puzzles for children to play with, and questionnaires to test their knowledge regarding the experiments and their water preserving habits. An estimated 40 puzzles and 30 questionnaires were filled out. Other informational materials, such as flyers and brochures, were given out. The H2OforAll promotional video was also played throughout our stay, to enhance understanding of the project’s mission. Visitors could also take home small merchandise items – such as pencils and notebooks – reinforcing the initiative’s key messages.
Throughout the weekend, an estimated 200 people (including adults and children) visited the H2OforAll stand, making the event a valuable opportunity for outreach and knowledge dissemination. The enthusiasm and curiosity of young participants in particular highlighted the importance of hands-on learning in inspiring the next generations to value, save and protect water resources.
Overall, the event was a big success and the experience was extremely rewarding, as it strengthened partnerships and increased public awareness of innovative solutions for ensuring safe and clean water for all.
