Polluting waste that is transformed into renewable biogas (Biowaste Energy); Pavement tiles to produce energy, with our own steps (Energy Step) and bioreceptive and humidiscent concrete to improve air quality (Biohome), have been the three winning ideas, in the most realizable, best statement and most innovative project categories, of the VII Effigy Technological Contest, of the Naturgy Foundation.
To the three mentioned recognitions, the Special Mention María del Rosario Heras, who in this his first edition, has been won, by NBOTELLA2, of the Cardenal Pardo Tavera de Toro Schoolan bottled algae project to produce oxygen. The prize has been delivered by Rosario Heras, doctor in Physics and Emeritus Researcher at the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT)
In this VII edition, corresponding to the 2024-2025 course, more than 3,000 students of 3rd and 4th Compulsory Secondary Education course participated, with a total of 97 projects from 34 educational centers of thirteen autonomous communities.
The main objective of this initiative is the promotion of energy efficiency values and the promotion of technological vocations from an early age, reinforcing the research capacity of young people, awakening their curiosity and creativity around energy and facilitating teamwork and communicative skills.
This year, students had to solve a challenge that contributed to improving air quality in cities, efficiency, energy transition and innovation as a lever to achieve sustainable development objectives, new technologies and sustainable mobility and energy advice on vulnerable environments. In short, energy efficient projects for a better world.
Act of recognition and awards ceremony
The winners, students of the Centers of San Agustín (Calahorra, La Rioja) Institute of Roquetes (Tarragona, Catalonia), Colegio Montecarmelo (Vigo, Galicia) have worked throughout this course in projects that promote energy efficiency and bet on the sustainability of the planet.
With this initiative The Naturgy Foundation tries to promote technological vocations from an early age, reinforcing the research capacity of young people, awakening their curiosity and creativity, and facilitating teamwork and communicative skills.
In this edition, ten have been the semifinalist projects that have undergone a popular vote and an expert jury formed by Judit Carreras, director of the Institute for the Fair Transition of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge; Belén Gilarranz, head of Institutional Relations of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT); Pura Fernández, Vice President of Scientific Culture and Citizen Science of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC); Nuria Rodríguez, director of Environment and Social Responsibility of Naturgy; and Manuel Calvo, energy director and environment of Naturgy Foundation.
The effigy technological contest in figures
With this new edition, seven years have passed since Fundación Naturgy launched the effigy technological contest. During this time, the initiative has had the participation of more than 11,800 students in 3rd and 4th of ESO from 130 educational centers from 17 autonomous communities. In total, about 400 projects on energy efficiency have been evaluated, which have aroused the interest of social networks obtaining more than 150,000 visualizations.
“The fact that this contest is celebrating its seventh edition is a sample of the interest in the proposal in the school environment. It is an initiative that is already a reference to offer students a first vital experience, before experts and institutions, to favor the collection of talent and the development of professional careers in the field of energy,” says María Eugenia Coronado.
In addition, Coronado has influenced “the importance of working, from young people, in awareness of efficiency if we want the energy transition to be a reality to contribute to the sustainability of our planet.”