Goodbye from Victoria!

It is said that everything in life ends for better or for worse.

Now the internship has ended, although it seems like just yesterday when Victoria applied for the position inevitably attracted by the words "museum" and "Science".

Therefore, unfortunately, Victoria will not return on Monday to spot the beautiful facade of the Pavilion of Peru, to hear the gurgling of children who are waiting outside to begin their deserved visit, to greet all her fantastic co-workers, to sit in front of the Mac screen which is by the way- at least a million-inches, to eat toast for breakfast and drink green tea with lemon, to interview the Lucky person who is due to appear on #Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia; to get the daily photo on Instagram, spread Museum events and activities on the Internet, write press releases, communication plans, newsletters, social media content ...

By the way, it is strange to talk about myself in the third person.

It is said that everything in life ends for better or for worse.

For worse – there will be no more tea with lemon, talks with colleagues, Instagram, kids, Planetarium. In summary, this exhilarating routine will end.

For better - I have fond memories of this period (writing in first person definitely works better). I learned a lot in these three months - technical and human knowledge. I am more self-reliant, creative, and entrepreneurial. I have been trained in actual communication, in dealing with people. Now I can share my newly acquired experience with the rest of the world.

But of course, the rest of the world will never be the Peru Pavilion. (I promise I wanted to finish this post on a positive note ...)

Our interns in Science Fair in Seville.
On the left, Victoria from Commercial department.
On the right, Anna from Marketing department.

Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia (VI) Manuel

When you are searching for a Word ´skillful´ in Real Spanish Academy´s dictionary photo of Manuel would come up. Skillful in a sense of someone that can do various things like a handyman. The fact is that Manuel is the best maintenance man that Casa de la Ciencia has known, "and take into account that the stakes are high" - says a colleague.

Efficient and above all good worker; confesses that he likes to stay occupied and if he finds himself without things to do he will be looking for some work. Clearly, watching the kids run around all morning encourages as well even without dealing with visitors directly. His work routine: arrive at 8:00, open workshos and exhibitions, turn on lights ... and from there whatever comes: basically fix everything that is broken.

Manuel was born in Gandia, having Andalusian immigrant parents, but returned to his homeland when he was little. He was self-employed until went bankrupt because of the economic crisis; later was given a fixed position in CSIC ("I was very lucky") and, after working in Barcelona, he began his job in our Museum few months ago. He has a wife and "little couple" boy and girl (11 and 12 years old) and admits he is happy.

Even though “I wouldn´t say no to a new car, especially if it's a black Chrysler 300." Meanwhile, he loves hiking with his family throughout the province of Seville and science fiction films (The Matrix and Blade Runner are the classics). "As a young man I loved electronic music in the clubs, but in recent years I have slowed down a little (laughs)."Ah! And he dances salsa.

As a curiosity, tells that when he started working had some fear when walking through the basement. The reason is that some security guards claimed to have heard strange noises in the night and doors closing on their own. It also appears that there was a case of a guard who left the Casa de la Ciencia crying and refusing to re-enter. Anyway, Manuel soon began to walk around the same grounds. "I did not hear anything or experience any paranormal experience."

And you, do you believe in ghosts?

Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia (V) Jorge

The first thing you think when you see Jorge is that he conveys security and tranquility. His strongly modulated voice makes it ideal for children to become engrossed watching a rock, something that before they might perceive as boring. And this geologist manages to convey his enthusiasm without any effort.

He was born 37 years ago in Requena (Valencia) of Norman mother and Almerian father, but Jorge considers Almería his home. “Even though many people think that Almerians are “cold” in reality they are warm and welcoming. The city and the province are very cosmopolitan. ” Also having 11 months of summer a year helps.

He is a fan of filmmaking saga The Lord of the Rings. He loves thrillers, "those where you do not know how it will end up, or who is the murderer." Also the historical novels. Key names: Martin Scorsese, Ken Follett coincides with ... Lola´s affection for Martin Silver Eye trilogy as well. We will have to read it, then. And apart from books and movies, he likes monologues of Dani Rovira and David El Guapo in the comedy club.

He is a founder of “Natures”, a company dedicated to environmental education and ecotourism. In the Casa de la Ciencia “Nature´s” boys and girls play a key role – they are the guides of permanent exhibitions. Jorge has dedicated his heart and soul in explaining cetaceans, invertebrates and, of course, GeoSevilla. The majority of his listeners are school children that come to visit, though there are adults who want a guided tour too.

Jorge has no doubt: the best part of his job is to work with children. And when a little girl or boy leave the Museum saying “Bye Jorge, when I grow older I will be a geologist” … You can´t compare it to anything else. It is also a demanding job, "sometimes when visitors are too young you have to focus not so much on explaining but rather on the visual aspect of the exhibition, so it catches their eye.” He recalls that recently there came a blind girl who explored the expositions of invertebrates and geology ... by touch.

In addition, “Natures” also organizes different workshops such as Comic and film, The crystal world and Geoland… “The first workshop that we did in the Museum was that of ´The dinosaur in the city ´that now is called ´Rebuilding a dinosaur´.” “It would be great if Casa de la Ciencia continued setting up new exhibitions; I without a doubt would put one about dinosaurs which is the most liked by the children.” They like them so much that when they come to see the skeletons of cetaceans they automatically think they are dinosaurs…

The children come up with other funny anecdotes. Jorge remembers the time explaining the concept of endemism and gave the example of the Iberian lynx, when a little voice was heard: "Iberian is that you can eat, as a ham." Or those times when children, especially those from religious schools, ask about fossils, "And this was before or after God?” Risky question to answer for someone who is not Catholic …

Besides geology, Jorge is passionate about landscapes… And part of his job is to organize guides in hiking tours. It might be that “I am very lucky to be able to combine my passion with job.” He suggests visiting the Sierra Norte Geological Park in Seville: beautiful views and very interesting.

In the years to come he wants to continue working in the Museum, “the way my colleagues treat me is amazing without doubts.” Even though there will come time when he will move back home to continue teaching in some remote village of Almeria, aggregate and intimate. And he plans also to travel to Scotland and New Zealand for those wild and green landscapes (perhaps the adventures of Frodo Baggins also have had something to do with it).

"In general I am a kind of medieval knight: I like to live high, possibly in a castle (laughs), surrounded by lakes and mountains ..."

Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia (IV) Lola

She is one of the two beautiful women that you can always meet in the Museum counter, always attentive to a clueless question, always smiley and cheerful.  Here are some of the functions she performs: assist the public, coordinate calls and simply provide warmth to visitors. It is easy to make her smile.

At the risk of falling into a stereotype, she is Andalusian and proud of her land. She was born in Lora del Río. She lived in Barcelona - when she was little, her parents emigrated to Catalonia as many other Andalusian did in the 60s. And now she lives in Seville, specifically in Castilleja de la Cuesta. “I am sorry, but for me there isn´t anything like Andalusia… The people, the climate, the sea, the food..” Cliché? Yes. Really? At least for Lola.

We could say that she started working in Casa de la Ciencia a long time before it existed: she is a veteran de CSIC (11 years exactly). She worked, first, in Biological Station in Doñana, later CicCartuja … and in Museum from its´ first opening day.

“I like working here because I like dealing with people. Especially children and seniors, and we see them in Museum a lot.” Lola notes that of course there are some people who are not always as nice but it is part of the job. “I like that there are people that are interested in the museums, in the science. The culture in the country isn´t dead despite what some might say. And of course, the Planetarium is loved by anyone.”

In other order of priorities, she is passionate about James Bond movies (her favorite embodiment is Pierce Brosnan). She likes reading as well, especially historical novels: her latest reading has been the trilogy Martin Silver Eye, by Matilde Asensi Martin. Her biggest dream is to see her nephews grow up and finish college (they are going to be born in November so still have few years left...).

Suele veranear en Mazagón ("como las playas de Huelva no hay ninguna") y se ha recorrido toda España a golpe de tren y carretera. Galicia, Madrid, Castilla y León, Castilla La Mancha... Y también Lisboa, que no es España pero se parece un poco. Ay los pastéis de Belem...

Usually spending the summer in Mazagon ("there are no better beaches than Huelva") and has traveled throughout Spain hitting rail and road. Galicia, Madrid, Castilla y León, Castilla La Mancha ... and Lisbon even though it is not Spain it does look alike.

Lola is a person that always has a good time. A funny anecdote: usually carries two ID cards, CSIC staff and the company´s. One day she accidentally stained the collar of the shirt with lipstick. To hide it, CSIC badge came in handy. But that did not go unnoticed by a man who was visiting the museum, who literally said:

"Child, you just lack the barcode."

Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia (III) Erika

This slim attractive brunette who has the ability to smile even when she is concentrated on an urgent matter was “Barcelonesa” (from Barcelona) her first year of life and “gaditana” (from Cadiz) for the rest. She has a phrase that she repeats when is very overwhelmed at work: “The past is full of problems that found solution.”

Political Science disappointed her at the time and she decided to follow her other great passion: science and environmental journalism. Indeed, Erika is a chief communicator of La Casa de la Ciencia and CSIC in Andalusia.

“I am very satisfied with my professional dedication.” Addressing issues as important as science or ecology through museum is something very useful. [...] And it is even more useful to the extent to which our audience is totally diverse.” That is, from people who come here with no idea about ​​science (who confuse a grasshopper with an ant in Invertebrate exhibition) to professional people specialized in science and popular science. "And we work hard for everything we do so that it is supervised and advised by accomplice scientists of our goings" (laughs).

But she has a lot more to tell. She is a wine taster (there is always something worth celebrating ...), consistent atheist, "dancer" and runner from six in the morning. She loves to read (“I am passionate about detective novels”) and admire authors such as Paul Auster, José Saramago or Milan Kundera. Also those more unknown ,such as David Foenkinos or Lara Moreno.

The image of critical and independent woman that inspired Erika. As a little girl would she be just like Mafalda?

Erika has two little children, Tomás and Berta. You will note her affection as she has pictures of them hanging in her office or how she addresses the teacher on the phone with concern. She loves to spend time with them. "I read to them, we prepare cakes and do puzzles."

And also you notice the motivation she gets from the 30,000 children who have visited the museum during this school year. “There is nothing that gives me more satisfaction than a child coming back home after visiting La Casa de la Ciencia and tells their parents all the things he or she has learned.”

It's about waking up scientific vocations. "Perhaps one of those thousands of kids will make a discovery or a finding in the future to improve the world in which we live."

Why should you visit La Casa de la Ciencia?

"Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - because you can't take it in all at once."

Audrey Hepburn

Inspired by Audrey Hepburn´s quote we would like to invite you to visit our museum, and here are 10 reasons why:

If you would like to know more information about our recent events and exhibitions please contact us via:

We hope to see you soon!