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

Ivan is a face of communication with the public. His phone rings almost every second. He is responsible for coordinating and managing all the visits that are carried out in the Museum. In fact, if some of the Primary school teachers read this profile, he or she may already know the voice of Ivan. "Often teachers ask for me when they come with their class for a visit; having so much talks ends up building a friendship."

The thing he likes the most about his job is to feel that he is contributing something to the society, to the public. “Here come kids, they learn, they have a good time… I like to think that a little part of this anonymous responsibility is mine. ”

His voice and adorable accent makes him perfect for this position. Ivan was born in Venezuela where his Asturian parents emigrated, even though his diction can be confused with the one of Canarians. He is therefore an intellectual (in the best sense of the word) result of the meeting of two cultures, two very different and very brotherly countries.

He studied Journalism in Caracas and came to Salamanca to do the Masters in American literature. "I like journalism, but I'm a frustrated scholar. I think I lack that element of curiosity and boldness characteristic of reporters."

At the moment he is combining his job in the Casa de la Ciencia, he is a PhD candidate in Literature. His thesis is about the work of Argentinian writer and journalist Roberto Arlt. This writer, born into an immigrant, poor and unbalanced family, became the best known columnist in Buenos Aires thanks to his language and manners and traveled to Spain to write his "Spanish Etchings".

 

When I accomplish my dream of having a PhD, I would like to continue learning Portuguese and live for a while in Buenos Aires. You can call me argentinofilo because I love their culture. What I like the most? To cook. Above all, rice in any form. The corn cakes as well are my specialty. I have been tempted to finally make my own bread. To have a bike rides – as a medium between means of transport and pleasure. The Venezualian and Spanish folklore.

Ivan has shared with us a group of very curious music. It is called Serenata Guyanese and its cultural ingredients are many and varied. From the south of Venezuela, Bolivar state and sing in four voices the most picturesque and traditional melodies.

Would you like to discover them with us?

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 (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."

Meet the people of La Casa de la Ciencia (II) José Antonio

Looks very well for his 41 years, from Madrid, by adoption from Malaga, jokes with everyone, big eyes, T-shirt and jeans forever ... We speak, of course, about our José Antonio. He is responsible for all the graphic design and illustration of the Museum.

You can find him sitting in the front of his huge Mac (essential for a graphic designer), dropping jokes between lines and color palette. Almost 7 years ago he left his steady job in Malaga for a temporal contract with Cultural Scientific Union in Doñana Biological Station in Matalascañas, Huelva. And here it is where he continued after La Casa de la Ciencia was founded.

What is that you like the most about working here? “Well, until the lift was installed my favorite thing was to load furniture (laughs). No, in all honesty, I like creative freedom. Sure, there are times of stress and hectic work when we put temporal exhibitions up. But I deal with it well.”

Next question… "And what I dislike is putting so much excitement in my work daily for later to have some visitors who do not respect the Museum. We have some vandalism cases. But they are a small minority, obviously."

The workspace of José Antonio is only separated by a thin wall from the children that are exploring “Invertebrates of Andalusia” exhibition. “The noise does not bother me. I like to hear that there is a life in the Museum. I hope to stay here the maximum time possible with my favorite colleagues: Erika and Yolanda” (laughs).

But for our main character, there is more life out there apart from the Casa de la Ciencia. He likes a lot to paint in watercolor and oil. His favorite subjects? Landscape and birds. We have some evidence of that as you can see.

He also loves travelling, but this will surprise you: he does not mention the typical tourist places (Prague, Rome, Paris…) rather Bolivia or those two weeks that he spent in Arctic. “It was freezing as hell. “In summer, the medium temperature was  -1oC. But his favorite place on earth of course is Doñana.

The big chef in his house. What do you like to cook? “Let me think… beans with ham, rustic, right? I like to cook all kinds of rice; also can cook sushi, even though my most recent Discovery is ceviche. ” I was in Huelva last weekend and bought whole kilogram of sea bass. With that you can make ceviche and also marinated sea bass. Would you like to know the recipe?

Marinated ceviche. Recipe by Sencianes (José Antonio)

• Cut the sea bass into irregular pieces with a sharp knife and not necessarily very thin. Any white fish that has a consistent meat will do, such as grouper or monkfish.
• Put the fish in the bowl and soak it with the juice of limes or lemons. 
• Add hot pepper and mix it all by using hands. 
• Then cover the bowl with transparent wrap and put it in the fridge for 15-25 minutes.  The longer you keep it the tenderer it will become. 
• Serve it on the plate without taking out the lemon juice, with plenty of fresh red onions (important that it is red) cut in thin slices and add fresh chopped coriander. You can also put a little bit of olive oil. In Peru  it is also often served with corn.

Delicious! 

Would you like to discover your DNA? You can! At the Science Fair in Seville.

The Science Fair is an educational and cultural project organized by the Andalusian Society for the Promotion of Science, the Descubre Foundation and the Seville Teacher Center. Its purpose is to create an educational environment that enables sharing, dissemination and communication of scientific knowledge to the public, in which the actors are pupils who participate in the project voluntarily.

In its 12^th edition, La Casa de la Ciencia is participating yet another year alongside with other centers and institutions of the Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC) of Andalusia.

Alongside information about the activities that Museum organizes for general public, Casa de la Ciencia will carry out activities and interactive games for all the visitors.

-Workshop “Discover your DNA”

Visitors can satisfy their curiosity of Genetic world and learn how to extract their own DNA in home environment with a simple method.  The monitors will answer questions such as “How is color blindness inherited?” Developed by Ludociencia/Fun Science.

-Paleontology Workshop

It will recreate an experience of being on a paleontological site. Including methodology (data collection, fieldwork and lab work) that is followed when seeking a paleontological dig site. For few minutes participants will convert into paleontologists that are conducting a study of fossil remains. Developed by Natures SCA.

-Our crystal world: a glance inside the interior

With the little theoretical-practical introduction we will establish what is crystal and the importance of its discovery.  We will enter the inner world of crystals, mainly those around us in our daily lives (ice, salt, sugar etc.). This activity will aim to show crystal and its internal layout. There will be provided solutions for the creation of these crystals by using sugar and salt. This workshop will be divided into two final parts according to the age of participants: a) for the youngest, a craft paper of an ice crystal b) for a bit older, we will build crystal structure with sticks and cork balls. Developed by Natures SCA.

Visit and gain more knowledge and have fun at Seville Science fair. From 15^th to 17^th of May at Congress and Exhibition Centre (FIBES). For more information visit www.feriadelaciencia.org

International Museum Day – 18th of May!

Nowadays museums are constantly facing industry changes that force them to rethink their traditional mission and find new ways to attract visitors towards more accessible collections. This year's theme for International Museum Day is "Museum collections make connections” and La Casa de la Ciencia accompanies it ...with music!

Eight young artists 4-9 years old and their teachers will perform musical pieces in three halls of the permanent exhibitions of Museum. Previously set out museum displays will explain the contents of the collections in question. The program will comprise works of composers K. and H. Colledge and A. Markov.

• In the cetaceans´ hall you will be able to listen to melodies describing water features: sounds of waterfall, dolphin jumps thanks to the "pizzicato" of violins and the din of the goldfish accompanied by the lively piano rhythm.
• In the invertebrates ‘hall there will be interpreted the play of butterflies and ants. Young violinists will imitate butterfly´s wing beating by moving their fingers in the relentless rhythm, while the hard work of ants will be reflected in a lively and active music.
• Finally, in the minerals´ hall it will sound like you are on fossil and stone pathes with snakes slithering between them.

You are very welcome to attend the concert and see the Museum for free on 18^th of May at 12:30, 13:00 and 13:30.

Organizers: Andalucía Música - http://andaluciamusica.es/

See you there!