Back for a second year, IMB-CNM is bringing the excitement of science to Rototom
IMB-CNM brings this summer science to Rototom Sunsplash and Sonorama Ribera festivals as a part of the initiative Festival Programme of CERN and the Society Foundation
This summer, musical festivals' lineups also feature science. IMB-CNM has participated in various outreach activities within two festivals recognized in their genre: Rototom Sunsplash (Benicàssim, Castellón) and Sonorama Ribera (Aranda de Duero, Burgos).
For both festivals, the inclusion of science is framed within the Festival Programme of CERN and Society Foundation, a program previously carried out in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, and that, since 2024, is also part of Spain's cultural agenda with Rototom as a pioneer.
IMB-CNM in Sonorama and Rototom
In early August, Sonorama Ribera premiered its very first Science Pavilion. There, Iván López led hands-on workshops where participants could build solar chargers and transform historical CERN components into unique LED lamps.
A few days later, IMB-CNM’s activities will move to Benicàssim, where researcher Ferran Pujol will present at Rototom Sunsplash on the concept of structural color: what this physical phenomenon is, where it can be found, and how IMB-CNM applies it in developing advanced sensors. His talk will be held in the Discovery Lab, an area of the festival dedicated to scientific activities.
Science as part of the cultural experience
Bringing outreach into music festivals creates a different kind of connection with science—more direct, more relaxed, and in tune with audiences seeking new experiences. The CERN Festival Programme is all about that: building bridges between disciplines and showing that scientific curiosity and artistic expression share the same creative drive.
In Spain, the project is supported by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the European Physical Society (EPS), and The Big Bang Collective, together with the University of La Rioja and the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT). IMB-CNM’s participation, coordinated by researcher Iván López, brings the center’s expertise in designing and delivering science outreach activities.
IMB-CNM is proud to be part of these initiatives that break down barriers and create spaces where leisure and knowledge meet.