“This is a recognition of a way of understanding research that values science not only for the advances it achieves, but also for its ability to bring them to society. It is an award that highlights work beyond publications, such as participation in and organization of citizen science events, scientific dissemination through new channels—such as podcasts—or the creation of open educational resources. These are socially impactful activities that have not always been valued in academic contexts,” explained Blanca Arias, researcher at TraDiLex (UPF) and the AccessCat Network, during the press conference announcing the winners of the Catalonia Open Science Awards.

This was the first edition of the Catalonia Open Science Awards. The awards aim to recognize researchers and institutions that have contributed to disseminating research results both within the academic community and across society at large. The awards are jointly organized by the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia, the Consortium of University Services of Catalonia (CSUC), and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI), with the goal of highlighting key actors in knowledge transfer.

Specifically, Dr. Blanca Arias Badia received the 2025 Open Science Award in the Joan Modolell category, aimed at researchers under the age of 40. In her acceptance speech, she thanked the AccessCat Network for providing a “unique framework to promote open science activities” and emphasized the importance of “growing motivation to conduct science in a way that is committed to the community and its environment.”

The awards also recognized Josep Perelló, Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Barcelona, in the senior researcher category (Mercè Durfort Award), and Jordi Gené, researcher in Proximal Remote Sensing and AI at the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, who received the Joan Modolell Award ex aequo.

The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), coordinating institution of the AccessCat Network, was recognized in the third award category, the Montserrat Sebastià Award, aimed at institutions. The award acknowledged its role as a leading public university in integrating open science into its institutional strategy.