A Landmark Pact for Science and Innovation
The Canary Islands took a decisive step this morning to strengthen its scientific culture with the signing of the Pact for the Dissemination of Science and Innovation. This document aims to become the cornerstone of a stable, long-term strategy for the archipelago. The signing ceremony, held at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology, included a key announcement: the event will become an annual meeting to evaluate progress and renew the collective commitment.
A Living Commitment to Knowledge
“A Canary Islands that moves forward cannot do so without knowledge,” stated the Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture, Migdalia Machín. She emphasized that this is not just another document, but a “living commitment” to build a “solid, participatory, and active” scientific culture. Machín explained that the pact is the result of collaborative work with universities, technology centers, businesses, and the educational community. It includes concrete measures for more scientific outreach, more training, greater citizen participation, and a change in the model for how science is communicated.
“What we want is for people to be more aware of the science being done in the Canary Islands, of the knowledge being generated here,” she said, with the goal of achieving “a Canary Islands with greater participation and more opportunities.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
In a video message, President Fernando Clavijo endorsed the initiative, stating that this meeting “is born with a vocation for continuity over the coming years.” He said the annual date should serve to spark vocations among the young and help them discover that, besides dreaming of being famous athletes, “being a scientist also contributes to a better society.” Clavijo stressed the importance of research having a tangible transfer to the productive system, ensuring that what is studied “has its reality in the practice of everyday affairs.”
A Collective Voice for Science
One of the most emotional moments was the public reading of a summary of the pact by students from CEIP El Sardo and young university students. Phrases like “Science is a right that belongs to all people” and “Science is not a distant place, it is a shared space built with people” echoed through the museum hall before the symbolic signing of the document, which was also signed by citizen representatives.
Meet Divinia: The AI Ambassador
The morning also featured an intervention by technologist and science communicator Pedro Mujica, the pact’s ambassador, who presented a video lecture created with artificial intelligence tools and reflected on the role of technology in today’s society. In this context, he introduced Divinia, a new artificial intelligence linked to the pact. “From today, I will walk alongside all the institutions gathered here. I am Divinia, and this is only the beginning,” was heard in the room.
Mujica explained that Divinia is born with a broad knowledge base about the Canary Islands’ scientific ecosystem. Its mission is to gather “all possible knowledge” from the Archipelago and offer it in the form of a conversation, “24/7.” He described it as “a gift from the Government of the Canary Islands, but also a responsibility,” as its ability to serve the common good will depend on how institutions feed and educate this tool.
Championing Science for All
The event also gave a voice to other leading science communicators. In a video message, mathematician Marta Macho congratulated the pact and argued that “outreach activity is increasingly essential,” because “society must be made complicit in everything that is done and researched.”
The perspectives of youth and gender in science also had their place. Chemist Elena Pastor championed the visibility of female researchers and encouraged girls to believe in themselves in the face of stereotypes. Engineer Patricia Hernández recounted her project on sustainable demonstrators at the Sergio Alonso Foundation and highlighted “the importance of communication and team organization.” Finally, science communicator Sergio Guerra, an astrophysics specialist, defended that science “is the most human thing we have” and that dissemination is essential to combat misinformation.
A Future Built on Knowledge
In her closing remarks, Minister Machín invited others to join the pact and summarized the spirit of the day: “We want a Canary Islands where knowledge circulates, inspires, and transforms.” From now on, each year, the Day of Science and Innovation in the Canary Islands aims to be the space where the Archipelago looks at itself “with pride for the talent we have in these islands” and strengthens the bond between those who research, those who teach, and the citizens called to participate in that common future.
