Producing strong research is only part of the job. In addition to that, Horizon Europe projects must also share their work with the world. They need to reach beyond academic journals. More importantly, they need to spark curiosity, shape career paths, and show the public what European science funding actually delivers.
Recently, a session at IE University in Segovia did exactly that. Two Horizon Europe sister projects — EXPLORA and XTREAM — joined forces to present their work to students. As a result, the event became something far more than a standard lecture.
A local scientist returns home
Antonio García-Moyano leads the XTREAM project. He is also a native of Segovia. Currently, he works at the Norwegian research centre NORCE, where he studies extremophiles — tiny organisms that survive in Earth’s harshest places. For example, they live in Arctic waters, deep-sea vents, and highly acidic rivers.
Coming back to his hometown university gave the session a personal edge. García-Moyano spoke with students about what a career in science really looks like. He explained XTREAM’s methods. Furthermore, he made a clear case for why this research matters for sustainability and green technology.
This was not a distant or formal talk. Instead, it was direct, personal, and easy to follow.
EXPLORA joins the conversation
Prof. Irene Sánchez Andrea also took part in the session on behalf of EXPLORA. She focused on the project’s work with microorganisms found in extreme water environments — including well-known sites like Rio Tinto.
Students learned about EXPLORA’s core goal: to turn findings from these microorganisms into useful compounds and greener technologies. Moreover, they saw firsthand how two European projects can work side by side. Different environments, but shared goals.
That kind of broad view is rare for students. Nevertheless, it is precisely what good outreach makes possible.
What students took away
Most science outreach happens at a distance — through reports, papers, or press releases. This session, however, was different. Students asked questions directly. They heard two researchers tell a connected story. As a result, they left with a much clearer picture of how Horizon Europe research works in practice — not as separate efforts, but as a joined-up network of teams working on related problems.
For some students, this may influence a career choice. For others, it simply builds trust in science. Both outcomes, therefore, are worth pursuing.
Why this matters for the EU research community
Outreach is now a formal part of project evaluation. The European Commission expects Horizon Europe projects to show broad impact beyond academia. Events like this one in Segovia deliver on that expectation directly.
They place researchers in front of future scientists. They justify public investment in research. And, crucially, they do it in plain language and in person — something no press release can replace.
For EXPLORA, furthermore, this session showed what real collaboration looks like. It goes beyond shared data. It means showing up together, telling a common story, and inspiring those who will carry this work forward.
Science needs to travel
The best research does not stay in the lab. Instead, it travels — to classrooms, to policy meetings, to public events. The session at IE University Segovia was a strong example of that idea in practice.
EXPLORA will continue to seek out opportunities to bring its research to new audiences. Understanding what lives in Earth’s most extreme water environments is important. Equally important, however, is making sure that message reaches people.
