UC3M Showcases the Future of Robotics and 3D Animation at the 2026 Madrid is Science Fair
3/23/26
The Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) participated in the 15th edition of the Madrid is Science Fair, held this year for the first time at La Nave in Madrid. The event on March 19 served as a technological showcase where UC3M shared its research potential with attendees of all ages. The event was attended by the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the Rector of UC3M, Ángel Arias, who highlighted the University’s commitment to knowledge transfer. The 15th edition has established itself with 180 participating organizations and more than 700 activities.
Robotics and Animation: AI at the Service of Interaction
One of the most popular activities was dedicated to the future of robotics, led by researchers Alberto Méndez, Alicia Mora, and Gonzalo Espinoza from the Mobile Robots Group. Visitors had the opportunity to interact with the ADAM robot and compete against it in games likerock, paper, scissors, as well as remotely operate robotic grippers. “Our goal is to explain how a robot perceives its environment and how it interacts with it in a controlled manner,” noted the experts from the UC3M Robotics Lab.
Meanwhile, the TECMERIN research group offered a behind-the-scenes look at contemporary audiovisual production with a workshop on 3D animation. Professors Sagrario Beceiro, Luis Cemillán, and Francisco Jiménez conducted real-time demonstrations using Blender, an open-source software, to teach modeling and lighting techniques, as well as their narrative impact in film, video games, and 3D printing. “We conduct various practical demonstrations with video game characters and 3D environments to show how to integrate different modeling and animation tools in an accessible way, while also introducing the latest developments in generative AI,” explains Francisco Jiménez.
Social Science and Radio Coverage
The UC3M’s presence was not limited to the technology on display at the booth. At the Science Agora, researcher Uxía Carral from the Department of Communication delivered a talk titled “The Psychological Price of Misinformation on Social Media.” In her presentation, she analyzed how false content influences perceptions of reality and can lead to emotional well-being issues. “Understanding these dynamics is key to informed decision-making by citizens,” stated Carral.
The event also featured special media coverage by UC3M’s SONORA association. Its members conducted interviews on-site at the fair, capturing visitors’ impressions of this year’s edition.
UC3M’s participation in this event, organized by the madri+d Foundation for Knowledge of the Community of Madrid and in collaboration with the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), was coordinated by the Office for Science and Innovation Information and Outreach (OIDCI) of the Vice-Rectorate for Communication, Culture, and Transparency.
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