BIG VAN CIENCIA SCCL

Their core work

Big Van Ciencia is a Spanish social cooperative specializing in science communication and public engagement through performing arts. They design and deliver educational programs that use theatre, storytelling, and artistic methods to make science accessible and exciting for young people, particularly in secondary schools. Their work bridges the gap between scientific research and society by creating participatory formats where students actively engage with STEM topics rather than passively receiving information.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), Big Van Ciencia focused on creative science communication and building scientific culture, with two concurrent projects exploring how arts and performance can transform classroom science engagement. By 2021, their focus shifted toward sustainability-oriented outdoor education with OTTER, moving beyond indoor classrooms to real-world environmental topics like plastics. The trajectory shows a move from general science engagement methods toward applied environmental education with a sustainability agenda.

They are moving from indoor creative science communication toward field-based environmental and sustainability education, making them a strong fit for future projects combining education with green transition themes.

How they like to work

Big Van Ciencia operates exclusively as a project participant, never as coordinator, which is typical for a specialized content and methodology provider embedded in larger consortia. With 31 unique partners across 16 countries from just 3 projects, they work in large, diverse European consortia — their average consortium size is well above 10 partners. This makes them an experienced and low-friction partner accustomed to multi-country collaboration and delivering their specific contribution within a larger framework.

Despite only three projects, Big Van Ciencia has built a remarkably wide network of 31 partners across 16 countries, reflecting participation in large pan-European education consortia. Their reach spans most of the EU, with no apparent geographic concentration beyond their Spanish base.

What sets them apart

Big Van Ciencia occupies a rare niche as a performing-arts-driven science communication cooperative. While many organizations do science outreach, very few combine professional performance skills with rigorous participatory research methods in education. For any consortium needing a partner to handle public engagement, science education work packages, or youth-targeted dissemination through creative formats, they bring a distinctive and proven skillset that is hard to find elsewhere.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PERFORM
  Their largest funded project (EUR 296,875), using theatre and performance as the core method for engaging secondary school students with science — a distinctive approach.
• OTTER
  Most recent project (2021-2024) marking their strategic pivot toward outdoor education and sustainability, signaling their current direction.