Here is the short presentation we will hand to all participants in #ecme15 during the first session scheduled for tonight. We will hand also the final schedule and the list of participants.

The meeting will be opened at 8 pm by the Vicerector of Research of the University of Girona, Dr. Jordi Freixenet, the Director of the Cathedra for Science Culture and Digital Communication, Dr. Sílvia Simon, and by the President of the local magicians’ association Evualà, Mr. Jordi Ruiz.

Welcome to the I Meeting on Science, Magic and Education. This is an event organized within a Project financed by Spain’s Foundation for Science and Technoly (FECyT) Projecte FCT-14-9228 “From the Magic of Science to the Science of Magic”. Its purpose is to foster the relationship between mathematical and scientific magicians and the educational world, which is needed to improve the common creative activity and formal structure of the common field of magician, mathemagicians and edumagicians.

The ultimate goal of this meeting is thus to discuss deeply how to best use magic and illusionism to improve science awareness and science culture among citizens. Almost fifty researchers, university and secondary/primary teachers, and amateur and professional magicians having shows based on science principles are gathering – and everyone is interested in providing value to discussions. This is a singular event that also tries to fight pseudoscience and stimulate critical thinking and rational discussion.

The organizers belong to an active research group considering science communication and dissemination as a very valuable asset. From chemical magic to mathematical magic, its members try to improve science capacities of young people and adults, and promote social values linked to reason, criticism and science culture.

We will deal with magic as an educational element in compulsory and postcompulsory nonuniversity levels, targeted to both magicians and educators. We will also deal with magic, illusionism and science: use of science elements in magic performance, and use of magic as a pedagogical element and/or to promote science culture.

We thank financing bodies, especially FECyT, Universitat de Girona and Fundació La Caixa, for their help. And we thank you all for being here.

Thank you for attending this meeting!

Fernando Blasco, Scientic Advisory Board

Miquel Duran, Local Organizing Commitee