On Wednesday, June 12, 2025, the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA) was present at the third edition of Ciencia Sin Ficción, held at the SurActivo Events Center in Concepción. On this occasion, our associate researcher and director of the Laboratory of Molecular Magnetism and Molecular Materials (LM4) of the UBO Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology, Dr. Walter Cañón Mancisidor, shone with his presentation “Rare Earths: The elements that are changing your world”, before an audience of thousands of people.
Dr. Cañón highlighted the importance of rare earth elements —such as the lanthanides— in technologies that are vital today: smartphones, high-definition screens, electric vehicles and sustainable energy solutions. He also highlighted how our country —with its ionic clay deposits in the south and the possibility of adding value to mining tailings— is positioning itself as a regional protagonist in this strategic raw material.
With an emphatic message, he stated that “science must leave the laboratories and connect with society, especially with young people”, an approach we insist on at CEDENNA: knowledge must reach the public, inspire and transform. His approachable style made complex concepts understandable and relevant to a diverse audience.
In addition to the talk, Dr. Cañón presented advances in the study of lanthanide complexes developed at UBO, emphasizing their unique electronic properties that could drive new technological applications. At CEDENNA, we value how this type of research helps consolidate excellent applied research with social purpose.
