Jaume Bertranpetit MAE, Academic Director of the Barcelona Knowledge Hub, offers insights into this year’s Academia Europaea Annual Conference.
From 15th-17th October 2025, Barcelona will host the 36ᵗʰ Annual Conference of Academia Europaea, Building Bridges 2025. Taking place at the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica Barcelona, the event gathers leading scholars from across disciplines to explore pressing global challenges, share cutting-edge research, and strengthen academic networks.
In this interview Professor Jaume Bertranpetit, Academic Director of the Barcelona Knowledge Hub, explains how Building Bridges is designed to bring AE members together, open up honest dialogue, and position Barcelona’s scientific community at the forefront of European research.
Could you tell us about this year’s programme?
“This year’s Building Bridges programme continues the tradition of bringing together scholars from all disciplines. Over the three main days, we’ll hear from researchers in the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and exact sciences- looking at key issues from different perspectives.
The conference begins with Class meetings and thematic discussions that allow Members to connect around shared interests and emerging challenges in their fields. This year, there is a real emphasis on encouraging exchange across disciplines -from social and cultural transformations to developments in Artificial Intelligence and life sciences.
Our plenary sessions offer space for broader reflection, with lectures and panels designed to bridge scientific inquiry, societal concerns, and artistic expression. They include a talk by artist Marta de Menezes who explores the relationship between art and immunology, and a closing masterclass by Jordi Savall on music as a form of shared human heritage. Throughout the programme, the aim is to create space for open dialogue and new connections between fields.”
Are there any sessions you are particularly looking forward to? Is there anything new about this year’s programme?
“There are several sessions I’m particularly looking forward to, especially those that highlight the intersection between disciplines and invite open reflection. The session by Marta de Menezes on the connections between art and immunology is a wonderful example of how Building Bridges expands beyond traditional academic boundaries. Similarly, Jordi Savall’s masterclass promises to be a profound cultural moment, reminding us of the role of music as a universal language and a bridge across times and cultures.
What’s new this year is the increased focus on informal exchanges, especially across the different Classes. There are more open sessions that encourage real conversation, not just presentations. We’re also seeing more involvement from younger researchers, including through the Young Academy of Europe.”
Could you explain the benefits for an MAE attending the Annual Conference? What will those attending gain from it?
“For MAEs, the Annual Conference is a chance to connect with peers from all kinds of disciplines in one place, which doesn’t happen often. Bringing together different perspectives matters, because many of today’s challenges don’t fit neatly into just one area of study.
The conference also provides the opportunity to catch up with colleagues, meet new Members, and strengthening ties with colleagues from different countries and fields. These personal and professional interactions often lead to collaborative projects, joint publications, or future initiatives within the Academy.
In addition, the programme explores broader societal and cultural issues, offering inspiration beyond one’s own area of expertise. It also offers an opportunity to engage with influential figures in European science policy.”
What would you say is the best part of attending the Annual Conference?
“It’s rare to find a space where scholars from such diverse disciplines can come together – not just to present their work, but to listen, learn, and engage with different ways of thinking. You get to move from a discussion on cutting-edge science to a session on literature or ethics, all in the same day. It’s a chance to step back from your day-to-day work and think a bit more broadly – about where your field fits into bigger questions.
Being in Barcelona definitely adds something to the experience. It’s an environment that supports curiosity, collaboration and new ideas.”
For more information on Building Bridges 2025, visit the Barcelona Knowledge Hub’s website.
Posted 12th June 2025. For mroe information contact aecardiffhub@cardiff.ac.uk
