Just 6 kilometers from the city of Valencia lies the Institute for Corpuscular Physics (IFIC). Located in the Scientific Park of the University of Valencia in Paterna, the IFIC is a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Valencia.

This pioneering center in particle physics at both the national and international levels was founded in 1950 by the Valencian physicist Joaquín Catalá. Since then, the IFIC has established itself as a leading research institution in Spain.

Researchers from international collaborations work here, conducting experiments at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, home to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which spans 27 kilometers in circumference and is located on the border between Switzerland and France. The IFIC also includes researchers involved in international collaborations whose experiments take place at Fermilab, the particle physics laboratory in Chicago (USA), or even at the KM3NeT neutrino telescope located on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea.

“From Science for Society” is the title of this public gala-event, an expression that reflects the essence and goals of the IFIC: bringing its studies and research to all citizens. Hosted by comedian and science enthusiast Juan Carlos Ortega, this show is conceived as a celebration, featuring a series of segments discussing the origins of the IFIC, contributions from some of its researchers, and a finale offering a humorous take on the world of particle physics. Ortega—known for the radio program “Las Noches de Ortega” and his numerous television appearances—will act as master of ceremonies, delivering a final act that is sure to surprise the audience. The broadcaster, writer, and comedian describes himself as “a person who does things on the radio, some of which are comedy (but not all)”; in this spirit, the gala-event aims to offer an innovative format compared to typical shows created by a research institute.

This show revisits 75 years of history of a center born with the ambition of uncovering the deepest mysteries of the universe. Research conducted at the IFIC is organized into three major areas, approached from both theoretical and experimental perspectives: the origin of mass, to understand the fundamental laws of physics; the origin of matter, with the goal of understanding the universe; and advanced instrumentation and computing.

At the IFIC, research staff collaborate with professors from the University of Valencia. The institute brings together around 400 professionals, including foreign researchers from more than 40 different nationalities and about a hundred doctoral students.

In 2015, the IFIC was awarded the “Severo Ochoa” Center of Excellence accreditation in recognition of the significance of its scientific contributions both nationally and internationally, its impact on society and industry, and its ability to attract scientific talent. Its contributions to basic science and its strong commitment to transferring cutting-edge technologies to society led the IFIC to renew this accreditation in 2024.

Now, as 2025 comes to an end after months of celebrations and commemorations, the Olympia Theatre is expected to shine on November 29 with a show that will mark the grand finale of a 75th anniversary dedicated to science for society.