Eclipses and Discoveries: in the Sun’s Shadow, the focus of a series of outreach talks in Gipuzkoa

Kutxa Fundazioa and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) are organizing the series of talks Eclipses and Discoveries: in the Sun’s Shadow devoted to solar eclipses and their key role in advancing science. As a new departure, and in line with Kutxa Fundazioa’s strategic commitment to spread science outreach across the Basque Autonomous Community, the programme is coming to Gipuzkoa with two events, one in Irun and the other in Bergara, in collaboration with Oiasso Museoa and Laboratorium Museoa.

On 12 August, a total solar eclipse, one of the most spectacular and thrilling natural phenomena, will be visible from certain points on the Iberian Peninsula. For a few minutes, the light, temperature and sounds in the surroundings are completely transformed, and all the senses are offered a unique experience.

Beyond their beauty, total solar eclipses have been instrumental in advancing scientific knowledge. In the run-up to this event, the astrophysicist Silvia Bonoli (Ikerbasque, DIPC) and the astrophysicist Mikel Falxa (DIPC) will be taking us on a journey from our own planet right to the most distant reaches of the galaxy by giving two talks in which they will be reviewing some of the most surprising discoveries made possible by eclipses.

This activity is part of the programme run by Jakinaldia. 2026ko eklipsearen jaia, an initiative promoted by the Department of Science, Universities and Innovation of the Government of the Basque Autonomous Community.

About the speakers

Silvia Bonoli is an astrophysicist and has been an Ikerbasque Research Associate Professor at DIPC since 2018. Her scientific work focuses on the study of supermassive black holes, from their formation to their influence on the galaxies that host them. Having been trained at the University of Bologna, the University of Toronto and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Munich, she has pursued her research career at leading international institutions. Committed to outreach, she participates actively in initiatives to bring science to the general public.

Mikel Falxa is an astrophysicist and has just joined DIPC as a Post-doctoral Researcher. His research focuses on gravitational waves emitted by binary systems of supermassive black holes. Born in Baigorri (Continental Basque Country), he trained at the Paris Observatory and obtained his PhD at the Astroparticule et Cosmologie laboratory in Paris, subsequently undertaking post-doctoral research stays in France and Italy.