Gemma Morell wins the 2026 UAB Open Science Award
ICTA-UAB researcher Gemma Morell has won the 2026 UAB Open Science Award in the doctoral student category, presented on November 3.
The award recognizes initiatives promoting open science led by members of the UAB community and “highlights the work of many people,” as noted by Rector Javier Lafuente, who presented the award. In the research staff category, the award went to Paloma Valdívia, a lecturer in the Department of Theories of Education and Social Pedagogy.
The presentation took place during the second edition of the UAB Open Science Conference, which featured several presentations on citizen science and talks on projects developed across the campus. The initiative aims to promote open science in all areas of the university, from teaching to research, knowledge transfer, and governance.
During the institutional welcome, UAB Rector Javier Lafuente highlighted the university's commitment to research that serves everyone: “At the university, as the public service we are, we conduct research and publish for everyone, because we want citizens to know how and where science is progressing. This is a very important mindset shift.” He also defended collaborative work “so that research has a scientific, social, and cultural impact, contributing to transforming society.”
Gemma Morell is a PhD candidate in Environmental Science and Technology at ICTA-UAB and a member of the Sostenipra research group, which focuses on industrial ecology. Her research centers on textile waste management, specifically quantifying the socio-environmental impacts and risks associated with the recovery and recycling of used textiles.
She holds a degree in Industrial Design Engineering from the Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, and a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). She has received national and international awards for her project ‘Photodermis’, a biodegradable garment that generates renewable energy, and has developed other products and materials from textile waste. She has also worked as an expert consultant in ecodesign and life cycle assessment for the private sector.
She currently combines her research activities with teaching. She is a senior lecturer in the Master’s in Sustainable Design at Shifta Online School for Digital Creators, and an external lecturer for undergraduate and master's programs at the Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. She is also a board member of the Industrial Design Association (ADI-FAD).