Project blend of history and digitalization

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian School, located in Úbeda, Spain, announced that its Gémina 3D project has received international recognition by winning one of the Scientix Cultural Legacy Awards 2026, which honors excellence in preserving the cultural heritage of European cities and municipalities.

At the end of April, teachers and year 10 students presented Gémina 3D during the international STEM Discovery event. This is one of Europe’s leading initiatives promoting STEM education and educational innovation. The competition is coordinated by the Scientix community and the NBS project, under the patronage of the European Commission and its European Union education agency. This year, some 9,000 projects from more than 50 countries were submitted across several categories.

The Salesian students’ project was a blend of digitalization and history and was carried out in collaboration with the Archaeological Museum of Úbeda. The main objective was to create a highly realistic digital replica of the museum, combining the virtual reconstruction of its architectural spaces with the scientific documentation and 3D digitization of some of the most representative artifacts in its collections.

A Salesian explained, “Students spent several months creating a three-dimensional model of the museum building using the original architectural plans, on-site measurements and extensive photographic documentation. At the same time, they digitized museum objects using photogrammetry and 3D scanning techniques, complemented by historical research and the cataloguing of the artifacts studied.”

The project also introduced students to the working methods commonly used in museum studies and cultural heritage conservation. Official cataloguing models were used to prepare the research records, while the Spanish Network of Museum Collections catalogue enabled students to become familiar with the tools regularly employed.

The initiative was further enriched through the integration of resources from Europeana, Europe’s leading digital library of cultural heritage, creating links between the collections of the Archaeological Museum of Úbeda and other European heritage collections. This international dimension helped students understand their local heritage as part of a shared European cultural legacy.

Gémina 3D forms part of the Lábaro 24 School Heritage Research Group, a Salesian school initiative involving year 10 students dedicated to the study, research and promotion of the local historical and cultural heritage. Each year, through this group, students take part in practical projects in which research, technology and commitment to heritage conservation become essential tools for learning.

The Salesian noted, “The international recognition represents a significant endorsement of the work carried out by the students and highlights the value of educational methodologies that successfully integrate the humanities with STEM disciplines. It also places the archaeological heritage of Úbeda and the school’s innovative educational approach at the heart of a European network of best practices.”

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ANS – Spain – Salesian school in Úbeda receives international recognition for its “Gémina 3D” project

Salesian Missions – Spain