Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is a public university located in Catalonia, Spain. Recent news highlights its activities in two distinct areas. Firstly, the UAB is promoting the use of 'serious games' – interactive applications designed for educational, therapeutic, or awareness purposes – to improve the mental health of its students. This initiative aims to leverage game mechanics to teach skills, simulate real-life situations, and enhance learning. Secondly, the UAB's Aerobiological Network of Catalonia (XAC) is forecasting a longer and more intense allergy season this spring due to recent heavy rains and cold weather, which have led to increased plant growth and pollen production. The XAC's monitoring and predictions are crucial for informing allergy sufferers and healthcare providers in the region about the expected severity of the season.