On Tuesday, 20 October, La Investigadora held a significant scientific event as part of its cultural celebrations for its 141st anniversary. The occasion attracted a large crowd to the main hall, featuring two parts: a talk by esteemed biologist Rafael García Becerra, who specialises in entomology and speleology, and the opening of an exhibition, both titled “Contributions to the Knowledge of Daytime Butterflies”.
Thanks to the support of the Santa Cruz de La Palma Cultural Department, this exhibition on the fascinating world of butterflies will remain open until 30 March in a dedicated space on the ground floor of the historic building located at 15 Anselmo Pérez de Brito Street. The aim is to engage the public and highlight the importance of the Lepidoptera order, which is notably represented in La Palma.
La Investigadora invites residents to explore this informative display featuring photographs, collected materials, bibliographies, and entomological cases showcasing Canary, Palm and mainland species. The project is particularly focused on educational outreach for primary and secondary school students, greatly enhanced by a generous donation from Francisco Déniz Guerra of 30 entomological cases with 135 butterfly species (Order Lepidoptera) totalling 838 specimens.
It is worth noting that the Cabildo of La Palma and the Santa Cruz de La Palma City Council have been supporting this initiative to ensure its long-term educational goals. Additionally, La Investigadora’s Natural History Cabinet continues to welcome all forms of knowledge-sharing, big or small, to expand its legacy.
The cultural week commenced on Monday, 19 October, with the official launch of the Santa Cruz de La Palma Municipal Choir, directed by Fernando Felipe Martel, attended by Culture and Heritage Councillor Míriam Perestelo, who expressed her commitment to supporting inclusive initiatives at La Investigadora.
On Wednesday, the musical group “Renacer,” led by Francisco Camacho, performed; on Thursday, José Francisco López Feliciano, Professor of Electronic Technology at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, gave a talk titled “How to See the Invisible.” On Friday, 23 October, biologists Félix Manuel Medina Hijazo and María Guerrero Campos will present their talk “Life After the Eruption: Biodiversity Facing Tajogaite.” All events are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
