The Salesian school’s Gémina 3D project received international recognition by winning one of the Scientix Cultural Legacy Awards 2026, which honour excellence in preserving the cultural heritage of European cities and municipalities.

The interdisciplinary initiative was developed through the subjects of Digitalisation and History, in collaboration with the Archaeological Museum of Úbeda, particularly its Heritage and Education Department. Its 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 three-dimensional digitisation of some of the most representative artefacts in its collections.

To carry out the project, 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 digitised museum objects using photogrammetry and 3D scanning techniques, complemented by historical research and the cataloguing of the artefacts 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 CERES catalogue (Spanish Network of Museum Collections) enabled students to become familiar with the tools regularly employed by museums and cultural institutions for heritage preservation.

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 and 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 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.

Beyond the award itself, the project’s greatest achievement has been to demonstrate that education can become a genuine experience of creativity and research, in which students not only learn about cultural heritage but also play an active role in its preservation, interpretation and promotion through the technologies of the 21st century.