With a PhD in particle physics and cosmology and a passion for making science more accessible, Miguel Peiró has dedicated his career to reimagining how everyday people experience these disciplines. As the founder of La Academia Arte y Ciencia and lead voice behind the "Let's Talk About Science" programme at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Peiró invites visitors to explore everything from chaos theory to quantum physics through the lens of art. In this unique, multifaceted role, he creates guided tours that bridge masterpieces by artists such as Magritte and Mondrian with profound scientific ideas, transforming complex theories into meaningful, tangible experiences. We sat down with Peiró to discuss what it's like to guide audiences through this thought-provoking journey, the challenges of translating abstract science into emotion and story, and why his work at the intersection of logic and imagination is, for him, truly priceless.

What does the work of organising the guided art and science tours mean to you?

Without a doubt, it is both a unique opportunity and an extraordinary challenge. Organising activities like these guided tours—which connect art and science to offer more than just traditional outreach talks—is an innovative and unprecedented initiative. Delivering the tours in a museum like the Thyssen represents an ambitious commitment with enormous potential.

The themes explored during the tours—such as the origin of the universe, quantum physics, and chaos theory—are complex, abstract, and technically demanding. For this reason, integrating them with art became a wonderful opportunity for me to delve more deeply into the museum's masterpieces. Spending hours contemplating works by artists such as Klee, Magritte, and Mondrian has been a unique and enriching experience that has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.

The paintings at the Thyssen have become, for me, bridges to understanding ideas that might initially seem distant or difficult to grasp. The ongoing dialogue between both disciplines expands not only our perception of art and science, but also reawakens our sense of wonder—raising questions that invite us to explore the world around us with greater attentiveness and intent.

This interdisciplinary experience reinforces the museum's role as a living space for knowledge, creativity, and shared learning.

What challenges have you encountered in leading the tours, and how have you approached these challenges?

In truth, the museum has been highly supportive and collaborative from the outset, always willing to facilitate the development of these activities. In that sense, the only real challenge I've encountered has been the very design and creation of the tours themselves—specifically, the task of building solid bridges between the artworks and scientific topics, such as those mentioned earlier, which are often highly abstract.

This endeavour has proven challenging at times because the tours are completely original and unprecedented; there were no previous models to draw upon.

Particularly demanding was the tour dedicated to quantum physics. This scientific field describes a world in which our everyday perceptions and intuitive understanding no longer apply, making it especially difficult to connect with the museum's works without resorting to mathematical explanations.

At first, linking quantum concepts to the paintings seemed almost impossible, given how distant and unfamiliar this fascinating field of physics can feel. But once I found a way to explain certain key concepts through specific artworks, the narrative began to flow naturally, and what once felt overwhelmingly complex started to become clear and accessible.

I believe that the same process I experienced during the preparation—the journey from complexity to simplicity—is precisely what visitors go through during the tour. And it is that transformation that makes each visit truly unique.

What has been truly priceless for you in relation to this particular project?

The opportunity offered by the Thyssen museum to bring science closer to the general public—week after week, and in such a special and memorable way through art—is absolutely unparalleled. Having complete freedom to choose scientific themes and select artworks to design original and distinctive guided tours has truly been priceless. This experience has allowed me to delve deeply into both disciplines with complete creative freedom.

Equally valuable has been the opportunity to visit the museum whenever I've needed, to quietly reflect in front of the artworks and discover new connections, metaphors, or bridges between art and science. This privileged and constant access to such a rich and inspiring cultural space has become an inexhaustible source of ideas and creativity for me.

Currently, I'm developing two new guided tours for next year, one of which will focus on light and its fascinating mysteries. Exploring how artistic representations of light have evolved over the centuries—observing closely its transformations and nuances in each painting—is proving to be an extraordinarily enriching experience.

What about more generally in your work as an art and science tour guide?

As a guide, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the joy on people's faces, week after week, during these guided tours. It doesn't matter whether they're children, teenagers, or adults—they all begin with that initial expression of uncertainty, faced with the unknown nature of such a new and different experience. And by the end of the tour, those same faces reflect satisfaction, enthusiasm, and genuine wonder at having discovered something unexpected—at having discovered science in a completely different way.

For someone like me, dedicated to science communication and outreach, and at the same time deeply passionate about art, witnessing that transformation is truly priceless. Each visit fills me with joy and renews my passion for this work, turning every week into a truly unique experience.

The emotional shift [described above] that takes place during the tours not only keeps my own sense of wonder alive, but also motivates me to continually improve, constantly seeking new ways to surprise and connect with visitors. It serves as a constant reminder that these tours have meaning, that the effort is worthwhile, and that the ability to inspire awe is one of the most precious gifts we can share with others.