Francesco Dattilo, a PhD student in Environment and Life at the University of Trieste and the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), won the title of Italian champion at FameLab Italia 2024, held in Genoa on 27th October as part of the Festival of Science.

Dattilo was awarded for ‘having clearly and charismatically presented a very recent scientific result, at the same time highlighting the path of discovery by showing how science proceeds and how one can arrive at a discovery even through a failure and a wrong hypothesis’. During his presentation, the young physicist outlined in three minutes the research that recently led to an explanation of the flow and abundance of oxygen in the ocean floor. A challenge that lasted thirteen years, a journey studded with trial and error and concluded with the announcement of the discovery of how certain rocks on the ocean floor cause processes of electrolysis and the consequent abundant presence of oxygen.

‘I am really happy that the message I wanted to convey was appreciated. Beyond the result, it was a wonderful experience, I met a lot of scientists with stories to tell,’ said Dattilo, who will represent Italy in the FameLab international online final on 29th November. Together with him, Federica Moretti, a PhD student in nanotechnology at the University of Trieste, also made it onto the national podium, once again demonstrating the value of the city's research.

In 2024 FameLab Italia, coordinated by Cheltenham Festivals and Psiquadro Perugia, reached the milestone of its thirteenth edition, after having visited 25 cities throughout Italy over the years and involved over 1,000 young researchers. The event was made possible thanks to a collaboration with more than 100 cultural partners including, for the selection of Trieste, the Immaginario Scientifico Science Museum, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA and the Municipality of Trieste, as part of the Trieste City of Knowledge System.