On Friday 26th September the European Researchers’ Night returns to Trieste, an event promoted by the European Commission which every year involves thousands of researchers, scholars and institutions in hundreds of European cities. It is the largest communication and outreach event on research taking place in the EU and Horizon Europe-associated countries, engaging more than 1.5 million people.

In Trieste, where the event was presented today, the highlight will take place on Friday 26th September in Piazza Unità d’Italia and the surrounding areas, which for the occasion will be transformed into an open-air laboratory with meetings, shows, experiments, demonstrations and games for all ages. The aim, once again, is to spread a culture of science and knowledge of research professions in an informal and stimulating setting.

Many events will run alongside the Trieste Next science research festival, hosted in Piazza Unità d’Italia and other venues in the city centre. Other activities will anticipate the Night starting on Thursday 11th September. From 22nd September there will also be meetings in schools.

The Old Port will come to life with the special opening of the Immaginario Scientifico Science Museum from 16:00 to 20:00. A shuttle bus will link Piazza Unità with the museum premises in Magazzino 26: on board a researcher will talk about topical issues and answer questions and curiosities.

In Trieste, the lead partner of the SHARPER – Sharing Researchers’ Passion for Evolving Responsibilities project is the Immaginario Scientifico, which organises the European Researchers’ Night together with the Municipality of Trieste and the scientific institutions of the Trieste City of Knowledge Memorandum of Understanding, of which the University of Trieste is also a member.

All activities are free of charge (some require booking).

Full details here: https://www.sharper-night.it/trieste/

Below is the programme curated by the University of Trieste:

Preview events:

Thursday 11th and 18th September, 18:00-19:30 | ITS Arcademy
 IO VEDO ALTRO. When science looks at fashion

A journey through art, fashion and design via neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics and materials, to discover – thanks to the words of researchers – the hidden links between creativity, innovation and knowledge.
 Booking required.

Organised by Area Science Park and ITS Arcademy, in collaboration with the University of Trieste, SISSA and CNR-IOM

Friday 12th and 19th September, 18:00–19:00 | Aqvedotto Caffè
SUMO SCIENCE

Late-summer evenings, sitting at tables under the trees to enjoy a lively contest between researchers from different disciplines, each passionately defending their own field of research. The audience will decide the winner.

Organised by Science Industries with researchers from ICGEB, INAF, OGS and the University of Trieste

Sunday 14th September, 11:00 and 16:00 | Immaginario Scientifico
TEN YEARS OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVES

Two talks retracing the stages of a revolutionary discovery that opened a new window on the Universe: how do the detectors work? What have we learned in a decade? What mysteries remain to be solved?

Organised by INFN Trieste and the University of Trieste

Thursday 25th September, 17:00-18:30 (meeting point 16:50, Piazza Dalmazia – tram stop)
 DON’T MISS THE SCIENCE TRAM: A JOURNEY THROUGH RAILS, RESEARCH AND WIND

A unique experience on the historic Opicina tram line. On board, passengers will hear fascinating stories of science and innovation told directly by those who live research every day. In Opicina, they will then visit the new Bora Museum, a short walk from the tram terminus, with interactive stations, curiosities, memories and stories about Trieste’s famous wind.

Free activity (participants pay only the tram ticket). Booking required (from 10th September).

Organised by the University of Trieste, INAF Trieste, INFN Trieste, Borarium

The programme for Friday 26th September

Piazza Unità d’Italia, Trieste Next university marquee
 15:00-22:00

PLAYING WITH SCIENCE

In three different areas visitors can discover some of the most recent scientific research through games and interactive experiences. Chemistry in a bubble will allow participants to create innovative materials such as slime, between bouncing and jelly-like spheres. The Comparatist is a game designed to explore laws and regulations from different countries. In the Rogue AI space, visitors will become detectives able to distinguish safe artificial intelligences from dangerous ones.

PATHWAYS TO BUILD THE FUTURE

Three of the activities offered share a vision of the future still to be built. Restorative justice pathways will present stories of injustice and innovative solutions; a virtual tour of the Friuli Venezia Giulia coastline will help understand the problem of rising sea levels; quantum experiments will link photons and atoms; and visitors will be able to travel through space among 3D printers and orbital debris simulations. In the exhibition space curated by Professor Seriani and the university team Astreo (UniTS), it will also be possible to send messages to the International Space Station and observe how a small Rover moves.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR HEALTH

New technologies are transforming approaches to health, care and prevention. In this exhibition space, neurological disorders will be addressed through virtual and digital rehabilitation, enabling personalised and engaging exercises to foster motivation and consistency. In the same space, scenarios will be explored on the management of chronic pain through artificial intelligence, neuromodulation, virtual reality and telemedicine within an integrated therapeutic approach.

THE TRICKED BRAIN / LESS IS MORE. DESTROYING TO CURE

Two interactive experiences exploring how the mind and the cell work: The tricked brain challenges the senses and reasoning with perceptual illusions and cognitive games, while Less is More illustrates how cells recognise and dispose of damaged proteins through ubiquitination, showing the recycling of amino acids and the link between this process and new therapies against diseases linked to protein accumulation.

Organised by the Departments of Engineering and Architecture; Physics; Political and Social Sciences; Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences; University Clinical Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences; Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Life Sciences; Astreo Student Team, University of Trieste; Artificial Intelligence Lab; projects 3D-L-INK; PROTOMAT; SAMBA; Office for Science Communication Support; Luciano Fonda University College; Language Lab, University of Udine. In collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region; Fibromyalgia Secretariat FVG; Italian Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association AISF ODV; CNR-IOM; CNR-INO; ASUGI, Interreg Italy-Slovenia X-BRAIN project; Ministry of Justice – Office of External Penal Enforcement.

15:00-18:30 | Sala del Torchio, Via dei Capitelli 8
 MATHEMATICS AT PLAY

Games and mathematics come together in interactive activities challenging logic, calculation, geometry and statistics, both entertaining and teaching rules and concepts.

Organised by the University of Trieste Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences, CIRD Interdepartmental Centre for Educational Research and PLS – Mathematics Project

17:00-18:30 | Porticos under the Town Hall, Piazza Unità d’Italia
 STREET SCIENCE

Science takes over public spaces: researchers step out of their laboratories and onto the ‘stage’ of the square to tell the story of their work and discoveries in the form of true street lectures.

Organised by research bodies SIS FVG, G. Tartini Conservatory of Music, University of Trieste, University of Udine

18:00-19:15 | Area Talk 1, Piazza Unità d’Italia
THE ROLE OF SAFETY IN RESEARCH ACROSS BORDERS

This session addresses the issue of researchers’ safety abroad in an international context marked by profound political, economic and social changes.

Organised by the University of Trieste

19:00-20:15 | Area Talk 2, Piazza Unità d’Italia
STORIES WITHIN. THE SUSTAINABLE LIGHTNESS OF EVERY BEING

A performance blending artistic languages with ecological, human and social reflections, turning the audience into active participants in the stage system.

Organised by the University of Trieste, Oltre quella sedia, Ministry of Justice – UDEPE

19:00-20:15 | Sala Costantinides and Sartorio Museum Park
GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT

A sunset walk to discover bats and their hidden world, guided by researchers and listening to their calls with a bat detector.

Organised by the University of Trieste Department of Life Sciences and Bat World Italy