On Saturday, 3 October 2026, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the Generali Convention Center in Trieste and the Immaginario Scientifico will host INTRECCI 2026 - I Grow! I Explore, Experiment, Understand, an initiative focusing on the importance of fostering scientific thinking from the earliest years of life, encouraging the development of curiosity, observation skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The event will feature interactive workshops, educational experiences and in-depth talks aimed at education professionals.

The University of Trieste will take part through the Physics Education Research Group of the Department of Physics, which has long been involved in teacher training and support, as well as in promoting participatory methodologies for teaching scientific disciplines. The group also coordinates the regional FisicaMente project, developed to introduce and test a scientific-method approach in nursery schools and early childhood education settings.

The morning will begin with two parallel workshop sessions: “Vai col tinkering!”, organised by the Immaginario Scientifico, and “Tutti possiamo pensare da scienziati”, led by the UniTS Physics Education Research Group. From 11:00 am, a plenary session will follow, presenting experiences carried out across the region and exploring the relationship between hands-on activities, neuroscience and learning.

At 11:10 am, the UniTS Department of Physics research group will present the FisicaMente workshop programme, which has been tested in nursery schools and early childhood education settings across Friuli Venezia Giulia, with a contribution from the Comprehensive Institute with Slovenian as the language of instruction in Gorizia.

This will be followed by a presentation by the Immaginario Scientifico on the tinkering methodology, an educational approach based on hands-on exploration, creativity and collaborative experimentation. The morning will continue with a talk by Tiziana Sacco, PhD in Neuroscience and a specialist in learning and learning disorders.

The institutional closing session, scheduled for 12:40 pm, will feature Alessia Rosolen, Regional Councillor for Labour, Training, Education, Research, Universities and Family, together with a representative of the Regional School Office for Friuli Venezia Giulia. From 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Immaginario Scientifico free of charge.