On 25 September 2026, Cnr Nano will take part in the European Researchers’ Night, with activities in both Modena and Pisa, as part of the local programmes organised by Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Unimore) and BRIGHT-NIGHT in Pisa.
Cnr Nano researchers will bring their expertise and enthusiasm to the programme, with a range of engaging activities designed to share their research with the public in accessible and interactive ways.
MODENA
In Modena, Cnr Nano participates in the European Researchers’ Night programme organised by Unimore, with three engaging activities:
– Complesso San Paolo, via Camatta 16, from 8 pm to midnight –
The superpower of supercomputers – Become a processor and discover parallel computing
How can a supercomputer solve huge problems so quickly? In this interactive activity, children and adults will become the “processors” of a supercomputer and experience first-hand how collaboration, organisation and parallel computing can make a task faster and more efficient.
With Nicola Spallanzani, Claudia Cardoso and Susanna Cavicchioli – Cnr Nano.
Innovating to preserve: inside invisible matter
Inside the Virtual Room of the Cnr Nano – Modena centre, visitors can explore proteins, nanoparticles and innovative materials in virtual reality, observing and manipulating them just as researchers do. Supercomputing, artificial intelligence and immersive technologies offer a new way to visualise and interact with the microscopic world.
With Giorgia Brancolini, Alessia Papalini, Andoni Ugartemendia and Alessandro Mossa – Cnr Nano.
Matter of Matching: a ‘memory’ card game with a twist on condensed matter physics
Can you find a pair of magnetic materials? Or two two-dimensional materials? Inspired by the classic memory game, Matter of Matching invites visitors to discover the physics behind different materials, from crystal lattices and electronic band structures to the emerging properties of two-dimensional systems. Younger visitors can also explore the surprising properties of superconducting materials at very low temperatures.
With Matteo D’Alessio, Pietro Bonfa’ and Marco Gibertini – FIM Department University of Modena and Reggio Emilia & Cnr Nano.
PISA
In Pisa, Cnr Nano will take part in BRIGHT-NIGHT, the Tuscan edition of the European Researchers’ Night, with activities taking place in several locations across the city centre.
PLANET – Research for a sustainable future
From 4 pm onwards, Piazza Santa Caterina will host the activities dedicated to the PLANET theme, bringing research on the Earth, climate and environment into the city and exploring how science and innovation can contribute to a more sustainable future. Cnr Nano researchers will be involved in:
Cultivating the future
At this stand, Antonella Battisti will present demonstrations of sensor technologies for precision agriculture, developed jointly by the University of Pisa and Cnr Nano, showing how innovative materials and sensing technologies can support more efficient and sustainable agriculture
Research becomes care: the Pisa Centre for Flash Radiotherapy
Valentina Tozzini will take part in this activity, presenting research on advanced radiotherapy and radiobiological modelling. The activity is co-created by CISUP and the University Hospital of Pisa (AOUP), together with the University of Pisa, INFN and Cnr Nano.
At 5:40 pm, Antonella Battisti will also give the talk “Innovative materials for biomedical and environmental applications”, exploring how innovative materials can contribute to applications in healthcare and environmental technologies.
Cnr Nano is also represented in Bright Urban Science, a photographic installation by photographer Irene Taddei that brings large-scale portraits of researchers and their laboratories into the streets of Pisa. Two Cnr Nano researchers, Miriam Vitiello and Lucia Sorba, are featured in the installation, giving Cnr Nano’s research a visible presence in the city.
