On 25 September, researchers from Cnr Nano took part in the European Researchers’ Night in Modena and Pisa, offering many ways to experience science: by experimenting, playing, asking questions and talking directly with researchers.

In Modena, as part of the programme organised by the Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Unimore), three activities invited visitors to discover different worlds of science. In The superpower of supercomputers – Become a processor and discover parallel computing, children and adults experienced first-hand how processors work together to solve complex tasks (by Nicola Spallanzani, Claudia Cardoso, Susanna Cavicchioli). Innovating to preserve: inside invisible matter offered an immersive journey into the microscopic world, using virtual reality to explore proteins, nanoparticles and innovative materials (by Giorgia Brancolini, Alessia Papalini, Andoni Ugartemendia and Alessandro Mossa). With Matter of Matching, visitors could explore the properties of different materials through a playful take on the classic memory game (by Matteo D’Alessio, Pietro Bonfa’ and Marco Gibertini).

In Pisa, Cnr Nano joined the BRIGHT-NIGHT programme in the city centre, contributing to the PLANET – Research for a sustainable future activities. At the Cultivating the future stand, visitors discovered how innovative materials and sensor technologies can support precision agriculture (with Antonella Battisti). Research becomes care: the Pisa Centre for Flash Radiotherapy brought the public closer to research into advanced radiotherapy and radiobiological modelling (with Valentina Tozzini). The programme also featured the talk Innovative materials for biomedical and environmental applications, presented by Antonella Battisti.

Cnr Nano was also represented in Bright Urban Science, the photographic installation by Irene Taddei that brought portraits of researchers and their work into the streets of Pisa, featuring Cnr Nano researchers Miriam Vitiello and Lucia Sorba.

Taking part in Researchers’ Night is one of the many ways in which Cnr Nano brings research beyond the laboratory, creating opportunities for people to encounter science in a direct and accessible way, to ask questions and to see the people and curiosity behind scientific research. These encounters also remind us that research does not happen in isolation: it grows through dialogue, exchange and connection with the wider community.

Cnr Nano presence at European Researchers’ Night details is detailed here: https://www.nano.cnr.it/cnr-nano-at-the-european-researchers-night-2026/