Climate change, sustainability, neuroscience, new frontiers of medicine and energy, protection of cultural and marine heritage, spatial exploration: the great issues that outline the contemporary horizon require global, shared and interdisciplinary responses. It is within this setting that the “Mediterranean Mediterranean Nette of the researchers” has been placed, which has transformed the rectorate into an open-air urban laboratory, hosting almost ninety interactive activities, conducted by over 420 researchers and researchers from the University, committed to making the complexity of science accessible to the general public in its many declinations. The initiative is located within the twenty years of the “European Researchers’ Night”, supported by the EU through the “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions” of “Horizon Europe”.
To officially open the works was the rector Giovanna Spatari, who called “Mednight” as “a particularly significant moment, because it allows you to open the doors of our university to the city, to the territory, to people of all ages”, remarking how the initiative is the outcome of an annual commitment that involves the entire academic community in synergy. The greetings of Prof. Marina Trimarchi, scientific coordinator of the project, and of the general manager Pietro Nuccio followed.
The first part of the evening dedicated ample space to the little ones, with specific activities on sports and science, psychology and neuroscience, geophyosophy for childhood, food education and emotional awareness. At the same time, workshops, experiments, guided tours and live demonstrations have addressed crucial themes such as climate, geology, sustainable energies, health, sea and pollution, historical and cultural heritage, technology and innovation.
The second part of the event took on a more dynamic and participatory character, marked by interactive quiz with sponsored prizes “Dr. Why”, by the awarding of the “Friends of the Mednight” – including the president of Messina Social City Valeria Asquini and the library Daniela Bonazinga – and from the talk “Return to the Moon” with Eng. Simone Pirrotta (Italian space agency) and astrophysics Francesca Esposito (National Astrophysics Institute). The two guests outlined the role of Italy within the Artemis missions and European collaborations, highlighting not only the scientific and technological dimension of the new lunar season, but also its terrestrial effects in terms of Space Economy, robotic innovation, management of water resources and development of advanced technologies.
The event, accompanied by live music, was also an opportunity to remember Dr. Claudia Adamo, Rai Meteo and Madrine manager of the 2022 and 2023 editions of the “Mednight” in Messina. At the same time, the new edition of the “Unime Games” was presented, an interdepartmental tournament scheduled from 3 to 5 October, with over 800 athletes and athletes and 251 registered teams. With “Mednight” 2025, Messina has reconfirmed himself Mediterranean capital of scientific dissemination, able to place the university in an international network that looks to the future.
Find out more in the digital edition
To read everything, buy the newspaper
or download the digital version.