On 4 and 5 April 2025, the Mathesis of Serra San Bruno inaugurated the first edition of the competition with great enthusiasm “Francesco A. Lucchino Prize”. The prize was born with the ambitious objective of honoring national educational excellence: an initiative intended to mark a milestone in the cultural and scientific panorama.
This competition, open to students of all ages and coming from schools of all levels, has offered young minds brilliant minds to confront a topic of extraordinary relevance: “Innovation and science: The New Frontiers for Education”. At the center of this competition was interdisciplinary creativity, an invitation to students to explore the connections between mathematics, physics and medical sciences, in line with Steam guidelines promoted by the Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM).
The “Francesco A. Lucchino Prize” is not only a competition, but an act of living and vibrant opening, who does not just remember, but wants to continue the commitment of his inspirer to young people and the community. The competition aims to be a tool through which to remember and share the values that Francesco has embodied: the love for knowledge, the spread of scientific culture as a fundamental lever for the progress of society, the enthusiasm for social, cultural and spiritual initiatives and the dedication to the youngest.
Francesco was not only a fan of science, but a concrete example of altruism and friendship, who left an indelible mark on all those who met him on his path. A legacy that Mathesis wanted to collect and continue, making it concrete through this initiative, capable of looking to the future and stimulating the new generations to grow with a spirit of solidarity, innovation and social awareness. The opening of the works was solemnly marked by a minute of silence requested by the President of the Lions, manager Caterina Scarpino, In memory of Francesco A. Lucchino and to pay homage to his commitment in the social. This gesture added further meaning to an event that has put the projection of a better future for science and educational culture at the center.
The competition stimulated students to develop projects that explored, but also redefined, the transformative potential of scientific disciplines with the aim of rewarding not only theoretical research, but also to promote a synergy between theory and practice to form a new generation of scholars capable of dealing with the challenges of the contemporary world with innovative and concrete solutions. The award ceremony saw the recognition of the schools that have distinguished themselves for originality and quality of their projects, for the commitment in the spread of scientific culture and for the innovative and methodological approach in the steam disciplines.
Among the winners, institutes of great value stand out, such as the Don Bosco elementary school of Lamezia Terme, whose young authors, who with extraordinary fantasy and curiosity have been able to intertwine the world of mathematics and medicine through the magic of fairy tales with the story “Fibonacci in the blood: the mathematics that guides the medicine of the future”, have obtained the first prize of a thousand euros. The Scientific High School G. Berto di Vibo Valentia has seen its students rewarded for the quality of preparation in scientific disciplines and for the multidisciplinary approach of technologies and their applications through a movie on quantum computers and also an innovative work on the electric scalpel with bio -emptive sensor created with the use of 3D printer. And also at the Mazzocchi Umberto I Institute of Ascoli Piceno, recognition for excellence in the technologies applied on the methodology of cultivation and analysis of Spirulina with the presentation of an extraordinary value on food health on how science can contribute to a healthier and sustainable world has gone. The special mention for the originality and the innovative potential recognized in the work presented by the students who introduced the use of the AI in medicine went to the IIS G. Malafarina in Soverato by proposing innovative and revolutionary applications on the approach to diagnoses and treatments.
The young excellence was given a ceramic medal, which represents the symbol of Mathesis, coined exclusively to celebrate the “Franceco A. Lucchino Prize” by the artist Lametino prof. Antonio Puja. But the Francesco A. Lucchino award is not limited to being a simple recognition of talent. It is a platform that looks to the future, created by the Mathesis of Serra San Bruno as a unique opportunity to encourage collaboration between students, teachers and institutions of all levels. The goal is to stimulate new explorations in scientific teaching, where curiosity and passion for knowledge are the beating heart of the educational experience. The event saw a massive participation of pupils, students, parents, teachers, school managers and academics from different parts of the national territory, demonstrating the importance of a meeting between school, family and academic world in the construction of a more conscious and prepared society. Mathesis underlined how scientific education is a collective commitment, and the prize represents a strong stimulus for the creation of a community of young scientists ready to trace new paths in the world of sciences and respond with determination to future challenges. In these two days, the participants had the opportunity to listen to relationships of great value, presented by doctors, teachers from prestigious universities, by the SSM (Southern High School) of Naples and also by students who for the occasion have prepared themselves for this culture exchange.
It was a moment full of reflections and construction interventions. The president of the Mathesis of Serra San Bruno, Prof.ssa Crisia Bilottahe wanted to highlight that this prize represents much more than a recognition of individual talent: it is a challenge launched to all schools and students, an invitation to continue with determination their path, aimed at building an scientific and cultural future based on real skills, an unprecedented innovation and progress that can inspire generations to come. An important lesson which, as underlined by Prof. Bilotta, will also pass through correct and updated information on the scientific paths to form future generations. In conclusion, the first edition of the Francesco A. Lucchino award is configured as an appointment of extraordinary relevance, a symbol of the constant commitment for the promotion of scientific culture and education as a key essential for the progress of society. With the Francesco A. Lucchino award, Mathesis intends to inspire and guide a new generation of scholars, capable of dealing with the challenges of the future with an innovative, determined and visionary spirit.