UNIGHT

For several years now, researchers from the Alpstream group have enthusiastically participated at the European Researchers' Night (Unight), an event held simultaneously across Europe to promote interaction and dialogue between the scientific the community and the society. The goal is to bring citizens closer to science and show how this profession can be exciting, with the aim of inspiring younger participants.

2023 Edition in Ostana

Around 30 participants took part in the activities organized duting the Unight organized at the Alpstream Centre in Ostana on Friday, September 29, 2023.

The outreach initiative was carried out by Professor Francesca Bona and Dr. Anna Marino from the University of Turin.

Through recreational activities such as role-playing, logic puzzles, and investigation games using the "smart benthoteca" (a collection of aquatic insects), the public was introduced to some of the research topics carried out by Alpstream.

A group of 20 young people aged from 13 to 18 also participated in the activities. They spent several days in Ostana, in the Monviso Park, as part of the "Laboratorio Monviso" program, a "Young Hub - Valle Po" action funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and promoted by the Monviso Mountain Union.

The event took place in collaboration with the Monviso Park and the Viso a Viso Cooperative of Ostana.

2022 Edition

The center of Turin once again became the vibrant heart of the event "European Researchers' Night" this year dedicated to Piero Angela. With approximately 200 activities, including scientific cafés, exhibitions, open museums, prototype presentations, experiments, shows, and games for all ages, UNIGHT offered the public an immersive experience in the world of research and an opportunity to actively participate in the most pressing social challenges of the present and future. The key issue of these activities is the European Union’s agenda: Climate change adaptation, Cancer prevention, Healthy food and soils, Climate-neutral and smart cities, Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters, Circular economy, Renewable energy, and Cultural heritage.

Among the 1500 researchers participating in the Unight, the Alpstream group provided the opportunity to explore its research topics more closely. An audience of all ages had the chance to observe benthic macroinvertebrates and diatoms under the microscope, appreciating their morphological and ecological characteristics. 3D models and QR codes helped viewers delve deeper into topics related to river ecology.

2021 Edition

The Alpstream group participated at the 2021 European Researchers' Night organized by the Polytechnic od Turin in collaboration with the University of Turin. The researchers took part in the night with over 200 activities: experiments, games, science storytelling, exhibitions, and shows.

In this context, the activities proposed by Alpstream aimed to raise awareness about the protection of aquatic ecosystems, particularly rivers, by showcasing some of the educational and research activities routinely conducted by the Alpstream Centre. The Alpstream team offered a guided tour tailored to the age of the audience, with various educational and recreational activities: informative videos on ALPSTREAM, role-playing games “Play Decide: The River to Explore,” logic puzzles, investigations using the “smart bentoteca” (a collection of aquatic insects), and 3D models (diatom algae) associated with QR codes.