The “landing” of Cosmic School, the project’s final event, was hosted by the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics – INFN in Assergi (L’Aquila). The event was enlivened by a large delegation from the participating schools (approximately 200 students and teachers), as well as representatives of the Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale Impresa sociale, which selected and supported the project, and the partnership comprising the Gran Sasso Tech Foundation, the Openpolis Foundation, the Gran Sasso Science Institute, the Gran Sasso National Laboratories and the Regional Education Office for Abruzzo.
During the morning, some of the work produced by the classes in the workshops organised over recent months was presented. In total, more than 700 sessions were held in approximately 90 classes at secondary schools in Abruzzo (L’Aquila, Pescara, Teramo, Avezzano, Sulmona, Vasto, Lanciano, Giulianova and Nereto), Campania (Pompeii) and Basilicata (Potenza).
During the academic year, no fewer than 312 training sessions were held on fundamental physics, cosmic rays and the main techniques used to detect them, alongside workshop activities dedicated to exploring gender discrimination in STEM careers (an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and post-school guidance for boys and girls. The programme also involved students directly in designing and building the Cosmic Rays Cube (CRC), a cosmic-ray detector, subsequently guiding them through the acquisition and analysis of the data produced by the instrument, which will remain available to their respective schools. . Particular attention was also devoted to exploring methods for using the data produced, whether derived from scientific experiments or statistical surveys, highlighting their potential applications in fields other than scientific research. This important work was made possible by the contribution of the project’s highly qualified scientific partner staff, coordinated by Attanasio Candela for the Gran Sasso Tech Foundation, Massimo Mannarelli for the Gran Sasso National Laboratories and Adriano Di Giovanni for the Gran Sasso Science Institute.
Following the meeting, the students took part in guided tours of the Underground Laboratories, the world’s foremost underground laboratories dedicated to astroparticle physics. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for further study and guidance, allowing participants to gain first-hand knowledge of the scientific research activities conducted in the laboratories and the technological infrastructure used in the international experiments hosted there. During the academic year, the classes had already explored the LNGS’s main research topics through specific educational programmes. The experience therefore enabled them to connect the theoretical aspects addressed during the training activities with their application in experimental research.
Ezio Previtali, Director of the Gran Sasso National Laboratories, stated: “The high level of involvement recorded during this initiative confirms how important it is to offer young people concrete opportunities to engage with the world of science, particularly physics. The results achieved demonstrate the enthusiasm, curiosity and capacity for in-depth study of the students, who approached the study of cosmic rays with interest and passion. . Initiatives such as this allow us to connect our research work with young people and, more generally, with society. . I also hope that this experience will contribute not only to educating future generations, but will also encourage young students to embark on scientific careers in the near future.”
“According to the latest EU data, the shortage of ICT professionals and STEM skills continues to represent a challenge throughout Europe, which also continues to be marked by a significant gender gap. In Italy, only 16.8% of women aged between 25 and 34 obtain a degree in scientific subjects, compared with 37% of men,” emphasised Chiara Di Girolamo, institutional activities project officer for the Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale Impresa sociale. “It is in this context that the Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale launched ‘Polaris’, the €20 million call aimed at strengthening STEM skills and guidance for secondary-school students. Cosmic School, promoted by Fondazione Openpolis ETS, is one of the 34 projects selected and has involved approximately 1,800 students from 13 secondary schools in three Italian regions, bringing them closer to science, technology and innovation in a concrete and engaging way. We hope that today’s concluding event represents not an endpoint, but the beginning of new paths of growth, curiosity and confidence in their own abilities. Investing in the talents of the younger generations means building a more inclusive future for our country,” Di Girolamo concluded.
“Cosmic School has brought schools, research, the third sector and innovation together in a network to make STEM a concrete and accessible experience. The Cosmic Rays Cube encapsulates this approach: a scientific instrument that brings students closer to citizen science, helping them to observe phenomena, interpret data and ask questions about their local area. The project’s legacy is an educational network that does not end with the final event, but can continue through shared protocols, new activities and collaborations between the partners and the schools involved,” stated Vincenzo Smaldore, Director of Institutional Development at Openpolis and project manager, who also described Cosmic School through a number of figures during his address.
With the event in Abruzzo, the project is drawing to a close. Cosmic School has provided thousands of students with an opportunity to engage with STEM subjects through an ongoing exchange combining theoretical study and shared practice.