Past talks

Speaker: Elena Mazzotta Epifani (INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma) Mariella Mastrogiacomo (Guida turistica abilitata)
Date: 17 June 2022

Abstract: As part of the activities for the European Researchers' Night, starting from the 2020 edition, the Rome Astronomical Observatory has conceived and designed a “Star Trekking: urban trekking between History, Art and Astronomy” activity, implementing several editions of the activity. The basic idea is to contaminate stories from astronomy, history and art, contaminations that are very numerous in a city like Rome. In particular, the trekking takes place between the basilicas of S. Maria degli Angeli and S. Maria Maggiore, where the intertwining of stories (in a general sense) takes us from Julius Caesar to Diocletian, from Pope Clement to Bianchini, from Pope Paul V to Bernini, from Cigoli to Galileo. The Star Trekking are conducted by a professional guide who is an art historian and an astronomer, guiding visitors (groups of max. 25 people) through a cultural journey revealing the intertwining of fascinating stories and different cultures that find, in these places, a perfect synthesis. The science treks (widely used, in other situations, during the European Researchers' Night in Rome) are basically guided tour, in which the public is accompanied in the visit (in our case) of historical and / or artistic places with scientific references. In the various editions of the "Star Trekking", the public had audio devices available to listen to the story of the guides. The pandemic and subsequent prevention and safety measures certainly complicated the organization of the treks, which were nevertheless carried out in full safety and satisfaction of the public. There are many organizational aspects, from inspections to writing texts, from accompanying infographics to contacts with the managers of the places to visit, from security protocols to reservations for audio devices. In this seminar we will present the main phases of the study and design of Star Trekking, their actual development and the lessons learned (especially in times of pandemic).

Speaker: Daniele Gardiol (INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino)
Date: 20 May 2022

Abstract: PRISMA is the Italian fireball network dedicated to observation of bright meteors and recovery of freshly fallen meteorites. Since the very beginning of the project, we experienced an increasing enthusiastic participation of non-professionals, starting from amateur astronomers and reaching an ever wider audience among citizens and students. Nowadays PRISMA has become an established Italian stakeholder in the field of meteors and meteorites, being the reference for visual warnings, video recording of fireballs and report of suspect meteorite finds. I will describe our experience on this topic and the methodologies we have developed to capitalize such potential.

Speaker: Anita Zanella, Federico Di Giacomo (INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova)
Date: 15 April 2022

Abstract: The first edition of the Astronomy Festival, entitled “Colors of the Universe”, took place on June 19 and 20, 2021 in Castellaro Lagusello, labelled as one of the “Most beautiful villages in Italy”, near Mantova. The theme of the Festival has been the electromagnetic spectrum and its use in astronomy. Given the success of the first edition, we are now organizing a second edition titled “Attractive Universe”, with gravity as a theme, which will take place on June 10 - 12, 2022. The goals of the Festival are multifold: promote the dissemination of scientific culture and knowledge by engaging the public; teach PhD students how to design public engagement activities and hack them in the field; link the research institutes and universities with schools and the population by means of the so-called peer-education; and valuate the beauty of the territory and its historical sites. The Festival includes exhibitions, hands-on workshops, wall-map projections, movies, shows, outreach conferences, and observations with telescopes. In this talk we will discuss the organisation behind the scenes, the challenges overcome, the process of documentation and evaluation of the Festival, and the lessons learnt.

Speaker: Giannandrea Inchingolo
Date: 18 March 2022

Abstract: Into the (un)known is a multi-sensory, immersive exploration of the Cosmos, where the most recent astrophysical data are heightened into real works of art, so to allow the public to access scenarios - until now reserved only to researchers - with emotional immediacy. Under INAF production and support, Into the (un)known became an immersive science-art installation developed for the 2020 edition of Genoa Science Festival, one of the largest Science Festival in Italy. The project put together Science, Technology and Arts for public engagement and primary school educational activities. In this talk, we present the multidisciplinary aspects of Into the (un)known and analyse the developing steps of INAF installation at the 2020 Genoa Science Festival. In particular, emphasising the beyond the scenes, the goals achieved, and the challenges overcame.

Speaker: Daria Guidetti
Date: 18 February 2022

Abstract: ‘Sorvegliati Spaziali – conoscere lo Spazio per proteggere il Pianeta’ is an INAF project and represents one of the first coordinated public outreach initiatives on Planetary Defense: from near Earth asteroids and comets to space weather, from meteors and meteorites to space debris. The core of the project is an entirely graphic and multimedia website with information and in-depth content, available online since 20 October 2021, presenting Planetary Defense through a variety of original INAF information products as well as relaunching news from other research institutes. In this seminar, I will present the first phases of the project, both on stage and behind the scenes, among ideas, goals achieved and future challenges.