Registrations are now open to participate in and submit proposals and contributions to the first conference dedicated to dialogue between the world of school and that of scientific research: School and Research. Public engagement for the scientific culture of the future. The conference, which will take place in Ischia from 11 to 13 May, is promoted and organised by the National Institute for Nuclear Physics INFN, the National Institute for Astrophysics INAF, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology INGV and the National Research Council CNR.
“The relationship between scientific research and school plays an increasingly important role in a society that engages daily with knowledge, technology and sustainability”, explains Pierluigi Paolucci, President of the INFN Third Mission Coordination Committee. “Promoting effective dialogue between these two worlds means providing students, teachers and educational communities with useful and constantly updated tools to understand the complexity of the present and make informed choices”.
The event will bring together researchers, teachers and education professionals, who will discuss strategies, methodologies, languages and practices that make scientific culture more accessible, inclusive and participatory. The conference will offer a space dedicated to sharing public engagement experiences, presenting activities to support teaching co-designed with schools, exploring digital educational tools, and promoting pathways that bring younger generations closer to STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics).
Particular attention will be paid to the role of researchers as cultural mediators and to building collaborations between research institutions and schools, creating a network to accelerate the production and dissemination of knowledge.
“The meeting aims to generate concrete outcomes, including the creation of a permanent network between research bodies and schools, the shared development of a proposal for a national school-research protocol within the framework of enhancing the knowledge of research institutions, and the strengthening of joint commitment to high-quality, inclusive and future-oriented dissemination of scientific culture”, adds Maddalena De Lucia, Head of the Communication and Scientific Outreach Service Centre of INGV.
The themes at the heart of the programme will include the languages and methods of public engagement within the scientific community, new technologies and approaches for science education, national and European initiatives dedicated to STEAM training, and sharing the concrete needs of teachers and students to guide educational innovation.
“The research world can do much to improve the quality of the national education system and facilitate the transfer of knowledge ‘from the laboratory to the classroom’, with the ultimate goal of helping to promote scientific culture among students”, adds Francesca Messina, Head of the Public Relations and Integrated Communication Unit of CNR. “The CNR network, for example, thanks to its multidisciplinary expertise, boasts an extensive network of collaborations with schools of all levels: initiatives that combine active experimentation, discussion and interaction to stimulate learning and curiosity, in line with the principles of open education”.
“Research institutions are the custodians of frontier knowledge in crucial fields such as astrophysics, physics, geology and, more generally, all STEAM disciplines. However, these discoveries often take too long to be included in school textbooks and to become accessible to teachers and students. This is why our institutions must join forces: the aim is not only to return the results of science to schools, but also to actively support teachers in a pathway of scientific literacy. Without these foundations, it is impossible to fully understand the challenges of contemporary research. Providing education and support today means shortening the distance between laboratories and classrooms, preparing the scientists of tomorrow”, states Caterina Boccato, Head of the Knowledge Enhancement Unit (Education & Outreach) of INAF.
The event will include presentations of contributions, a round table with teachers, a poster session and talks by experts in science communication. Contributions will be organised into four thematic areas: tools, content and resources for schools; activities for teacher training; spaces to promote science; playing with science.
The submission of proposals for talks and posters is open and can be completed until 10 April via the link: https://agenda.infn.it/event/49925
More than one hundred participants are expected at the conference, including researchers, teachers and science communicators, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Merit, regional school offices, cultural associations and civil society. The presence of media partners, science journalists and local stakeholders will help broaden the discussion and give visibility to the experiences presented. The conference proceedings will be published and materials will be accessible online.
Useful information
Conference registration:
Until 20 April 2026: reduced fee (early fee) of 250 euros
After 20 April 2026: standard fee of 350 euros
A fee of 50 euros is available for teachers
Link for submission of oral contributions and poster proposals: https://agenda.infn.it/event/49925
Deadline for submission of proposals: 10 April 2026
