European Researcher Night celebrated by Samuele

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European Researchers’ night 2018 took place on 28th - 29th September and was celebrated in many cities all around the Europe with the contribution of universities and research institutions. The aim of this event is to bring together researchers from different fields in order to promote science among children, young students and people usually not involved in science.

The Insubria University, an Italian university which is based in Como and Varese, organized outreach activities along all the week, from public conferences to hands-on experiments for everyone.

Samuele Cotta, the OMA fellow based at ViALUX, took part in these activities as a former student of the Insubria University. On 28th September several physics experiments were prepared in a central square in Como, involving the classes coming from the schools of the city. Explaining experiments to students with different age and knowledge (from kindergarten to high school) was a challenging experience, but it showed how science is suitable for everyone and can raise enthusiasm in everyone. On the 29th September the activities were performed again in Varese, this time involving all the people who were enjoying the sunny Saturday afternoon in the city center, in particular families with children, but also teenagers and older people.

Samuele presented the Wimshurst machine, which, besides amusing the audience with amazing small lightning, offers a good starting point to explain what electricity is and what happens during a thunderstorm.