Public engagement
Our initiatives for the community: the Department promotes and supports activities aimed at both specialists and the wider public, to bring physics and astrophysics into everyday life and strengthen the dialogue between science and society through dedicated projects.
Physics and Astronomy for Everyone
Our seminars and outreach events bring the public closer to the world of physics and astrophysics, sparking curiosity and passion. Many activities are dedicated to schools and associations, and events are often co-designed with our partners to respond to specific needs and ideas.
The Department’s scientific community collaborates with leading national and international researchers, who regularly participate in our scientific and outreach events.
Among the initiatives promoted by the Department, the projects Ri[e]voluzioni (2024) and NarrAzioni (2025) have chosen to intertwine different languages and perspectives, creating a multidisciplinary and therefore more memorable connection with their audiences. Through theatre and science events open to the public, these projects have paid special attention to enhancing the role of women and girls in science.
DIFA also treasures a much-loved international event: the European Researchers’ Night. Every year, it presents the latest developments from the Department’s research projects and, thanks to the collaboration of its entire community (academic staff, researchers, and students), meets people eager to discover the wonders of physics and astronomy.
The Conferences at the Specola series, a long-standing tradition that has built a strong relationship of trust and dialogue over the years, is a monthly series dedicated to astronomical outreach. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Department of Physics and Astronomy “Augusto Righi”, INAF – Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory of Bologna, and the University Museum System. The aim is to bring astronomy and astrophysics closer to the public through the direct voices of researchers and lecturers.
The year 2025 marks two major international milestones: the 400th anniversary of the birth of G. D. Cassini and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ2025). To celebrate these occasions, the Department is offering talks, workshops, and events to bring science closer to people.
DIFA’s activities are full of insights and inspiration — explore our events board to find out more.
For Children
Our Department has a special focus on younger generations and works every day to make science truly accessible. Scientists are aware of the importance their example can have in shaping young minds. For this reason, a group of lecturers has designed a science outreach initiative dedicated to children aged 5 to 11, which in its first two years has already involved more than 3,000 pupils in over 150 classes.
The project aims to develop STEM skills and counter gender disparities by telling stories about the hidden Universe (neutrinos, dark matter) and the often invisible role of women scientists. It is an invitation to discover, to be inspired, and to believe in one’s own abilities — opening doors to future scientific paths.
The project has been active in nursery, primary, and lower secondary schools in Bologna, neighbouring municipalities, and Cesena.
Initially funded by two European projects, it launched a fundraising campaign on the Unimpatto platform in May 2025 to ensure the continuity of inVISIBILI in the coming years.
Find out more and support the project.
For Secondary Schools
The Department regularly promotes training activities for in-service teachers, educational workshops for upper secondary school students within the framework of the Piano Lauree Scientifiche (PLS), and collaborates in organising conferences and public events open to schools, educational communities, and the wider public (for example, the Science at the Cinema series).
Communicating Science
For years, DIFA has been engaged not only in outreach activities but also in reflecting on the very nature of how science meets its audiences. A strong emphasis has long been placed on the need to train scientists specifically, by strengthening and stimulating their awareness and soft skills.
The result of these efforts is the ONSCI Summer School – Officina di Narrazione della Scienza (Science Storytelling Workshop Hub) – which, since 2021, has been training the Department’s scientific community, external teachers of all levels, communication and outreach professionals, and anyone interested in exploring these topics further.
Physics and Astronomy in Museums
The Physics Collection
It showcases three centuries of instruments and documents of great interest to both physics enthusiasts and young minds approaching the subject. Visitors can also admire a special exhibition dedicated to Augusto Righi and electromagnetic waves.
The Physics Museum’s activities are designed for schools as well as for individual visitors interested in exploring the collection.
The Specola Museum
The Specola Museum is located inside the tower of the same name, built between 1712 and 1726 to become Bologna’s first astronomical observatory.
The Specola Museum houses an extraordinary heritage of scientific instruments that trace the evolution of our observation and understanding of the sky and the Earth from the 13th to the 20th century. It stands as a tangible link between past and future, a treasure to be preserved. In 2025, a significant refurbishment of the museum’s exhibition halls will be completed, primarily funded by the PNRR CTA+ project, to highlight the figure of astronomer Guido Horn D’Arturo, a distinguished professor of the Alma Mater.
Our Department is actively involved in the museum’s refurbishment, serving the entire community.