A pathway for adolescents towards STEM disciplines
Duration: 2024-2025 – Third Edition
Scientific Supervisor: Debora Fino
Project Type: Funded by External Entities
PoliTO Role: Scientific Partner
Next-Land is an innovative educational project aimed at guiding adolescents in the discovery of STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) through a creative and cultural approach. In its third edition for the 2024-2025 academic year, it involves over 1,500 middle school students in the cities of Turin, Bari, and Naples, with the goal of combating stereotypes and inequalities by broadening young people's educational horizons. The project is supported by various institutions, including the Intesa Sanpaolo Charity Fund and the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, and benefits from the collaboration of universities and partners from the involved territories.
Politecnico di Torino, through the Department of Applied Science and Technology, actively participates by promoting engagement with chemistry among middle school students from the peripheral areas of Turin, offering a hands-on and engaging educational opportunity. Currently, the project follows 16 classes, each participating in a three-hour workshop where fundamental chemical principles applied to food are demonstrated through simple experiments. The initiative aims to stimulate curiosity among students, making chemistry accessible and showing its connection to everyday life.
From an educational standpoint, learning chemistry in a concrete and engaging way helps overcome the perception of the subject as abstract and complex. Curiosity is stimulated through practical experiments, fostering greater interest in scientific subjects and encouraging students to consider them as potential future academic paths.
By involving schools in the peripheral areas of Turin, the project provides an opportunity to reduce educational disparities through access to advanced learning experiences that many students might otherwise not have.
The project also strengthens the relationship between Politecnico di Torino and the local community, creating a collaborative network that promotes the diffusion of scientific culture and innovation in teaching methods.
Involved Structure
- DISAT, Department of Applied Science and Technology
Partners
- Enel Cuore Onlus
- Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation
- CRT Foundation
- Vodafone Foundation
In collaboration with:
- Turin Industrial Union
- Regional School Office for Piedmont
- Piedmont Orientation Objective
- District 7 and District 9 - City of Turin
Universities and research institutions:
- Politecnico di Torino
- University of Turin
- Agnelli Foundation
- University of Bari Aldo Moro
- Politecnico di Bari
- Suor Orsola Benincasa University
- University of Naples Federico II
- and others
For a full list of partners, see: www.next-level.it/partner/
Location
- Middle schools in the cities of Turin, Bari, and Naples
Project Team
- Prof. Debora Fino (DISAT), Full Professor and Scientific Supervisor
- Silvia Fraterrigo Garofalo (DISAT), Fixed-term Researcher
- Camilla Galletti (DISAT), Scientific-Technical Sector Staff
- Valentina Trunfio (DISAT), Administrative-Managerial Sector Staff
- Melania Fiore (DISAT), PhD in Chemical Engineering and Research Fellow
- Alessia Cometto (DISAT), PhD in Chemical Engineering
- Guido Ceragioli (DISAT), PhD in Chemical Engineering
- Marco Pietro Mezzapesa (DISAT), PhD in Chemical Engineering
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
4. Quality education
10. Reduced inequalities