Training and fun to face the challenges of the future
One of the most eagerly awaited events of the Percorso Intraprendenti, PoliTO training program dedicated to first-year students of bachelor's degree, has just successfully concluded. From Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 170 young talents from Politecnico participated in a weekend full of challenges and innovative activities designed to promote technical skills, problem solving abilities and teamwork.
The event was held in the beautiful alpine setting of Sansicario (TO), offering participants the opportunity to engage in mathematical and engineering challenges, enriched by moments of collaborative learning and conviviality. In addition to the educational activities, the weekend's program included a walk among the striking alpine landscapes and moments of socialization, fostering the bond strengthening within the group in an informal and stimulating context. This event represents a significant milestone on a path aimed at enhancing individual and collective potential, laying the foundation for personal and professional growth.
Led by Professor Anita Tabacco, head of the first year of the Intrapreneurial Pathway, the professors Luca Lussardi, Alessio Martini, Marco Morandotti and Dr. Maria Giulia Ballatore from the Department of Mathematical Sciences “G. L. Lagrange” - DISMA offered insights and challenges that combined theoretical learning and practical application. Throughout the weekend, participants were divided into 17 teams, each named after famous mathematicians.
The program featured activities designed to stimulate creativity and analytical skills. One of the tasks, focused on developing soft skills typical of STEM, was the “Brush Up Challenge: the Perfect Toothpaste Challenge”, which required the different groups to build a Rube Goldberg machine. This intentionally complex device had to be able to squeeze, through a series of chain mechanisms, the perfect amount of toothpaste onto a toothbrush. The activity, carried out with the support of the Italian company Geldis, a leader in innovation and sustainability, made it possible to use multiple materials to create engineering solutions that were both ingenious and original. Another key moment of the weekend was dedicated to problem solving, culminating in a competition organized according to the Mathematics Olympiad team rules. The challenges tested the participants' analytical, strategic and collaborative skills, leading to two final rankings. The combined results awarded the victory to the Riemann team.
Beyond enhancing technical skills, the whole experience allowed students to strengthen bonds within groups, creating a positive environment both educationally and socially. Thanks to initiatives such as this one, the Politecnico di Torino continues to invest in young people, preparing the future professionals to successfully face the challenges of tomorrow.
