SHARPER 2026: European Researchers' Night unveiled

Once again this year, the University of Sassari is participating in European Researchers' Night, an initiative promoted by the European Commission as part of the Marie Curie actions. Sassari is one of the 13 partner cities for the SHARPER (SHAring Researchers’ Passion for Extreme Regions) project—a major, widespread event featuring hundreds of activities, including exhibitions, workshops, performances, and science outreach initiatives. The event will conclude with a presentation by physicist and science communicator Riccardo Azzali.

The event’s hub: the Tavolara Pavilion on September 25th

The main events are scheduled for Thursday, September 24th (9:00 AM – 1:30 PM), and Friday, September 25th (9:00 AM – 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM), on the ground floor of the Tavolara Pavilion in Sassari. Rector Gavino Mariotti will attend the opening ceremony on September 24th at 9:15 AM.

European Researchers' Night will feature exhibits and scientific workshops hosted at 23 stands representing University departments as well as local research and educational institutions. The morning sessions will be dedicated to primary and secondary schools, while on the afternoon of Friday, September 25th, SHARPER will open its doors to families and the general public.

Faculty and students from the University of Sassari will take center stage alongside science communicators from partner organizations: the AIRC Foundation for Cancer Research, the CNR Research Area in Sassari, the M. Sironi Academy of Fine Arts, the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sardinia, the Turritana Astronomical Society, the AIF (Association for Physics Teaching), and the CSI (Italian Sports Centre), as well as high schools including the Paglietti Institute in Porto Torres and the Ruju and Angioy Technical Institutes in Sassari.

“Caring through Knowledge”: an event open to the public in the Great Hall

Over the course of the two days, the Great Hall of the university’s main building in Piazza Università will host several outreach events. On September 24, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, a roundtable discussion organized by the CNUPP (National Conference of Rectors' Delegates for University Penitentiary Hubs)—titled “Caring through Knowledge”—will take place and is open to anyone interested.

Final event in the Great Hall with physicist Riccardo Azzali

European Researchers' Night will conclude on Friday, September 25, at 8:15 PM in the Great Hall with a talk by Riccardo Azzali titled “Things That Keep Me Up at Night” (*Le cose che non mi fanno dormire la notte*).

Riccardo Azzali is a theoretical physicist and science communicator; he is an author for Mondadori and the founder of the *FilosofiaScienza* project, which has a combined following of over 3 million people across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. His approach blends physics and philosophy, aiming to make big questions accessible even to those without a background in science.

For schools

On September 25, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM—also in the Great Hall—the Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy and of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences will guide the audience on a “Journey into the Human Body.” The event will explore the brain and the invisible world, ultimately revealing the potential of metal chemistry in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

The full program is available on the dedicated webpage and via the Instagram channels @unissgram and @percorsi_uniss.

Pre-events for everyone: “Studies on Salome” and “Botany WOW! A Garden to Discover”

On Wednesday, September 23, at 8:00 PM, *Studies on Salome*—loosely based on Oscar Wilde’s *Salome*—will be performed at the Nuovo Cineteatro Astra (Corso Cossiga 5). On September 24, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, the event “Botany WOW! A Garden to Discover” will take place at the Uniss Botanical Garden on Via Piandanna. Also on September 24, the University of Sassari’s Penitentiary University Hub is organizing the “Library of Care” at the correctional facilities in Tempio Pausania and Alghero.

The extensive schedule for this science outreach event is already underway, thanks to Uniss and its partners. On August 12, *An Eclipse Over the Sea* was staged at Platamona, in collaboration with the SAT (Turritan Astronomical Society) and Borgata Biancareddu. On September 19, the “Live Excavations in Perfugas” event took place.

Other events for schools

The following events aimed at schools have already attracted significant interest:

- September 23, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, CineTeatro Astra: “Einstein Telescope Un-conference”;

- September 28, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Argentiera: MINING-SENSE
Environmental awareness and education regarding the restoration of “Geomining Park” sites;

- October 1, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, Uniss Botanical Garden (Via Piandanna): “FLOWER DETECTIVES
Investigations at the Botanical Garden.”

How to participate

Schools may email terzamissione@uniss.it to request information and book activities.

Families and the general public are free to attend all events, making reservations where required.

A National and European Network

European Researchers’ Night (ERN) is an initiative promoted by the European Commission with the aim of fostering interaction between society and researchers, and encouraging "scientific citizenship" as a social and political driving force in the contemporary world. Through performances, workshops, and debates, a wide range of informal events seeks to engage citizens of all ages, showcasing research professions and the impact of scientific research on our lives.

The University of Sassari has been participating for six years in the SHARPER project, which currently involves 13 Italian cities. The University and its partners organize events in schools, theaters, public squares, and public venues. The main event takes place on September 25th, featuring day-long activities at the E. Tavolara Pavilion (Public Gardens), though preview events and related activities are also scheduled for the days before and after.

The extensive SHARPER Sassari program covers topics ranging from biology to artificial intelligence, and from archaeology to environmental sustainability. In addition to the city of Sassari, other locations across Sardinia will also be involved.

SHARPER unites the efforts of cities such as Ancona, Cagliari, Catania, Genoa, L’Aquila, Palermo, Perugia, Sassari, Trieste, and others. The initiative is coordinated by Psiquadro, in partnership with a consortium of universities, research centers, and cultural associations—including INFN, CNR, INAF, and INGV.

For the University of Sassari, the project is coordinated by the Third Mission and Territory Office, with the support of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Sassari. It offers a unique opportunity to bring citizens and families closer to the world of research.