The Experience of ScienzAperta, a Week of Scientific Information and Dissemination

Abstract

ScienzAperta, i.e. Open Science, is an outreach week conceived and promoted by the Laboratorio Didattica e Divulgazione Scientifica of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). Every year ScienzAperta is an opportunity to open to the public and to share with the community the places where research is performed, through events distributed in different times and places, with scientific exhibitions, hands-on laboratories for kids, meetings and seminars with researchers and guided tours to scientific laboratories. All the activities have the common idea to intrigue, interest and stimulate audiences of all ages. Some of these initiatives have been organized jointly with other institutions and research institutes, cross-pollinating disciplines. On the occasion of the 2013 edition, questionnaires have been distributed among adults and children during the Open Day held in INGV Rome headquarters. Features of initiatives performed during the three first editions as well as hints from appreciation surveys are illustrated.