Sci All: scienza e libri a portata di mano (science and books at your fingertips) is a third mission project funded by Sapienza University of Rome and coordinated by the Charles Darwin Biology and Biotechnology Library, the Gabriello Illuminati Chemistry and Biochemistry Interdepartmental Library, the Guido Castelnuovo Mathematics Library, and the Earth Sciences Library. The project is in collaboration with Biblioteche di Roma.
The project aims to promote scientific literacy and disseminate the research of the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences's departments, emphasizing their multidisciplinary nature and connection to fundamental issues of life, land, and the 2030 Agenda. The ultimate goal is to bolster public confidence in science.
The project's core is to create an active network between the scientific community and the general public in Rome, a complex area. Designed for different user categories, the interdisciplinary meetings will be carried out in various formats (science cafés, workshops, etc.) in municipal library spaces. For this, it is based on collaboration between the accademic libraries and the libraries of Rome. The project aims to create popular science book shelves and hold meetings in the community that bring citizens closer to research and its impact on society and the environment.
Sci All involves four Rome libraries located in different quadrants of the city:
- The Cornelia Library (northwest zone) is currently housed in the Ex Campari structure due to renovations at its original location as part of the PNRR project.
- The Laurentina Library (south zone) is located inside the "Elsa Morante" cultural center, which was designed by architect Pietro Barucci and built by architect Luciano Cupelloni between 1971 and 1984 as part of the redevelopment plan for the Rome's suburbs.
- The Pennazzato Library (southeast zone) is located near an elementary and middle school in an urban area with a high population density and a young population, including a high percentage of non-EU residents, for whom a section of language books has been dedicated.
- The Giovenale Library (east zone), which abuts the Aguzzano Urban Regional Park on a former farm. It is a reference point for anyone wishing to learn more about environmental issues, and it is no coincidence that the library is dedicated to Fabrizio Giovenale, one of the founding fathers of environmentalism in our country.
Sci All began its activities by collaborating with Biblioteche di Roma to create two initiatives for the 20th Rome Science Festival (April 8-13, 2025). The theme is "I Corpi: Corpi Complessi, Corpi Originali, Corpi Responsabili, Corpi Plastici e Corpi Inquieti" (The Bodies: Complex Bodies, Original Bodies, Responsible Bodies, Plastic Bodies, and Restless Bodies). The program for these events is available here in Italian. On April 10, 2025, events were held for elementary school children at the Gianni Rodari Library and the Archipelago Library.
Eugenio Montefusco and Emanuele Spadaro (Department of Mathematics), Maria Chiara Di Gregorio (Department of Chemistry), Giulia Schirripa Spagnolo (Department of Earth Sciences), and Beniamino Trombetta (Department of Biology and Biotechnology Darwin) participated, with Ines Lonigro (Darwin Library) moderating. They explored how seemingly static structures are actually subject to partially predictable transformations. Participants and attendees experienced tessellation with geometric figures and learned about the formation of crystals and their myriad forms in nature. They also learned about minerals and how to classify them. Finally, they learned about evolution by traveling from armadillo skeletons to skulls from a million years ago. ...
Contacts
Sci All: scienza e libri a portata di mano
E sci-all.scienzemfn@uniroma1.it
- Elena De Carolis per la Biblioteca Charles Darwin
- Raffaella Gianferri e Francesco Zuccherini per la BiCB Gabriello Illuminati
- Maria Rosaria Del Ciello per la Biblioteca di Matematica
- Daniele Coltellacci per la Biblioteca di Scienze della terra