Researchers present NODES to Pavia citizens at Sharper Night 2025
On September 26, 2025, researchers from the University of Pavia involved in the NODES – North-West Digital and Sustainable project took part in SHARPER Night 2025 in Pavia, held at the University’s Central Building. The event offered an important opportunity for the public to engage with the innovative research carried out within Spoke 2, Spoke 6, and Spoke 7, focused on environmental sustainability and digital technologies, with interactive experiments designed for all age groups.
Several researchers from Spokes 2, 6, and 7 organized experiments at a dedicated project stand. Additionally, researchers working on the FORMINABILÆ Flagship Project organized the exhibition "Cultivating the future: agriculture, energy, community"
The exhibition presented a project proposal for the revitalization of Cascina Vialone, a traditional Lombard farmhouse, reimagined as an ideal model for a future farm. Through a process that intertwines theoretical research, architectural design, and comparative analysis, the project envisions an agricultural architecture capable of combining environmental sustainability, energy autonomy, and community values.
The booth consisted of two tables, where different teams took turns conducting experiments related to research carried out within NODES. The program across the two tables featured the following activities:
1.1) The Taste of Sustainability: Learning Together to Eat Well
An outreach pathway on nutrition and sustainability, with activities for adults and children: interactive quizzes, calculating the carbon footprint of one’s diet, reconstructing the sustainability pyramid, and exploring the seasonality of fruits and vegetables. Organized by NODES Spoke 7.
1.2) Let’s Play with Enzymes!
Experiments and microscope observations to understand the role of enzymes. Games and hands-on trials connected to the GRIP flagship project. Organized by NODES Spoke 2.
2.1) SoS – Sensing on Site
Demonstrations of Raman and UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopies for identifying materials and molecules in the agri-food supply chain. Activity linked to the VINO and FORMIDABILÆ flagship projects. Organized by NODES Spoke 6.
2.2) What Is Agrobiodiversity? Examples of Local Varieties and Seed Games
Seed recognition games and creative drawing activities. Objective: enhance biodiversity and promote the revival of local crops. Organized by NODES Spoke 7.
3.1) Synthetic Biology for a Sustainable Agro-Industry
Applications of synthetic biology to valorize agro-industrial waste and develop low-cost bacterial biosensors to monitor fermentations, biogas production, and soil and seed quality. Organized by NODES Spoke 6 and Spoke 2.
3.2) From Pruning Waste to Industrially Relevant Extracts
Extraction experiments using vine and olive pruning waste through dynamic maceration and filtration. Activity connected to the VINO flagship project, aimed at valorizing agricultural waste materials. Organized by NODES Spoke 6.
4.1) WAKEUP: From Waste Vegetable Oils to Fire Protection
The WAKEUP project develops eco-friendly resins for passive fire protection by recycling used frying oils. Organized by NODES Spoke 2.
4.2) Water Management: Soils and Infiltration
A demonstrator to compare the water infiltration capacity of sand, potting soil, and clay. Activity linked to the VINO flagship project on water stress and soil stability in viticulture. Organized by NODES Spoke 6.
More than 200 visitors participated in the activities. Sharper Night 2025 was a valuable opportunity for exchange, allowing Pavia residents to experience firsthand the innovative solutions proposed by NODES researchers.