SuperScienceMe 2026: Four days to meet Mediterranean research
The Night of Researchers 2026
From September 24th to 28th, the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria will participate in the historic event for scientific dissemination and public engagement, now in its thirteenth year. It will offer conferences, meetings, open workshops, experiments, films, music, and activities aimed at students, families, and the public.
The goal is to bring the public closer to the places and protagonists of research, to explain its impact on daily life, and to foster direct dialogue between the scientific community and the local community, while also focusing on social issues.
The initiative confirms a consolidated and renewed synergy between the Calabria Region, which has agreed to fund the event, the University of Calabria, the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, the University of Basilicata, and the Calabrian and Lucanian institutes of the National Research Council.
The Mediterranea program will begin on Thursday, September 24th at 10:00 am , at Palazzo Campanella, seat of the Regional Council, with “Night and Science in the Council,” a meeting dedicated to the relationship between new generations and democratic institutions.
At 4:00 PM in the Quistelli Audit Hall, the conference on " The Evolution of Audits and Reform of Treasury Accountability, with a View to Simplification and Effectiveness ," promoted by the Presidency of the Court of Auditors, will begin .
At 6:00 pm , at the historic AVE bookshop on Corso Garibaldi, the book Trovate la speranza o voi che entra by Fabrizio Pomes will be presented, with a speech by the Rector's delegate for the University Penitentiary Centre, Arturo Capone, who will also take stock of the state of research on the subject of prison.
At 6:30 pm , the unmissable CineLab event will close the day in the University's Cineforum Hall. In collaboration with the Charlie Chaplin Film Club, the film Ex Machina will be screened , followed by a discussion on the film's themes and the implications of artificial intelligence. Claudio Scarpelli will moderate, and Daniele Cananzi and Massimiliano Ferrara will discuss the event.
On Friday, September 25 , the day designated by the EU to celebrate the work of researchers, the University plenary session will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Italo Falcomatà Aula Magna of the Engineering Faculty. After the institutional greetings, the "Research Arena" will offer the five Departments of the Università Mediterranea a quick and dynamic space to present the main challenges of their research. With Filomena Iatì, Councilor of the Municipality of Reggio Calabria, they will discuss the eco-systems of innovation. The guest speaker will be Gennaro Calabrese, who will give a light-hearted talk on research. The foyer will host a "Children's University," with educational workshops organized by the degree program in Primary Education Sciences.
Starting at 11:00 a.m. , the University's instrumental research laboratories will open their doors to the public with "Experimenta la ricerca," a series of experiments and live demonstrations. The dAeD will allow participants to participate in various live experiments at the ABITALab, MATeRICs, and TCLab Envelope Testing laboratories. The Department of Agriculture organizes guided tours of the Azienda Didattico-Sperimentale.
At 11:30 a.m. , the new spaces of the Structures and Materials Testing Laboratory will be inaugurated in Building 1 of the Engineering complex, confirming the University's commitment to strengthening its research infrastructure.
At 3:00 PM , in the Hall of Collegiate Bodies, the Rector of the Università Mediterranea and the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, in the presence of its president, the Honorable Lella Golfo, will sign the strategic agreement "Gender Space Network for the Future," dedicated to the relationship between academic research, corporate culture, and female leadership.
From 6:00 PM, activities will move to the NOEL Laboratory, on the Italo Falcomatà seafront.
The EU Space, Regional Space, and Innovation Space will be inaugurated, offering visitors the opportunity to meet researchers and learn about their ongoing activities. It will also be possible to tour the NOEL laboratory. Research will also be shared in other ways. The experiential walk "Research Step by Step" will begin at 6:30 PM .
The day will end at 8.00 pm , at the small harbour in front of the laboratory, with a sunset concert by the Ensemble of the Mediterranean University.
On Saturday, September 26, at 10:00 a.m. , in the Quistelli Auditorium, United Nations Special Rapporteur Heba Hagrass will meet with the Mediterranea community. The initiative, promoted by the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, will focus on the rights of persons with disabilities, the UN Convention, and international policies. Speakers will include MEP Giusy Princi and the Mayor of Reggio Calabria, the Honorable Francesco Cannizzaro.
The program will conclude on Monday, September 28, at 9:30 a.m. in the Quistelli Aula Magna, with the solemn award ceremony for the PhD graduates. After the academic procession and institutional greetings, journalist and Corriere della Sera columnist Francesco Verderami will deliver the keynote address "The Right to Remain," a topic deeply felt by our young people. The ceremony will be accompanied by the Polyphonic Choir of the Università Mediterranea, conducted by Maestro Claudio Bagnato, and will conclude with a performance by comedian Filippo Caccamo, known to television audiences for his role on Zelig .
