Maddaloni, an award-lab for the high school winner of the Mad for Science competition

The new science laboratory at Maddaloni's Liceo scientifico Nino Cortese has been inaugurated. It is the winner of the ninth edition of the Mad for Science national competition, promoted by the Diasorin ETS Foundation. In the 2025 edition, the Liceo scientifico Nino Cortese had won the first prize worth 75,000 euro, earmarked precisely for the construction and upgrading of the science laboratory, which is now a reality.

The Mad for Science Competition provides secondary schools with resources for the enhancement of spaces dedicated to scientific experimentation and enhances the school laboratory as a central element of the educational pathway. Through an approach based on experimentation, direct observation and the application of the scientific method, the competition allows students to confront themselves with structured research experiences and encourages a conscious approach to STEM disciplines, also in terms of orientation towards future study paths.

The award went to the project 'The Invisible Resources of the Sea', which stood out for the innovation of its approach and the robustness of its experimental design. The winning team, coordinated by Professor Emma Sanzari, developed a research project on the topic of natural resources and health, addressing the role of marine resources and their potential contribution to environmental protection and people's well-being from a biotechnological perspective.

The opening ceremony was held at the Institute in the presence of the school headmaster, Marcellino Falcone, teacher Emma Sanzari, team leader of the winning project, the president of the Diasorin Foundation, Francesca Pasinelli, and local authorities. The students, protagonists of the project 'The Invisible Resources of the Sea', presented the project with which they won the prize, illustrating its objectives, work phases and scientific skills acquired, dwelling on the value of the experience for learning and orientation towards scientific careers.

"The inauguration of this laboratory represents an important step for our school community, because it makes it possible to stabilise the research work started by the students during the competition _ said Marcellino Falcone _ Thanks to this opportunity, the work carried out during the design phase now translates into a concrete space to support teaching, strengthening the role of scientific experimentation in the educational pathway. My thanks go to the Diasorin Foundation for its support and constant attention to the world of education'.