VICINI: Science at the service of the city at Valentino Park
For the first time, the "Citadel of Science" has been opened to the public
10-20 November 2022, Turin
Contact person: Stefania Pizzimenti
As part of the Public Engagement project "VICINI. Science at the service of the city at Valentino Park", led by the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, the organising committee is proud to announce the release in Open Access of the book:
"LA COSA PUBBLICA. Health, Work and Society in the Historical Collections of the University and Polytechnic of Turin"
Edited by Annalisa B. PESANDO, Mara FAUSONE, Margherita BONGIOVANNI
As outcome of the exhibition of the same name held at Valentino Castle from 10 November 2022 to 5 January 2023.
Here is the Link to download the book:
https://series.francoangeli.
Published by Franco Angeli, Milan, under the "Storia della Città e dell'Architettura" series
Introductions to the volume by:
Stefano Geuna,
Rector of the University of Turin,
Guido Saracco,
Rector of the Polytechnic University of Turin,
Gianluca Cuniberti., Giuseppe Martino Di Giuda,
Delegates of the Rector for the development and coordination of the UniTO Archive and Museum System
Elena Dellapiana, Sergio Pace,
Referents of the Rector for the University Historical Collections, Libraries and Archives, PoliTO
Stefano Sacchi,
Coordinator of the Study Centre on Technology, Society and Humanity - Theseus, PoliTO
Massimo Terzolo,
Director of the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, UniTO
Stefania Pizzimenti,
Scientific Coordinator of the project "VICINI. Science for the City at Valentino', Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, UniTO
Scientific contributions by the editors.
Exhibition repertoire.
The catalogue will be presented Monday 25 March 2024 at 17.30 at the Biblioteca Civica Centrale di Torino (via della Cittadella 5, Turin)
Host
Elena Dellapiana, Polytechnic di Torino
Guests
Monica Canalis, Piedmont Region Councillor
Stefano Benedetto, Director State Archives of Turin and Archival and Bibliographic Superintendence of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta
Enrico Foietta, Culture Referent, District 8 City of Turin
Stefania Pizzimenti, Scientific Supervisor of the VICINI project, University of Turin
Annalisa B. Pesando, University of Studies and Polytechnic of Turin
Margherita Bongiovanni, Polytechnic of Turin
Mara Fausone, University of Turin
Free admission
Project VICINI in numbers
The Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences co-ordinated the organisation of the event, which for the first time opened the "Citadel of Science", located within the Valentino Park and in its vicinity, to the public.
For the first time since it was established (1886), the University of Turin's historic "Citadel of Science" on Corso Massimo d'Azeglio opened its medical-scientific departments and facilities to the public (as many as 18 areas), together with the Valentino Castle, the Botanical Garden, the National Institute of Metrological Research and the Italian Glaciological Committee.
Fifty-one free activities were organised to raise awareness of past and future medical-scientific research with evening shows, meetings, exhibitions, guided tours, workshop experiences, competitions and walks involving more than 7,000 visitors including schools, families, enthusiasts and the curious.
Until 5 January 2023, it was also possible to visit the exhibition "LA COSA PUBBLICA. Health, Work and Society in the Historical Collections of the University and Polytechnic of Turin" organised as part of the VICINI Project activities at the Valentino Castle.
VICINI is an event promoted by the University of Turin - coordinated by the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences - in which Biennale Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino and 19 external cultural partners collaborated, with the patronage of the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City of Turin and District 8.
→ For more information, visit the official site of the initiative ←
The Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences has won the 2021 Call for Proposals for funding public engagement projects at the University of Turin. The project accepted for funding, coordinated by Prof. Stefania Pizzimenti, is entitled: "VICINI: VIaggio alla scoperta della CIttà della Scienza di UNIto: le radici del futuro" ("Journey to discover the UniTO Citadel of Science: the roots of the future").
The initiative aims to enhance the Citadel of Science, four prestigious university buildings that were built in the late 19th and early 20th century in Turin, along Corso Massimo d'Azeglio. At that time, Turin was a lively and attractive centre for Italian and European positivist scientists.
In order to create new spaces, the "Città della Scienza" ("Citadel of Science") was created, opposite the Valentino Park, former site of the Royal Botanical Garden. Thus, the University Institutes of Physics and Hygiene, Physiology, Pathology and Medical Matters, Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, and General and Pharmaceutical Chemistry were established: today, as then, these four buildings continue to be frequented by the Turin University community.
The historical and scientific heritage of the Citadel of Science and the Botanical Garden are of enormous value. The VICINI project aims at highlighting teaching and research activities that have taken place in these facilities, in particular by opening them to the public on 19 and 20 November 2022. This event will take place in collaboration with the Technology Bienniale organised by the Polytechnic of Turin.
Project VICINI, the historic "Citadel of Science" opens its doors to the public for the first time
On Tuesday 28 June 2022 at 3.00 p.m. in the Giulio Bizzozero Lecture Hall, Corso Raffaello 30 - Turin, and live streamed on UniTo Media, the presentation to the city of the project "VICINI: Science at the service of the city at Valentino Park", organised by the University of Turin (Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences) in collaboration with Biennale Tecnologia and Politecnico di Torino, took place.
The event, which took place in Turin from 10 to 20 November 2022, provided for the extraordinary - and in several cases unique - opening to the public and schools of the departments and technical-scientific facilities with activities, exhibitions, shows, visits, and competitions organised for the occasion, and can count on the patronage of the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City of Turin and District 8.
28 June 2022 15.00 - 17.30
Lecture Room Giulio Bizzozero, corso Raffaello 30, Turin
The event is available on demand on UniTo Media.
→ Download the event programme ←
On 28 June 2022, in the presence of the institutional authorities and the two Rectors of Turin's universities, Stefano Geuna for the University of Turin and Guido Saracco for the Polytechnic, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Turin, Giulia Carluccio, the VICINI initiative was inaugurated in the Aula Magna named after Giulio Bizzozero (the discoverer of blood platelets), on a symbolic date (28 June 1885 saw the signing of the Royal Decree authorising the construction of the four university buildings of the historic City of Science).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The programme included:
- the preview of the Docufiction 'Giulio Bizzozero and the City of Science' (12min). A docu-fiction made specifically for the VICINI event by the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences on the birth of the "City of Science" at Valentino (conducted by Piero Bianucci, with Marco Caudera as Giulio Bizzozero; directed by Lorenzo Gambarotta; screenplay by Claudia Bocca, Mara Fausone, Lorenzo Gambarotta, Annalisa B. Pesando).
- The Lectio Magistralis on "The City of Science" by Silvano Montaldo, Department of Historical Studies University of Turin.
- The guided walk "Discovering the City of Science", a walk dedicated to getting to know the research bodies and illustrious personalities who worked at Valentino, organised by ASTUT - Scientific and Technological Archive and SMA - University of Turin Museum System.
For guests, the presentation ended with refreshments at the Botanical Garden.
On the occasion of the VICINI presentation, a photo competition open to all was also launched to portray snapshots of university life and research at the Valentino campus, organised by the Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology in collaboration with the Subalpine Photographic Society (competition opening 20 June 2022, info and rules at www.subalpinafoto.it).
Progetto VICINI: calendar of activities
- 28 June 2022: presentation of the project
- 10 November 2022: Debate and Inauguration Exhibition "LA COSA PUBBLICA. Health, Work, Society in the Historical Collections of the University and Polytechnic of Turin (in collaboration with Biennale Tecnologia and Polytechnic of Turin) open at the Castello del Valentino from 10 November to 3 December 2022 - then extended until 5 January 2023.
- 14-18 November 2022: Activities for schools (primary and secondary schools).
- 18-19-20 November 2022: Special opening to the Citadel (free guided tours by appointment).
The Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences also opened its research environments to families and enthusiasts on Saturday and Sunday, 19 and 20 November 2022, with the intention of replicating the initiative on the occasion of Researchers' Night in May 2024 under the name 'Festival Vicini'.
Activities for schools in VICINI are also featured:
- in the ITER - "Crescere nella città" 2023-2024 catalogue;
- on the website istruzionepiemonte.it.