Elettra Highlights 2024–2025 184 Public Engagement Events Events Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste actively participates in outreach and public engagement initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue between research and society. These activities are an integral part of the center’s mission to disseminate scientific knowledge and to encourage younger generations to engage with science and technology. By taking part in events of local, national, and European relevance, Elettra contributes to increasing public awareness of the role of synchrotron and free-electron laser lightsouces in addressing major scientific and technological challenges, while strengthening the link between research infrastructures, education, and citizens. The Science Research Festival Trieste Next 2025 (26–28 September 2025) Elettra participated in the 14th edition of Trieste Next – The Festival of Scientific Research, titled “Life Within. Dialogues Between Science and Technology.” Although rooted in the local context, Trieste Next has become a key event for scientific dissemination with an increasingly international dimension. The 2025 edition attracted thousands of visitors, offering a rich programme of conferences, workshops, and hands-on activities designed to bring research closer to the public. Three conferences were organised jointly with the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC), each addressing a different perspective on how advanced science and technology contribute to society. Inside the Drug: When the Shape of a Molecule Makes the Difference (1) The discussion explored the concept of molecular chirality—how the mirrorimage structure of molecules can determine a drug’s effectiveness. Researchers illustrated how modern synchrotron and laser-based techniques make it possible to “see” these tiny asymmetries and to design safer, more effective therapies. Chair: Marcello Turconi (CERIC-ERIC). Speakers: Majed Chergui (EPFL and University of Lausanne), Paola Storici (Elettra), Stephanie Federico (University of Trieste). Art Forgery and Crime: The Responses of Science (2) This panel focused on the intersection between cultural heritage protection and forensic science. Experts from academia, research infrastructures, and law enforcement described how non-invasive analytical techniques help uncover art forgeries and trace illicit trafficking networks, highlighting the value of collaboration between scientific institutions and investigative authorities. Chair: Marcello Turconi (CERIC-ERIC). Speakers: Gianluca Quarta (University of Salento and INFN Lecce), Vittoria Luda di Cortemiglia (consultant on organized crime prevention), Franco Zanini (Elettra and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice). Research Centers: Connecting Ideas, Technologies, and People (3) Held in English, this session explored the strategic role of large-scale research infrastructures as spaces where countries, expertise, and scientific cultures converge. The debate focused on the importance of sustainable investment, training of human capital, and open access to advanced facilities as drivers of innovation. Chair: Marcello Turconi (CERIC-ERIC). Speakers: Andrew Harrison (CERIC-ERIC), Caterina Petrillo (Area Science Park), Alessandro Fabris (Elettra), Lilli Freda (EPOS ERIC, absent), Maurizio Vretenar (CERN). Hands-on activities and demonstrations (4) In Piazza Unità, the stand “Ultrabright Light for the Research of the Future – Discovering FELs” offered visitors the 3 1 4 2
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