Number 5 - 16.09.2025

Chemical Engineering at DiSAT: Study Paths for a Sustainable Future

by Fabio DEORSOLA

As reference faculty member of the programmes in Chemical Engineering, I would like to illustrate in this forth issue the education offer of DiSAT in this field.
The Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical and Food Engineering provides a solid education in industrial engineering, aligned with the strong tradition of Politecnico di Torino, coupled with the specific expertise in chemical and food processing.
The students explore both traditional processes, such as raw material transformation and mass production, and the specific, often more complex, processes found in the food industry. Their training covers everything from chemistry and thermodynamics to safety, process control, and environmental sustainability. Classes combine theory with practical lab work, simulations, and project-based learning, offering real-world preparation from early on. Graduates are prepared to participate in the design, operation and management of chemical plants and industrial operations, as well as to be hired in R&D laboratories and sales departments, across a wide range of sectors, including chemical and food industries, pharmaceutical companies, environmental services, public administration and consulting firms.
The Master’s Degree in Chemical and Sustainable Process Engineering deepens the education of the Bachelor’s Degree and focuses on innovating processes with sustainability in mind — reducing energy use, raw material consumption, and the generation of hazardous substances.
Students can choose one of four specializations: Chemical Engineering for Green Transition (taught entirely in English), Biotechnological-Food, Process Design and Development and Sustainability of Processes and Products in the Chemical Industry.
Thanks to the programme strong ties with industry, students take part in internships, collaborative thesis projects, and innovation challenges. A multidisciplinary education is also offered through a twin track programme, with the possibility of getting a second Master’s Degree in Energy and Nuclear Engineering or Environmental and Land Engineering by adding one year to the career.
The international dimension is strong, offering Erasmus Mundus programmes and double degree academic partnerships.
Employment rates are very high, with most graduates finding a job within three months, and average starting salaries above the national average for industrial engineers. Graduates are highly sought after in industries, such as chemical manufacturing, food and beverage, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, energy and environmental engineering, process safety and quality control, waste valorisation, research and development, and industrial automation and innovation.
I invite you to get in touch with the activities of the Chemical Engineering programmes by our social and website pages.

Between Cortisol and Oxytocin: The Daily Work of the Teaching Committee

by Barbara BONELLI

Dear Colleagues,
In this issue, I have the honor of illustrating some of the activities of our Teaching Committee.

Our Department offers the University a wide range of courses (around three hundred!) spanning from basic subjects to those of our degree programs. It’s a very diverse offering, covering different branches of knowledge at various levels. Recently, we had the opportunity to present the distinctive features of DiSAT’s teaching and research activities in the Guida Università of Gruppo24Ore. It was an occasion to throw our hearts over the fence and try our hand at writing an article that, for once, wasn’t scientific. It all ended with a drop of dopamine, because it was truly a pleasure to see the core of what we do written down in black and white (well, actually in pink!).

The courses delivered by DiSAT involve disciplines that combine scientific and technological approaches, which makes their “experiential” nature crucial. This entails the use of many laboratories, frequented by hordes of students who, like a rather numerous population of electrons, float through the Department, leaving traces of themselves and bringing back experiences and new skills. I’ll spare you the story of the equation of love (to avoid trouble with Dirac’s ghost), but suffice it to say that the centrality of experiential teaching was the driving force behind a new incentive project we wrote. Thanks to the creation of a well-stocked and diverse Working Group, we put our teaching, scientific, and technical skills on the table to develop ideas and solutions not only to renew the laboratories but also the very content of experiential activities.

The aim: to move toward the new teaching model and meet the needs of innovative education.

For the past few months, all of us have been involved, to varying degrees, in adrenaline-fueled discussions about designing the University’s new teaching model, which will require a stimulating, though certainly not simple, paradigm shift. Different areas are working to get the best possible results for both our students and our faculty. We will need both young saplings and seasoned veterans (like yours truly), to balance freshness and experience and face this Olympic challenge. And we’ll do it fueled only by oxytocin, hoping to win some medals (though if I’ve dodged Dirac’s ghost, I’m not sure how I’ll fare with de Coubertin’s).

With all this in mind, it’s clear that the Committee’s work continues throughout the Academic Year, but with some inevitable “cortisol spikes.” For example: the famous “teaching coverage” proposals. Our teaching offer is the result of diligent work by colleagues from the different subject areas who, by interfacing with us, literally put together a puzzle that needs to be “updated” and adapted to changes in the study programs and to the expected teaching loads of our faculty (respecting deadlines and other thrilling requirements). None of this would be possible without the collaboration of everyone and the support of some excellent administrative staff who help us interact effectively with the University.

Another organizational aspect that impacts the Committee’s work is the scheduling of lectures for our degree programs: well, this year some things have changed, with a view to optimizing classroom use across the University, and we did everything possible to adapt to this new scheduling method (another “mini-cortisol spike”).

Of course, the Committee’s work also brings “serotonin peaks,” such as the joy of reminding everyone that this year the DiSAT prizes have increased in both number and value, rewarding more of our graduates and outstanding students.

As you’ll notice, I haven’t named any colleagues. Certainly, the fear of forgetting someone influenced my choice (yet more cortisol, alas). A more ecumenical justification is that the Teaching Committee is one entity, and it is often renewed, collecting legacies and best practices while welcoming new members ready to take on new tasks, with a sense of belonging that feels very much like oxytocin.

Best wishes for your work, on behalf of the Teaching Committee,

Barbara Bonelli

P.S.

If, while reading this, you suspect that I have a not-so-brief passion for chemistry, you might just be right!

WHAT A PHD!

Get to know PhD candidates from DiSAT doctoral courses as they reflect on their paths through research and academic life.

Jovana Babic

PhD Candidate in Materials Science and Technology

39th cycle

Hello, what is your name and in which research group have you been working?

Hello! My name is Jovana Babic, and I am working in MP4MNT group.

Can you briefly describe your PhD research?

My research is focusing on the development of 3D in vitro barrier models integrated with microfluidic systems and organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). My research aims to create physiologically relevant platforms for studying tissue functions and disease mechanisms, as well as for testing drug permeability and toxicity. By combining tissue engineering with advanced bioelectronic sensors, I work toward the development of organ-on-chip systems with real-time monitoring capabilities. The ultimate goal is to provide more predictive tools for biomedical research and personalized medicine, reducing reliance on animal models.

What have you enjoyed the most about your PhD work so far?

What I’ve enjoyed the most about my PhD so far is the interdisciplinary nature of the work. Being able to combine tissue engineering, microfluidics, and organic bioelectronics allows me to explore different fields and continuously learn new techniques. I also find it incredibly rewarding to develop innovative tools that have the potential to improve biomedical research and patient outcomes. Collaborating with people from different backgrounds and seeing how our ideas come together is both challenging and inspiring—it’s what keeps me motivated.

What challenges or difficulties have you faced during your PhD?

One of the main challenges I’ve faced during my PhD is managing the complexity of working at the intersection of multiple disciplines. Learning to integrate concepts from biology, electronics, and microfluidics has been both exciting and demanding, especially when troubleshooting experiments that don’t go as expected. Additionally, balancing hands-on lab work with writing, project planning, and collaborations requires good time management. However, these challenges have pushed me to grow technically and professionally, and they’ve taught me the value of persistence and adaptability in research.

What inspired you to start a PhD, and why at DiSAT?

I was inspired to start a PhD by my strong interest in research and innovation, especially in the field of bioengineering. During my master’s thesis, I had the opportunity to work on advanced biosensing technologies, which sparked my curiosity to further explore how engineering can be used to better understand and replicate biological systems. I chose DISAT at Politecnico di Torino because of its strong interdisciplinary environment and expertise in micro- and nanotechnologies, materials science, and bioelectronics. The opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects with real-world applications made it the ideal place to continue my academic journey.

Looking back at your PhD journey, do you have any reflections, advice for future PhD students, or a memorable/fun anecdote from your time at DiSAT?

My advice to future PhD students is to stay curious, be patient with the process, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Try to keep an open mind, especially when things don’t go as planned; sometimes that’s when the most interesting discoveries happen. Lastly, enjoy the journey—it's a unique time to explore, grow, and contribute to something meaningful.

Have you already decided on your next career step? If so, would you like to share it with us?

I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’m very interested in continuing in research, either through a postdoctoral position or in an R&D role within the biomedical industry. I’m particularly drawn to projects that combine bioengineering with innovative sensing technologies, and I’d love to keep working on solutions that bridge the gap between the lab and real-world clinical or pharmaceutical applications. I’m also open to international opportunities that would allow me to expand my skills and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Hello, what is your name and in which research group have you been working?

Sacchi Francesca - GAMMA TEAM, with Messori Massimo.

Can you briefly describe your PhD research?

The PhD project aims to develop photopolymerizable resins optimized for Vat Photopolymerization (VPP) and Drop-on-Demand Inkjet (DOD IJ) 3D printing technologies. The focus is on using raw materials of bio-based or fossil origin and incorporating either biofillers derived from industrial waste, to reduce environmental impact, or inorganic micro- and nano-fillers to enhance the final properties.

What have you enjoyed the most about your PhD work so far?

To work in the laboratory, designing and studying innovative materials, with the hope that my research can contribute to improving the world.

What challenges or difficulties have ou faced during your PhD?

To become autonomous and independent in the laboratory, and to learn how to work effectively in a team.

What inspired you to start a PhD, and why at DiSAT?

I believe that a PhD is the highest level of education for those who have chosen to pursue a university course of study, like I have. DISAT has established itself as one of the best departments in Italy for students of materials science.

Looking back at your PhD journey, do you have any reflections, advice for future PhD students, or a memorable/fun anecdote from your time at DiSAT?

Yes, never be afraid to ask! The trick is not to wait for the reagents to be purchased, write to the industrial companies right away and ask for free samples. If you wait for the administration's timeline, you’ll graduate again before you get started!

Have you already decided on your next career step? If so, would you like to share it with us?

I'm currently in my second year of my PhD and have one year left. I hope to stay in academia afterward, as I love teaching and writing scientific articles.

Francesca Sacchi

PhD Candidate in Materials Science and Technology

39th cycle


Alberto Spessa

PhD in Materials Science and Technology

37th cycle 

Hello, what is your name and in which research group have you been working?

Alberto - Polymat

Can you briefly describe your PhD research?

My PhD focused on the exploitation of thiol and disulfide reactive groups in photopolymerization reactions and the preparation of stimuli-responsive coatings.

What have you enjoyed the most about your PhD work so far?

Being sorrounded by supportive collegues.

What challenges or difficulties have you faced during your PhD?

The biggest challenge was learning how to manage the bad results obtained with the experimental work.

What inspired you to start a PhD, and why at DiSAT?

I decided to do a PhD to broaden my knowledge of polymers and to have the opportunity to interact with experts in the field

Looking back at your PhD journey, do you have any reflections, advice for future PhD students, or a memorable/fun anecdote from your time at DiSAT?

Three years go by more quickly than you might have expected.

Have you already decided on your next career step? If so, would you like to share it with us?

I would like to do a postdoc abroad to have an experience of academic research in another european country.

The Control Tower of Projects and Contracts: the Research Office

by Anna MENCAGLI

When we think of research, we often picture laboratories full of test tubes, high-tech equipment, and researchers working tirelessly. But behind every major scientific result, there’s also another “machine” at work: the one that manages the administrative side of research projects and commercial contracts.

The numbers speak for themselves: 437 active accounting projects at the start of 2025, with a total value close to €108 million. That’s a 67% increase in budget in just two years.

The Research Office, based in both Turin and Alessandria, has two main “souls”: one dedicated to Projects and one to Commercial Contracts.

The Project Side

Here, the Research Office is like the control tower of an airport: it takes care of everything needed to ensure a funded

research project flies “high and safe”, in synergy with faculty, researchers, and the other administrative offices involved.

  • Budget support: from drafting the financial plan to preparing administrative documents and agreements required during both the proposal and post-award phases (among partners and with funding bodies), always following University regulations.
  • Monitoring and coordination: from Italian Ministries to the European Union and beyond, each project requires dialogue, clear rules, and a lot of teamwork.
  • Reporting and audits: in other words, keeping the books in order, certifying every expense, and ensuring absolute transparency.

The result? As of February 2025, there are 133 active ministerial projects (including the Department of Excellence 2023–2027), 104 European, 33 with other institutions, and 15 regional.

The Contract Side

If projects are “funded research,” then commercial contracts are “tailor-made research” for companies and external organizations. Here, DiSAT becomes a true partner of the industrial and productive ecosystem.

  • Analyses and testing, consulting, ad hoc research contracts: from material testing to agreements for specific services of primary interest to public or private entities.
  • Tenders and calls: support for participating in funding opportunities launched by Ministries and space agencies such as ESA and ASI.
  • Framework agreements and conventions: long-term partnerships that strengthen trust between universities and businesses.
  • Administrative management: from negotiating agreements to invoicing, as well as accounting oversight in coordination with the finance office and other administrative units (HR, procurement, etc.).

As of February 2025, 152 commercial contracts are active, with a total value exceeding €3 million.

These results demonstrate not only the Department’s scientific excellence but also its strong ability to manage national and international resources.

Want to Know More?

For details on roles, contacts, and organization, check out the full presentation available at this link:

DOCUMENTATION C/D/S

 

UNIGHT 2025 - DiSAT Present

by Cultura & Comunicazione DiSAT

The European Researchers’ Night is an initiative promoted by the European Commission since 2005, which every year involves thousands of researchers across many research institutions in all European countries.

The goal is to create opportunities for encounters between researchers and citizens, to spread scientific culture and awareness of research professions in an informal and stimulating context.

The events include live scientific experiments and demonstrations, exhibitions and guided tours, outreach lectures and seminars, as well as shows and concerts.

Italy immediately embraced this European initiative with a wide variety of projects, making it traditionally one of the European countries with the highest number of events spread throughout the territory. Politecnico di Torino will participate with a range of activities, and in this issue we are pleased to give you a preview of the DiSAT-branded events.

1. Recharge the Future: Solar-Powered Supercapacitors

Who: Luisa Baudino

When: Friday, September 26th, from 5:00 PM to midnight

Where: Castello del Valentino

Have you ever thought about saying goodbye to batteries? Come and find out how at the stand hosted by the researchers of the Energy Harvesting and Storage (EARN&ST) research line of the MP4MNT (Materials and Processes for Micro and Nano Technologies) group at DiSAT.

A journey through innovative materials and sustainable energy: discover how supercapacitors and third-generation photovoltaics come together to power wearable devices without batteries. Portability and continuous recharging, with no compromises

2. Materials Engineering: The Technological Revolution Driving Industrial Transition

Who: Valentina Casalegno

When: Friday, September 26th, from 5:00 PM to midnight

Where: Castello del Valentino

Advanced materials are the silent engine of the green and digital transition. Light, strong, and smart, they enable innovation in energy, mobility, healthcare, and electronics. Investing in research, skills, and sustainable supply chains means laying the foundations today for a more innovative, secure, and competitive future. CHANGE STARTS WITH MATERIALS!

3. CO₂ Reduction and Hydrogen Production: European Research at the Forefront

Who: Giancarlo Cicero

When: Saturday, September 27th, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Where: Castello del Valentino and Botanical Garden

CO₂ is one of the main contributors to climate change, but thanks to electrolysis, it can be converted into green hydrogen, a clean and sustainable fuel. In our laboratory, we will show you how this innovative technology can transform an environmental problem into a valuable resource.

4. Let’s repair the human body

Who: Sara Ferraris

When: Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Where: Outdoor area of the Botanical Garden

A game of combinations to place the right tool in the right spot and discover many curiosities about the world of biomaterials. The game is also an opportunity to introduce the public to the PRIN-PNRR PROTECTED project, dedicated to the development of sustainable active bandages.

5. Materials Hunt

Who: Sara Ferraris

Where: School Event

A treasure hunt full of quizzes, mysterious boxes, and locks to open, designed to explore the magical world of materials and their properties—where everyone has a role, and everyone’s contribution matters.

6. I REFUSE! (to make waste)

Who: Silvia Fraterrigo Garofalo

When: Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Where: Castello del Valentino and Botanical Garden

Throwing something away is easy, it goes in the bin, we don’t see it anymore, and everything seems fine. But where do waste and scraps really go? Sometimes they come back to life in a new form: biomass and urban solid waste, CO₂, and discarded clothes. Using chemistry, physics, and biochemistry, we extract products and substances for new technological applications, and more. We’ll show you how!

7. The Power of Water, Sun, and Electricity!

Who: Simelys Hernandez Ribullen

When: Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Where: Castello del Valentino and Botanical Garden

Sunlight can play an important role in the production of chemical molecules. How? We’ll demonstrate an electrolysis experiment—the splitting of water—using not only electric current as a power source but also the light from a simple lamp. We’ll use special devices for this process, called electrodes, which we will prepare on-site just like we do in the laboratory!

8. Mission Carbon 0

Who: Simelys Hernandez Ribullen

When: Friday, September 26, 2025, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Where: Botanical Garden of Turin, Play Area P4, Classroom I

Participants will receive cards representing different everyday actions. For each of these cards, there is a second card showing the corresponding amount of carbon dioxide generated and a third card showing a solution to reduce CO₂ emissions. With the help of a facilitator, participants will try to guess how much carbon dioxide is associated with each action!

9. CO₂ Hunt

Who: Simelys Hernandez Ribullen

Where: School event

Participants, divided into teams, face the challenge of the century: reducing CO₂! Each team must connect carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms using special sticks (chemical bonds) to form molecules. Each molecule earns points, calculated according to its market value. At the end of the game, the team with the highest score wins!

10. Squishy Science: Exploring the Secrets of Fluids

Who: Michel Orsi

When: Friday, September 26, from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Where: Castello del Valentino and Botanical Garden

How does a liquid turn solid when you hit it? We will uncover the secrets of fluids through experiments and visually striking demonstrations. From capillarity and urface tension to non-Newtonian fluids, light refraction, and much more, you’ll see a science that moves, deforms, and applies to everyday life.

11. Batteries of the Future: Post-Lithium and Solid-State Technologies

Who: Silvia Porporato

When: Friday, September 26, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Where: Castello del Valentino, first floor

Discover technologies that go beyond lithium: sodium-ion, zinc batteries, and solid electrolytes, even made from waste materials like windshields. We’ll explore how solid membranes work and assemble electrochemical cells using fruits and vegetables such as potatoes and lemons. The energy of the future is already here!

12. Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics: The Relational Fabric of Nature

Who: Lucrezia Ravera

When: Friday, September 26, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Castello del Valentino, Corte d’Onore

We will explore the interaction between physics, mathematical physics, and the philosophy of physics in describing and modeling reality, from classical theories to Quantum Mechanics. We will examine the role of symmetries as guiding principles in the formulation of physical laws and their epistemological and ontological significance in interpreting reality. The relational aspects of Quantum Mechanics will be illustrated through simple examples, highlighting its conceptual implications and its impact on our understanding of the physical world. This session will also be an opportunity to celebrate the centenary of Quantum Mechanics, with a critical reflection on its evolution and its significance in the contemporary scientific and philosophical context.

13. Internet of Things: Towards Energy Autonomy

Who: Andrea Rubino

When: Saturday, September 27, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Where: Castello del Valentino, Corte d’Onore

The Internet of Things is everywhere, but how can we power billions of sensors without batteries? We will explore advances in harvesting and storing energy from sources such as sunlight, as well as the remaining challenges for truly sustainable innovation. How is research progressing? A future of full integration: all in.

14. Let’s Get Cooking in Order! Crystal Engineering and Food Science

Who: Elena Simone

When: Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Where: Castello del Valentino, Botanical Garden, and adjacent areas

Crystals are everywhere: in the ice cream we love, the chocolate that comforts us, and the products we use every day. Often invisible but essential, these microscopic architects of matter influence the texture, stability, and even the sensory pleasure of the objects around us.

During this event, we will explore the fascinating world of crystals. Through concrete examples and interactive activities suitable for children, we will discover how each crystal has a unique “personality” that can profoundly influence the properties of the systems in which it forms.

15. Lab Shots: Tissues that care

Who: Veronica Vighetto

When: Saturday, September 27, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Where: Castello del Valentino, Exhibition Area M

Is it possible to grow tissues in the laboratory? Tissue engineering is already making it happen! Discover how skin, cartilage, and other tissues can be “built” using cells, biomaterials, and extensive research. A photographic journey and interactive activities will take you to the heart of this biomedical revolution.

16. From Quantum Mechanics to Technological Innovations

Who: Francesco Buccheri

When: Friday, September 26, from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Where: Castello del Valentino, Area Talk T1

Over the past century, quantum mechanics has revolutionized our understanding of the world and our everyday lives. We will revisit the fundamental ideas, the technologies that have emerged from them, and those still in development: from quantum sensors, telecommunications, and photonics to quantum computing.

16. Antistatic Technologies for More Accurate Biomedical Analyses

Who: Peng Zhang

When: Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Where: Castello del Valentino and Botanical Garden

Static electricity on plastic surfaces can distort biomedical analysis results, causing errors and contamination. We study antistatic materials and environmental strategies to eliminate this interference, thereby improving the accuracy of tests, which is crucial for more reliable diagnoses.

17. The Future in Mondovì

Who: Alberto Tagliaferro

When: Saturday, September 27, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Politecnico di Torino – Mondovì Campus

Do you want to discover where innovation begins? Between research and experimentation, new scenarios emerge, focused on skills, the environment, and development. The Mondovì campus of Politecnico di Torino is organizing a conference on Artificial Intelligence and guided tours of the Research and Technology Transfer Laboratories active at the campus.

The goal is to involve citizens in a current topic that will impact everyone’s future lives, while also showcasing the cutting-edge activities conducted at the campus, making it a national—and international—point of reference. Visitors will be guided through various laboratories and introduced to the activities taking place there, including 3D printing, monitoring plant signals, and other initiatives with significant environmental sustainability impact. Additionally, some high schools will set up stations at the campus to present projects carried out by their students.

18. Sports and Science: Behind the Scenes of Sportswear

Who: Ada Ferri

When: Friday, September 26, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Where: Campus di Città Studi, Biella

A workshop to explore the connection between technology, materials, and athletic performance. Through practical demonstrations, participants will visit the Politecnico’s Comfort Lab, where technical garments are analyzed to assess comfort and functionality. An opportunity to discover how scientific research enhances sportswear.

The complete program at   https://unightproject.eu/it/eventi/la-notte-europea-delle-ricercatrici-e-dei-ricercatori-torino?sort=default

The Fire Testing Laboratory of Alessandria

by Federico CAROSIO

The Polymer Materials Fire Testing Laboratory is located at the Alessandria branch of Politecnico di Torino. Founded in the early 2000s by Professor Giovanni Camino, the laboratory addresses the ongoing need to use and develop materials with a high level of fire safety.

The tests available at the laboratory primarily evaluate the fire reaction characteristics of materials, assessing their behavior under conditions corresponding to the different stages of a fire. In particular, flame reaction tests (conducted according to various standards depending on the field of application, e.g., UL94, oxygen index measurement, etc.) assess a material’s tendency to ignite. Complementary tests are carried out using an oxygen consumption cone calorimeter (ISO 5660 standard). This test evaluates how a material reacts to a heat flux comparable to the early stages of a fire, providing parameters such as heat release rate and smoke production. These data are crucial or understanding a material’s propensity to propagate fire and its hazards regarding the amount and optical density of smoke produced.

Over the years, the laboratory has expanded its equipment to meet the needs of companies and the research groups at the Alessandria site. A small-scale fire resistance test has been developed to evaluate a material’s ability to maintain structural integrity when exposed to a flame, serving as a screening tool for larger-scale tests.

Particularly important is the non-combustibility test (ISO 1182), mainly used to assess the potential use of insulating materials in the naval sector. In this field, the research group at Alessandria has recently developed a process to produce a hybrid polymeric insulating material capable of passing the non-combustibility test.

This material, with a low density (< 25 kg/m³), competes strongly with mineral fiber-based materials commonly used in naval applications, such as rock wool, which have higher densities (> 40 kg/m³) and negatively affect ship stability and fuel consumption.

Electrochemistry Group & Friends – A meeting to build community

by Silvia Bodoardo

On June 20, at the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) of Politecnico di Torino, the event Electrochemistry Group & Friends took place: an afternoon of exchange and discussion between the electrochemistry group and several other research groups at the University working in the field of batteries and related areas.

The initiative aimed to foster mutual understanding, promote a sense of community, and stimulate the creation of new synergies, particularly among young researchers. Through short presentations, open discussions, and informal moments, participants had the opportunity to explore projects, share challenges, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations.

Creating networks and cohesion among people who, although working in the same field, do not always have opportunities for direct dialogue was at the heart of this event. Research is not just the production of knowledge; it is also about sharing, dialogue, and collaboration.

Thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm and willingness to engage. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other and to remind ourselves that research is about sharing and collaboration. Wishing you a bright future!