Twenty years of L'ideatorio, between scientific wonder and public outreach

Twenty years ago, the first exhibition of L'ideatorio was unveiled. In an interview published by "Cooperazione", Giovanni Pellegri - Head of the Centre - reflected on the activity carried out over the first two decades and on the importance of scientific dissemination close to the population.

L'Ideatorio was created initially in a timid manner, thanks to the efforts of many people; as Giovanni Pellegri recalls: "The project L'Ideatorio emerged from the collective efforts of many individuals; the vision of a single person alone would not have been sufficient to shape it into what it is today. Numerous supporters were involved, including the City of Lugano, local schools, the "Science et Cité" foundation, and Università della Svizzera italiana, along with various sponsors. When people unite their efforts, they can achieve remarkable things, reach great distances, and go beyond expectations."

L'ideatorio was born with a very clear objective: "The aim was to illustrate that science is not merely a collection of ideas and formulas; it also encompasses the capacity to develop new perspectives on humanity and the world. Thus, it represents culture, not just concepts". The intention is, therefore, to encourage discussion and dialogue around science, creating a ground for scientific democracy, as Pellegrini explained: "The important question to consider is: whose science is it? If science reflects our society, then everyone should have the right to engage in the discussion. People should be encouraged to share their views on which areas of science should be prioritised and which technologies we desire for ourselves and our children. However, this idea of scientific democracy is still largely lacking in practice". The reasons for this absence are many: "Many people view science as something remarkable but believe it is the domain of a select few. This perspective is misguided, and the scientific community may have played a role in perpetuating it. The sky, for example, does not belong solely to astronomers; it belongs to everyone. We need to start anew, approaching the world, nature, and our existence with a sense of wonder. It's important to ask those fundamental questions that inspire us-questions that science itself should also seek to answer. If we remove the human element from science, it becomes nothing more than a collection of useful yet lifeless facts".

How to involve the population remains an important point, on which Giovanni Pellegri reflected: "The issue extends beyond just the field of science; it affects many areas of understanding. For example, claiming that biochemistry explains love purely as a response to increased hormones and activated brain centers is clearly inadequate to capture the profound nature of love. When science resorts to such reductionism, people often feel detached or alienated. It is akin to trying to reduce a Caravaggio painting to just a list of the colour pigments used in its creation. Perhaps adopting a more humanistic approach while still incorporating scientific knowledge would foster greater engagement. It is essential to remember that to grasp complex subjects, one must acquire extensive knowledge; relying on a single perspective is not sufficient". Over the years, L' ideatorio has proposed concrete solutions, also thanks to the birth of several sites, both permanent and travelling, located throughout the territory: "We offer a mediation to encourage the visitor's encounter with scientific culture. We do this at our headquarters in Cadro, featuring a planetarium, themed exhibitions, and educational workshops. But also in the region with planetariums and travelling exhibitions, summer and weekend activities for everyone. We have a branch office at Villa Saroli in the centre of Lugano, where we run activities for children, and an antenna at the House of Sustainability in Airolo, where we have a planetarium and offer a series of activities to reflect on sustainable development".

There is also a political intention behind the creation of L'ideatorio: the Federal Council aimed to address the shortage of specialised personnel in Switzerland: "From 2021, L'ideatorio will be recognised as one of the four main centres for the promotion of MINT subjects (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences and technology) in Switzerland, with the aim of captivating girls and boys in science and technology," explained Pellegri. In particular, a lot is being invested nowadays to steer girls towards scientific studies, a strategy not entirely shared by Giovanni Pellegri, however, who emphasises other important changes that need to be implemented: "To make science and technology accessible to everyone, we need to rethink how we encourage girls to enter the technological world, which has historically been shaped by male perspectives, methods, and values. Instead of simply pushing girls to pursue careers in informatics, we should focus on transforming science and technology from within so that they can accommodate diverse visions and approaches. The prevailing image of a scientist is often that of a man-strange, dishevelled, and perhaps eccentric-conducting mysterious experiments in a hidden laboratory. In reality, researchers are our neighbours-men and women who have chosen to turn their curiosity about the world into a profession. By fostering a new vision of science, we can attract more girls to these fields. This influx of girls can help usher in a more inclusive, creative, and humanistic approach to science and technology. Such an approach does not compromise the rigour and values of the scientific method; rather, it enriches it by incorporating varied sensitivities and perspectives, ultimately benefiting innovation in the process."

Giovanni Pellegri concluded by sharing some insights about the exhibition that will be displayed starting September at L'ideatorio, which is dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and robots. "two themes at the centre of public debate, which are well suited for exploration at L'ideatorio. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has accelerated processes that were already underway and raised several important questions: What does it mean to be intelligent? How do we develop thinking? AI offers us an opportunity to reflect on the concepts of learning and knowledge. However, it is crucial to understand how AI works, as well as its potential and limitations. While it is a powerful tool, greater awareness is needed regarding its implications. In line with our intentions, we aim to help people understand both the compelling and problematic aspects of AI, encouraging a critical perspective".

The complete interview by Giovanni Pellegri, published by "Cooperazione", is available at the following link (pages 12-13). (Italian only)