SuperScienceMe: the key moments of the day

The 2025 edition of the European Researchers’ Night successfully transformed the University of Calabria into a space where young people and science could meet.

The science outreach event saw strong participation and enthusiasm across all proposed activities, drawing a diverse audience of middle and high school students, as well as curious visitors of all ages.

Among the various workshops, the “VR Experiences and 3D Dissemination lab” drew significant interest, offering visitors immersive and interactive experiences that ranged from underwater environments to urban and museum settings, where historical and contemporary artworks came to life.

It was in this context that 3D Research presented ART4SEA and 3D-4CH, two flagship projects in the field of innovation and cultural dissemination.

ART4SEA guided participants through an immersive journey combining digital art and environmental awareness. The project aims to inspire real change in how we relate to the sea. During the presentation, a video on ocean health was shown—available on the Art4Sea website in the “Ocean Literacy” section—which provided food for thought to an increasingly engaged and aware audience.

At the heart of the project is the collaboration of 24 artists selected through an open call and trained by experts from the Art4Sea consortium on ocean sciences, emerging technologies, and sustainable art practices. This collaboration resulted in 24 original artworks—12 digital and 12 physical—installed on the islands of Alonissos (Greece), Gozo (Malta), and Ustica (Italy).

During the Researchers’ Night, it was possible to explore the project’s virtual exhibition featuring all the artworks via Meta Quest, both in classroom 43B1 and at the Innovation Space booth. The exhibition was met with great enthusiasm, offering an engaging experience for all ages and demonstrating the effectiveness of immersive technologies in science communication.

Thanks to a continuously evolving virtual platform, Art4Sea positions itself as a lasting tool for awareness and inspiration, with the goal of building a new culture of the sea based on care, knowledge, and collective action.

Following this, the 3D-4CH project brought a concrete and forward-looking perspective on the future of Cultural Heritage to the Researchers’ Night, focusing on the 3D digitisation of cultural assets and the digital skills needed to address challenges in the sector.

During the event, 3D Research involved high school students from the fourth and fifth years in interactive sessions and hands-on demonstrations, offering an overview of the main 3D surveying technologies and the reuse of digital cultural data. The approach highlighted the importance of standardisation and interoperability of 3D models—key elements to ensure long-term preservation, public access, and the development of new models for education, research, and digital tourism.

At the Innovation Space booth, 3D Research presented an overview of six European projects, all focused on building a more sustainable and accessible future.

With CREAMARE, students and visitors had the chance to try out the latest version of the underwater video game CREAMARE: The Game.

ART4SEA combines art and immersive technologies to raise awareness about ocean health.

BTChubs offered a unique immersive experience, allowing visitors to explore underwater sites through the Virtual Diving app.

REEVALUATE aims to create sustainable models for the management and enhancement of cultural heritage, with the goal of developing and implementing co-creative tools powered by Artificial Intelligence.

Thanks to 3D-4CH, participants discovered tools and techniques for the surveying and reuse of cultural heritage in conservation, education, and analytical contexts.

The interest shown by students, teachers, researchers, and members of the public throughout the day once again confirms how the digitisation of heritage, the use of immersive technologies, and open access to cultural content continue to attract attention—especially among younger generations, who are increasingly involved in the challenges of digital and cultural transition.