On November 18, 2016, the traditional start-of-school-year meeting took place in Lodi between Ligurian and Lombard schools participating in the EEE Project – Science in Schools Project: Liceo “G. Calasanzio” in Carcare (SV), “Chiabrera – Martini,” “O. Grassi” and “G. Ferraris” ITIS in Savona, Liceo “Nicoloso da Recco” in Recco (GE), Liceo “G. Gandini” and “A. Volta” IIS in Lodi, and “A. Maserati” IIS in Voghera.
After welcoming the approximately 200 students by the principals of the host institutes, Liceo Gandini and IIS Volta, Dr. Laura Perasso (INFN-Genova and Centro Fermi), coordinator of these eight schools, gave a brief report on the status and prospects of the EEE Project. Dr. Stefano Grazzi (Centro Fermi) then illustrated the physics of the main ongoing analyses (coincidence measurements, Forbush effect, spatial anisotropies, tracks from below) and their first results.
The rest of the morning, before a delightful catering provided by students and teachers from Lodi’s Istituto Professionale Statale Villa IDEA, was dedicated to presentations by students from some schools – delivered with great enthusiasm – on their EEE Project work: from telescope data analysis and geometric acceptance measurements to building a new type of cloud chamber.
Afternoon Session
The meeting concluded in the afternoon with the seminar “Cosmic Rays: A Tool for Exploring the Distant Universe and Our Surrounding Environment,” where Prof. Francesco Riggi (Univ. and INFN Catania) presented both the pure research aspects and applied uses of cosmic rays. Muon tomography of containers, pyramids, and volcanoes sparked great curiosity among the students, who overwhelmed the professor with questions.
The presentations from this highly interesting, educational, and enjoyable day are available on this webpage.