VENEGONO SUPERIORE – The Guglielmo Marconi comprehensive institute of Venegono Superiore is also among the twelve comprehensive institutes that participated in the “Eureka, it works” project, promoted by Federmeccanica and Miur. The project “Eureka, it works!” on display for the first time. The Province of Varese, in its headquarters in Villa Recalcati, will host an exhibition of 37 works created by students of primary schools in the area, as part of the project promoted at national level by Federmeccanica And Miur (Ministry of Education, University and Research) and, in the Varese area, come on Product groups “Mechanics”, “Steel, Metallurgical and Foundries” of Confindustria Varese. Objective: to train students, from a young age, in knowing how to do things. An initiative carried out in partnership with the Italian Institute of Technology (Iit), the research center with its main headquarters in Genoa and 11 research centers in the national and international territory (including MIT and Harvard in the USA).
“Eureka! It works!”, in its sixth edition at a local level, saw the participation of 760 students from the fourth and fifth grades of 17 elementary schools for 12 comprehensive schools in the province. This is a real one technological construction competition, in which young students, introduced to the world of technical and scientific culture, must conceive, design and build a toy, starting from a kit supplied by Federmeccanica containing various materials. To complete the work, the creation of a logbook with the description of all the production phases of the game and the creation of a promotional slogan. An opportunity to put manual skills and creativity into play, experimenting with the experience of teamwork, as happens in the world of work and industry.
The games created will be exhibited in a exhibition open to the public on 23, 24, 29 and 30 April from 9.00 to 17.00, in the spaces of Villa Recalcati.
A jury, composed of Carlo Del Grande And Gianluigi Casatirespectively President of the product group of “Mechanical” and “Steel, Metallurgical and Foundry” companies of Confindustria Varese, Debora Lonardiprovincial contact for STEM and digital innovation of the Territorial School Office and Cristina Zambon of the Province of Varese, will decree 2 winning projects, to which will be added the assignment of a special prize, the result of voting via a special QR Code of those who visit the exhibition. A sort of “popular jury” award. The names of the 3 winning toys and the classes that made them will be revealed during theEducation Daya great event, organized by Confindustria Varese, which will reward the merit and commitment of students of Varese schools, of every level, from elementary school, through middle school, up to high school, which will be held next May 14th in Ville Ponti.
Marco Magrini, President of the Province of Varese: “We opened the doors of the headquarters of the Province of Varese to the beautiful and interesting works created by the children who participated in ‘Eureka! It works!’, because we believe it is essential to give visibility to similar initiatives. Guiding young people towards their working future is our task: the province of Varese has a low unemployment rate, yet companies struggle to find the technicians they need. If we fail to direct students from an early age, we will lose skills that could prove useful and fundamental for our industry. We must work together, public bodies, private individuals and companies, to create synergy and send strong signals.”
Carlo Del Grande, President of the “Meccaniche” product group of Confindustria Varese: “These children were able to amaze us, once again, with projects that were not only extremely creative and well-crafted, but also original. They were able to tackle the task assigned to them, taking advantage of all the tools they had available and showing that they possessed all the right skills to work on to face the challenges of manufacturing 5.0 in the future”.
Gianluigi Casati, President of the “Steel, Metallurgical and Foundries” product group of Confindustria Varese: “Knowing how to invent is an innate gift that boys and girls have demonstrated, despite their very young age. We hope they will be able to maintain and develop it over time: being visionary is an increasingly necessary and sought-after element in the world of work. As is knowing how to work in a team, which these young people have proven they are capable of doing.”
Debora Lonardi, provincial contact for STEM and digital innovation of the Territorial School Office: “Thanks to ‘Eureka! It works!’, our young Stem Explorers are learning that creativity and action are the keys to meaningful learning. With their hands and their minds, they transform ideas into reality, demonstrating that doing is the best way to understand and innovate. They are experiencing that moment of wonder that accompanies scientific discovery, the ‘I found it!’ moment, remembering that the scientific method is an exciting journey to discover the mechanisms of nature. As the provincial Stem representative, I extend special thanks to the teachers who cultivate critical thinking in our students, hoping that ‘Eureka! Works!’ may it inspire in all of them ‘good daily classroom practices’”.
The 12 comprehensive institutes of the province involved in the competition: IC Cassano Magnago 2 of Cassano Magnago, IC Dante of Cassano Magnago, IC Campo dei Fiori of Comerio, IC Leonardo da Vinci of Azzate, IC G. Marconi of Venegono Superiore, Istituto Maria Ausiliatrice of Castellanza, IC E. De Amicis of Busto Arsizio, ICS GA Frattini of Leggiuno, IC Varese 3 – Vidoletti of Varese, IC M. Longhi of Viggiù, IC Maria Montessori of Castellanza and Rezzara Schools of Busto Arsizio.
