Sant’Anna School at the forefront of Focus Live 2025: three stands and a series of workshops to showcase research that inspires
Over 20,000 visitors in three days, fully booked talks and workshops, and hundreds of students and families engaged in interactive experiences: these are the figures of Focus Live 2025, the festival of science and innovation organized by Focus and hosted by the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan from November 7 to 9.
The 2025 edition, dedicated to the theme “Passion,” turned the museum into a vast open-air laboratory, where scientists, researchers, and science communicators shared experiments, ideas, and new perspectives on the future.
Three stands to showcase cutting-edge research
The Sant’Anna School took part with three exhibition spaces, curated by researchers from various institutes and laboratories, featuring demonstrations, experiments, and interactive installations designed to engage the public with topics in robotics, engineering, and life sciences.
Microrobotics in “celluloid” – Led by Elisa Roberti and Stefano Palagi, this exhibit demonstrated how microrobots inspired by the functioning of cells and biological systems can move autonomously, paving the way for future applications in medicine and environmental science.
Spin-off CELESTE – Researchers Eugenio Ferrato and Vittorio Giannetti presented the project of CELESTE, a spin-off company born from Sant’Anna School, focused on developing plasma propulsion technologies for space exploration. Their demonstration captivated visitors, showing how academic research can evolve into entrepreneurship and industrial innovation.
LAMPSE Lab – The laboratory coordinated by Francesco Greco and Anna Chiara Bressi offered two hands-on workshops on flexible electronics and body–machine interfaces:
“Draw circuits with a pencil!” – A fun activity to experiment with the conductivity of graphite, light up LEDs, and create simple electrical connections on paper and recycled materials.
“Switch it on with your muscles: use your body as a remote control!” – A workshop exploring how the body’s electrical signals can control external devices, turning muscle activity into technological action.
Sant'Anna Researchers take the stage
Throughout the three-day event in Milan, the Sant’Anna School was also represented by Tommaso Andreussi, Pierdomenico Perata, Federica Casarosa, and Marco Martinelli, who took part in talks and public discussions. Their presentations ranged from the new frontiers of space propulsion to RNA applications in biotechnology and medicine, and to exploring research as a driving force for social and cultural change.
The participation of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Focus Live 2025 reaffirms its commitment to making science accessible and engaging, turning research outcomes into tangible experiences. It was an opportunity to connect with the wider public and to demonstrate how a passion for knowledge can become a tool for innovation, sustainability, and progress.
