On 26 and 27 September, MEETmeTONIGHT – La Notte dei Ricercatori returns: the event is organised as part of European Researchers’ Night by Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Università degli Studi di Milano, Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, and the communication agency formicablu. It is funded by the European Union under the MEET project.
For two days, the University of Milan will host more than 400 researchers from the participating universities in stands, presentations, workshops, shows and interactive spaces, offering visitors a chance to engage directly with science and its challenges.
MEETmeTONIGHT, part of the European Researchers’ Night, is an initiative promoted by the European Union with the aim of bringing science and society closer together and inspiring interest among citizens, particularly young people. Now in its 20th edition, the event takes place on the same dates in 25 countries and over 460 cities across Europe.
The 2025 programme, featuring more than 60 events, will open on Friday 26 September at 5 p.m. At the heart of the initiative are the pavilions dedicated to the missions of Horizon Europe. On Saturday, more than 25 stands will offer in-depth exploration and discussion on five key EU priority themes:
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adaptation to climate change
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the fight against cancer
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protection of oceans, seas, lakes and rivers
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climate-neutral and smart cities
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soil health.
From AI challenging climate change perceptions to a board game for clinical case analysis, from listening to the sounds of the sea to the geology of smart cities, and quizzes on sustainable food choices, the stands will offer an interactive journey through science, innovation and participation.
Meanwhile, on the MEETmeTONIGHT stage, researchers will give 26 short public talks, moderated by student radio hosts. In addition, 20 workshops will allow visitors of all ages to engage with research topics and methods through quizzes, games and hands-on experiments.
There will also be moments of entertainment and informal encounters. On Friday evening, audiences will enjoy “Grammamanti” with linguist Vera Gheno, and “Le Cosmicomiche”, a performance with actress and musician Debora Mancini, multi-instrumentalist Daniele Longo, and astrophysicist Stefano Sandrelli inspired by Le cosmicomiche by Italo Calvino.
On Saturday, around 20 PhD candidates will take part in “Speed Dates”: 15-minute sessions where participants can meet them face-to-face and hear about their research experiences. The EU Corner will offer an opportunity to discover EU-funded research and projects.
All activities are free of charge, though workshop registration is required.
Alongside MEETmeTONIGHT, on 26 and 27 September Milan will also host an event organised by the Co.Science project, bringing interactive labs, experiments and scientific demonstrations to the city centre, coordinated by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.
The two projects will also collaborate on a special launch event on 17 September at Fondazione Luigi Rovati, focusing on research, science communication and art.
The MEET project (Missions: Engagement and Education for Tomorrow) is funded by the European Union.
Full programme: https://www.meetmetonight.it/2025/programma/