Tangible models for scientific dissemination and public engagement: from theory to production (ERN and Torino Sharper 2020-2021)

Education does not come to an end within schools and academies: it might work at different levels and in different times. Some of its possible implementations can fit within ‘popular science’ and ‘public engagement’ activities. For some years, Italian universities have been working on third mission projects going towards the requirements of the European Charter for Researchers. Almost all the events related to European Researchers’ Nights (ERN) have gone in this direction since 2005, developing new interactions between researchers and the public. The contribution aims at critically presenting some activities developed with the ERNs 2020, 2021 (Sharper Nights Torino, Italy) to communicate geometry as a common language between maths and architecture as well as a complex tool to understand and share the built shapes of historical architecture. Even if linked by a common context where geometry is intended as the main language to convey and discuss about shapes (architectural and not only) with a heterogeneous public, but these activities were also delivered in two different ways. In 2020 we were forced to opt for online only events, due to COVID-19 pandemic, whereas in 2021 we came back to onsite/in person activities.