USI at "Divertiamoci con STEAM": an afternoon to inspire girls in science and technology

On Saturday, 28 February, the fourth edition of "Divertiamoci con STEAM" (Let's have fun with STEAM) was held at Centro Professionale Tecnico Lugano-Trevano. The initiative, tailored for middle school girls, aims to introduce them to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, encouraging them to challenge gender stereotypes.

Promoted by BPW – Business Professional Women Ticino, under the patronage of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Canton of Ticino, the event offered an afternoon of interactive workshops, meetings and opportunities for sharing, with the aim of opening new educational and professional horizons for the young participants.

Università della Svizzera italiana also contributed its expertise and first-hand experience in STEAM disciplines. Participants included PhD student Martina Boschi, active in the research group led by Professor Ernst-Jan Camiel Wit, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, and Prof. Monica Landoni, Full Professor at the Faculty of Informatics, accompanied by PhD student Diletta Micol Tobia.

Professor Monica Landoni and Diletta Micol Tobia led the science workshop "What kind of detective are you?", dedicated to information retrieval. By reflecting on what it means to "conduct research" in today's digital ecosystem, they guided participants to recognise that the search process is never neutral; it is shaped by personal interests, the tools used, context, and social interactions. Through hands-on activities, the girls identified their own strategies, created an "information detective profile," and developed a more critical awareness of sources and content.

Meanwhile, Martina Boschi conducted the mathematics workshop "Using probability to unmask false intuitions", showing how probability can surprise and challenge what appears intuitively obvious. Using examples from music and television programmes, participants explored famous probabilistic paradoxes, experiencing first-hand how misleading intuition can be and how mathematical reasoning serves as a powerful tool for interpreting reality.

Through these sessions, the USI representatives fostered curiosity, critical thinking, and self-confidence. They demonstrated how mathematics, informatics, and science are practical tools for understanding the world and navigating future choices with greater autonomy. The fourth edition of "Divertiamoci con STEAM"  confirmed the vital importance of early outreach, providing girls with female role models and helping them envision a future in science and technology within a framework of inclusion and equal opportunity.