On September 26, 2025, Bari joined hundreds of European cities in celebrating the European Researchers’ Night, the annual event that shines a spotlight on scientific research and its essential role in our society. In Piazza Umberto I, the beating heart of the city, the public had the opportunity to meet researchers face to face, explore the outcomes of their work, and — most importantly — take part in hands-on experiments and live demonstrations.
COSMART was there too. Our team showcased some of the most representative experiments from ongoing projects, with the goal of illustrating — in an accessible and engaging way — how even a common household waste product, like used cooking oil, can be transformed into innovative and sustainable materials.
From Waste to Resource: Biofuels, Biolubricants, and Bio-Based Materials
At our booth, we demonstrated step by step how used vegetable oil can be transformed into biodiesel and biolubricants — showcasing not only the scientific potential of this process, but also the critical importance of properly collecting and recycling household cooking oils. A small action at home can fuel a major shift toward sustainability.
We also presented the synthesis of bio-based polyurethanes — versatile materials with applications across a wide range of industries, helping reduce the reliance on fossil resources and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The Magic of Chemistry: Experiments for All Ages
To spark curiosity among younger generations and bring them closer to the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), we offered hands-on activities with strong visual impact. Our goal was to light up the eyes of children and teenagers — while also giving them concrete inspiration to imagine future studies and careers in scientific research.
Some of the most popular activities included:
- The synthesis of nylon-66 – a visually striking experiment that showed how two clear liquids can combine to form a strong fiber, instantly recognizable as plastic.
- A basicity test using slag – industrial waste from the steel plants in Taranto — which captivated onlookers with the bright pink color change of phenolphthalein. More importantly, it opened up a conversation about circular economy: these slags can be repurposed in our labs for biodiesel production.
- The creation of fake blood – produced using an iron complex, sparked curiosity and questions from both children and adults.
Research in Dialogue with the Community
Throughout the event, we also showcased scientific posters presented by our research group at major national and international conferences — giving citizens a tangible overview of our academic work and its potential industrial applications.
Our team — made up of Maria Michela Dell’Anna, Matilda Mali, Alessia Iennaco, Francesca Derobertis, Ester D’Accardi, Maria Stella Leone, and Peyman Hamidizadeh from the DICATECH Department of the Polytechnic University of Bari — welcomed hundreds of visitors, answered questions, and enthusiastically shared the behind-the-scenes of green chemistry research.
An Evening to Understand, Touch, and Experiment
Once again, the Researchers’ Night proved that science is not something distant or out of reach — it can, and should, come into our public squares, among the people, to help build a future that is more sustainable, more informed, and more inclusive.
Thanks in part to COSMART.
