Pensa Tu Festival, southern Italy’s leading science and curiosity event, took place from April 15 to 17 at Teatro Auditorium Unical in Rende.
Hundreds of visitors – students, and curious minds – engaged with researchers and scientists through hands-on labs, lectures, and school matinées designed to encourage critical thinking and scientific exploration.
The festival has become a vital educational hub for local schools, offering students dedicated morning sessions led by expert educators. These matinées feature interactive experiments, engaging exhibits, and guided activities that teach young participants how to observe, question and analyze the world through the scientific method. Beyond the classroom, Pensa Tu creates an inclusive space where research institutions and specialized associations share insights on science and interdisciplinary topics, fostering dialogue in a welcoming atmosphere.
During one of the student-dedicated matinées in the session entitled “Beyond Disciplines: Between Technology, Science, Creativity, and Culture”, Art4Sea took center stage. Marco Cozza from 3D Research, the project’s coordinator, highlighted how the initiative, funded by the Creative Europe Programme, merges art, creativity, and marine science to boost ocean literacy across the Mediterranean.
During its three years of activity, Art4Sea united artists, researchers, and coastal communities through artist residencies on the islands of Ustica, Alonissos, and Gozo, creating immersive artworks that blended into marine landscapes.
The project’s innovative digital tools include a virtual interactive exhibition, which raises awareness of ocean threats like plastic pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss in the Mediterranean area. This engaging experience transforms complex environmental challenges into accessible narratives that inspire sustainable behaviors.
This event highlighted Art4Sea’s creative approach to connecting art, science, and public engagement, fully resonating with the festival’s mission to foster cross-disciplinary curiosity and dialogue, as embodied in the spirit of Pensa Tu.
