(Finance) – The Diasorin Foundation makes known thelist of the 50 Italian secondary schools who have passed the first selection of ninth edition of the Mad for Science national competition, accessing the next phase. They come from 15 regions: 40% from Northern Italy, 24% from Central Italy and finally 36% from South and Islands. This year too, the participation of the Scientific high schools, which represent 54% of the schools selected for the second phase; follow with the 42% technical institutes and with the 4% biomedical classical high schools.
The Mad for Science Competition offers the opportunity to win a cash prize to enhance the institute’s science laboratory, transforming it into a place dedicated to scientific exploration. The Competition, open to all scientific high schools, classical high schools with biomedical bent and technical institutes present on the national territoryaims to introduce students to STEM careers, support their passion for science and provide a preview of what it means to do research even during their high school years. Originally conceived and promoted by Diasorin and subsequently managed by its Foundation, the Competition aims to stimulate interest in science in new generations, offering them a concrete opportunity for growth.
The 50 schools that passed the selection will have 3 months to develop your project on the chosen theme for this ninth edition, or “Natural resources and health. How biotechnological research helps us safeguard people and the environment“. In particular, with reference to energy resources (for example the production of biofuels), biological (which involve for example the use of fungi, bacteria, yeasts) and environmental (which valorise resources such as water, air, soil).
“The Mad for Science Competition represents a unique opportunity for schools to transform their laboratories into innovative spaces to experiment with science and its method. We are proud to see such broad involvement from schools across Italyconfirming how important it is to promote a scientific culture, capable of inspiring and exciting new generations” he declared Assunta Croce, General Secretary of the Diasorin Foundation.
A Committee, specially established by the Diasorin Foundation, will select the 8 most interesting projects which will guarantee the finalist teams access to the Mad for Science Challenge 2025 which will be held by the end of May 2025. An exceptional Jury will decide the winning schools: again this year a prize pool of 200,000 euros: the first ranked institute will receive 75,000 euros for the renovation of the science laboratory and the purchase of consumables; the second place winner will receive a prize of 45,000 euros; the third place winner will receive a prize of 30,000 euros. All the other 5 institutes will be awarded the Finalists Prize, worth 10,000 euros each.