Almost a week after Researchers’ Night, we look back through a selection of images at the participation of the IUSS University School of Pavia in the 2026 edition, which brought the historic courtyards of the University of Pavia to life on Friday, 25 September.

The event provided an opportunity for researchers and the public to meet and engage directly, with IUSS researchers involving people of all ages in experiments, demonstrations, games and interactive activities, bringing research closer to the public through hands-on experiences and direct exchange.

From climate change and extreme weather events to neuroscience and biomedical technologies, and from philosophy of mind and linguistics to the observation of the sky and the Earth, the IUSS stands took visitors on a journey across different fields, showing how research questions, methods and tools can help us better understand the world around us.

Among the many activities, visitors had the opportunity to observe atmospheric phenomena through scale models, discover technologies and tools used to study the brain and human health, reflect on how we acquire and construct knowledge, and explore what happens in the brain when we understand language.

At the Neurolinguistics and Experimental Pragmatics Laboratory (NEPLab), in particular, visitors of all ages explored syntax, metaphors and creative language through activities and experiments, while also discovering how electroencephalography (EEG) can be used to investigate the brain processes involved in language comprehension.

There were also opportunities to look upwards through activities dedicated to astronomical observation, and back towards the Earth, using satellite images, quizzes and games to explore changes in our environment and learn how we can better understand and protect it.

Researchers’ Night once again proved to be an important opportunity to bring research beyond the laboratory, share knowledge and curiosity, and foster direct dialogue between science and society.

A big thank you to all the IUSS researchers who took part and to everyone who joined us, sharing their questions, curiosity and enthusiasm for experimentation.

Relive some of the highlights of the day through our photo gallery.