The DSC aims to promote scientific culture in the field of chemistry and contribute to the sustainable development of society. Its objectives include disseminating the results of university research, supporting technology transfer processes, and collaborating with local stakeholders to advance scientific knowledge. The Department also supports professional associations and groups of chemists operating at both regional and national levels, in partnership with public and private entities across the territory. Building on previous efforts, evidenced by the diverse initiatives undertaken by faculty members, individually or in coordination, the DSC is committed to continuing and strengthening its engagement in Third Mission activities. These efforts seek to enhance the Department's institutional impact and actively contribute to the cultural advancement of society. The objectives of the DSC align with those outlined in the University's strategic plan, which addresses key societal challenges such as poverty reduction and social inclusion, improvement of public health, environmental restoration, and the enhancement of social and economic conditions.

FUTURO REMOTO

The members of the Department of Chemical Sciences have been participating for years in the scientific dissemination initiative "Futuro Remoto", one of the first Science Festivals in Europe, born in 1987 with the urgency of creating a dialogue between science and society.

Below are some activities proposed over the years:

• Crystallization experiments. Proponents: Giarita Ferraro and Antonello Merlino.

• Women&Science-Lise Meitner "Imagine a drop of water…" (Lise Meitner): the study of the macroscopic world to the understanding of the infinitely small. Proponents: Mauro Iuliano and Gaetano De Tommaso.

• Molecular Graphics: Observation and Computer Description of Conformational Transitions in Biological Macromolecules. Proponents: Domenico Loreto, Giarita Ferraro Antonello Merlino.

• Bevandexpress 4.0. Proponent: Daniele Naviglio

• Electrons and Molecules in Motion. Computational Methodologies for the Study of Their Transitions. Proponent: Alessio Petrone

• ISUSCHEM: the experience of a Neapolitan start-up from research to the "green" production of biochemicals. Proponent: Francesco Ruffo

  Microalgae and photosynthesizing bacteria: from harvesting to biotechnological uses for humans and the environment. Proponents: Daria Maria Monti, Edgardo Filippone, Antonino Pollio, Pasquale Chiaiese (project in collaboration with professors from other Departments).

• An X-ray life: Rosalind Franklin

  Prof. Daniele Naviglio and Loredana Mariniello

  Not everyone knows that in 1963, the podium for the delivery of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of the structure of DNA was missing a scientist whose contribution was fundamental: it was the researcher Rosalind Franklin. Discover the curiosities that lie behind this story and starting from animal and plant tissues, extract DNA from cells and make it visible to the naked eye. And it doesn't end there. Together we will look with many other experiments at the incredible contributions that research is continuing to make in this field to explore the most recent and innovative frontiers.

  Target: For everyone

  Duration: 30 minutes

• Health in Balance 4.0

  The state of human health must be in balance with the state of health of the environment. This is what is meant by the term One Health. Personal care must be in balance with respect for the health of the environment. It is proposed to use food supplements to promote personal health. To this end, it is proposed to use food waste, and therefore reduce its impact as waste, thus promoting the health of the environment and the recycling of precious components contained in them (sustainability of the process). "Green" methods will be illustrated for the extraction of healthy components contained in various food waste and edible films will be used, themselves made up of biomolecules from processing waste of some foods, as a vehicle for bioactive molecules for the creation of supplements. The public will be made aware of the concepts: One Health, Recycling and Environmental Sustainability.

• Bioplastics: a smart choice (L. Mariniello, C.V. Giosafatto, O.F. Restaino)
• The colors of the elements: from the observation of light to the composition of matter (M. Iuliano, G. De Tommaso, A. Vittoria, R. Esposito, F. De Paola)
• Crime scene investigations (A. Carpentieri, P. Pucci, F. Cozzolino, A. Di Somma, C. Cané, L. Tammaro, E. RIzzo, J. Gortz)
• From manual to digital fingerprinting (A. Carpentieri, M. Monti, P. Pucci, I. Iacobucci, L. Cané, I. Cipollone, S. Celentano) (in collaboration with CEINGE)

The "Notte dei Ricercatori" (Researchers' Night) is one of the main international initiatives dedicated to the dialogue between research and citizens promoted by the European Commission since 2005 within the Marie Curie actions.

The initiative involves thousands of researchers and research institutions in all European countries every year. The events include experiments and live scientific demonstrations, exhibitions and guided tours, conferences and informative seminars, shows and concerts.

The researchers of the Department of Chemical Sciences adhere to the European initiative. Below are some of the activities proposed by the researchers of the Department of Chemical Sciences over the years:

• Proteins and art

The colors used by an artist are the result of a skillful mixing of materials. The pictorial rendering, the 'special effects', the rendering over time are often due to the presence of additives acting as diluents, binders, or protective varnishes, often found in the natural world. The use of an innovative, minimally invasive biotechnology that involves the functionalization of a simple transparency for projections, and the analysis using proteomics and mass spectrometry techniques allows the identification of the protein component present.

Contact: Leila Birolo

Location: San Marcellino Centro Storico

• Crystallization experiments

Two experiments will be shown:

• The solubilization in hot water and subsequent cold crystallization of copper sulphate pentahydrate. By cooling the solution, copper sulphate, whose solubility decreases as the temperature decreases, crystallizes, forming large and regular crystals.
• An experiment known as ‘golden rain': formation of crystals by precipitation of lead iodide starting from lead nitrate and potassium iodide.

Representative: Giarita Ferraro

Location: San Marcellino Centro Storico

The purpose of the demonstration is to highlight the importance of Chemistry in the study and production of dietary supplements that rely on the solid-liquid extraction process, such as the production of an infusion made at room temperature using the Naviglio extractor. This innovative solid-liquid extraction technology makes it possible to force the extraction of the active ingredients of Karkadè and transfer them in a short process time (about 15 minutes) to the extracting liquid, which in this case is water. By not employing heat sources to extract the active ingredients, they are extracted without undergoing degradation and therefore retain their healing power. Another application is the production of a ferrous iron dietary supplement; from the reaction between iron filings and citric acid (both food-grade substances), a very stable compound, ferrous citrate, is obtained that can be added to various foods to supplement iron in the diet of anemic and/or iron-deficient individuals. In particular, ferrous citrate will be added to chocolate, allowing iron supplementation in children and people who cannot take medication.

Representative: Daniele Naviglio

Location: Agraria Portici

• Chemistry applied to dietary supplements

The circular economy is the new model to inspire production processes and daily habits, as set forth by the European Green Deal and all the new regulations we are held to in Europe including the Next Generation EU postpandemic recovery plan to save our planet from collapse. But what does it consist of, how far along is our country in this transition and how much does it affect our economy and jobs?

These are some questions that will be answered in the opening phase of this talk. Then to drop this broader discourse into our reality. The reality of the laboratory, bringing back the example of a biorefinery developed on a pilot scale in Campania, in an industrial research project coordinated by the University of Frederick in which seven companies participated. And the reality of our daily habits, reporting examples of simple actions we can take to make our own small big contribution to the health of our planet and all its inhabitants.

Representative: Vincenza Faraco

Location: Agraria Portici

Since 2022, "The University of Naples Federico II has been the leader of the two-year European project ‘Researchers' Night,' sees for the first time the Federico II lead a network of universities, CNR Institutes and research centers, together with cultural enterprises aimed at the dissemination of science, present in the regional territory of Campania and lower Lazio.

During the project, moments were proposed in which science, technology, and culture, in all their forms, were presented outside the traditional walls of academies and research institutions. Such moments have become occasions for meeting, confrontation, growth, and enrichment, not only cultural but also with a strong economic and social impact.

Such moments will become opportunities to meet, compare, grow, and enrich not only culturally but, eventually, also with a strong economic and social impact.

STREETS (Science, Technology and Research for Ethical Engagement Translated in Society), this is the name of the new approved project, wants to be a showcase in which to show firsthand the multiplicity and value of the research carried out by the Women and Men of our University, capable of offering wide visibility towards a very large audience, significantly differentiated by cultural and social background.

The main objective is to offer itself to the general public, with particular attention to families and students. It is intended to promote the important role of research and innovation, concretely showing their impact on the daily lives of citizens.

A network of Universities, CNR Institutes and research centers, together with cultural enterprises aimed at science dissemination, present in the regional territory of Campania and lower Lazio participate in the project. The following is a list of activities proposed by Lecturers, Researchers, PhD students and students of the Department of Chemical Sciences within the framework of the Project in the years 2022 and 2023.

FEDERICO II PLUS

Prof. Fabio Montagnaro

Talks on topics related to circular economy and sustainable resource management, with reference to matter and energy transformation processes.

Attached posters: 1, 2, 3.

Identification of biomolecules for archaeometric investigations

Prof. Andrea Carpentieri

In recent years, the relationship between applied sciences and Cultural Heritage is becoming increasingly stronger. Molecular characterization of historical artifacts is an important aspect of cultural heritage because it allows the identification of chemical compounds used by artists in different periods. The information obtained makes it possible to investigate execution techniques and constituent materials and is used to develop restoration and conservation protocols.

State of the art of solid-liquid extraction: from squeezing to the Naviglio Extractor. Production of lemon liqueur (limoncello) in two hours (Naviglio, Daniele).

- Water purification by adsorption (Russo, Vincenzo)

- Chemistry and Art (Carpentieri, Andrea)

- Journey into the gelation of polysaccharides: a look inside a sweet microworld (Corsaro, Maria Michele, Casillo, Angela)

• Circular economy: from the laboratory to everyday life

Pint Of Science, born in 2012 at Imperial College London and also spread in Italy starting from 2015, is the most followed scientific dissemination event in the world, completely free and non-profit, which exists thanks to the contribution of the sponsors.

The Department of Chemical Sciences actively participates in "Pint Of Science", the international scientific dissemination festival that brings research to the pubs.

Some students, PhD students, and researchers of the Department are volunteers of the association and, as members of Team Naples, carry out fundamental organizational functions for the realization of Pint Of Science in our city every year. Numerous contributions also come from our professors who have proposed themselves as speakers in the various editions, offering important ideas for debate and reflection on scientific issues of socio-cultural relevance.

Since 2022, the Neapolitan edition, financed and sponsored by the Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School of our University, also includes professors from the Department of Chemical Sciences. In the 2024 edition, behind the great organizational machine, there are numerous students, PhD students, and researchers also from our Department, such as Carmen Serpico, Maria Claudia Gatto, Massimo Christian D'Alterio, Roberto Esposito, Antonio Vittoria, Paola Cicatiello, and Francesco Zaccaria.

For updates, visit the website:

https://pintofscience.it/events/napoli

For more information:

Arianna Massaro (Coordinator Pint of Science Naples)

e-mail: arianna.massaro@unina.it

DSC teachers participate in the project "ADOTTA UN FILOSOFO + UNO SCIENZIATO", a new format of the project "Adopt a Philosopher" that the Fondazione Campania Festival has been promoting since 2019 in agreement with the Regional School Office for Campania (Ufficio Scolastico Regionale per la Campania).

https://fondazionecampaniadeifestival.it/progetto/adotta-un-filosofo-uno-scienziato/

The students of the last two years of secondary schools who participate in the event have the opportunity to receive a visit from a philosopher and also from a scientist. In 2022, scholars of philosophy and scientific subjects discussed the theme "The soul and techne".

DSC members involved:

Francesco Ruffo, Gerardino D'Errico, Antonello Merlino

Publications on the topic:

• https://fondazionecampaniadeifestival.it/adotta-un-filosofo-uno-scienziato-pensare-e-immaginare-al-centro-della-lezione-allistituto-luigi-einaudi-di-scafati/
• https://fondazionecampaniadeifestival.it/a-salerno-la-seconda-lezione-del-progetto-adotta-un-filosofo-uno-scienziato/
• https://fondazionecampaniadeifestival.it/adotta-un-filosofo-uno-scienziato-prosegue-allistututo-e-fermi-di-sturno/

In 2023, scholars of philosophy and science discussed the topic of "Objective and Subjective".

DSC Members involved:

Francesco Ruffo, Gerardino D'Errico, Antonello Merlino

Publications on the topic:

• Adotta un Filosofo + uno Scienziato: si conclude la prima settimana di incontri - Fondazione Campania dei Festival
• Adotta un Filosofo + uno Scienziato: una settimana ricca di incontri - Fondazione Campania dei Festival
• Adotta un Filosofo + uno Scienziato: continuano gli incontri con il sapere - Fondazione Campania dei Festival

The scientific dissemination event "Inside a drop of water" was held for the first time in 2022 and has been repeated for several years, sometimes in conjunction with the World Water Day event. The event, intended for a general public, aims to raise awareness among participants of the topic of water as a resource and to introduce them to Chemistry, which is a science not well covered by the mass media. Ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water for all is one of the Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the event, researchers and teachers from the Department of Chemical Sciences illustrate topics related to the proposed theme to participants, integrating them with laboratory activities. The laboratory activities - which in all cases require a significant degree of involvement and active participation of the public present - are integrated with numerous informative posters and several videos continuously broadcast in rooms, made available for the initiative.

Teachers and researchers of the Department of Chemical Sciences are involved in numerous scientific dissemination activities conducted in middle and high schools. Below are photos of some interventions by DSC teachers in schools in the Campania region.

The Family Run & Friends is a non-competitive 2km race open to people of all ages that was held on February 24, 2024 at the Mostra d'Oltremare in Naples. The aim was to make everyone aware of the pleasure of running and crossing the finish line.

The Department of Chemical Sciences was present during this sporting event to stimulate the curiosity of participants towards issues of social and environmental impact such as the importance of preserving a precious resource such as water and pollution caused by traditional plastics.

The teachers and researchers of the Department of Chemical Sciences welcomed the participants at the end of the walk with posters, informative activities and laboratory experiences.

Participating teachers: Paola Cicatiello, Antonio Vittoria, Cinzia Pezzella, Concetta Valeria Lucia Giosafatto, Loredana Mariniello, Gerardino d'Errico

Our History