The lab at the European Researchers’ Night

The lab contributed to European Researchers’ Night in Catania on 25 September 2026, taking part in SHARPER, an Italian initiative bringing together universities and research institutions across several cities. The evening offered an opportunity to share our research with the public through a mini-talk and hands-on activities.

Deborah Vicari gave a mini-talk, “Cetaceans in 3D: the invaluable role of museum collections”, introducing her work on toothed whales. She explained how 3D methods help researchers study cetacean skulls and make museum specimens more accessible, opening new possibilities for exploring the diversity of these marine mammals.

We also joined geology colleagues Gaetano Ortolano, Carmelo Monaco and Rosanna Maniscalco and their labs at the stand “Between sea and land: 3D models and transition”, presenting – together with the Ortolano’s lab – the activity “From sea to land: 3D models for exploring nature”. New technologies provided the common thread, with the use of 3D models connecting our lab’s activities with those of Gaetano Ortolano’s group.

The 3D goggles were a particular hit with younger and older visitors alike. For the zoological specimens, visitors could explore models of toothed-whale skulls prepared by Deborah and dragonflies prepared by Sebastiano Battaglia, getting a fresh perspective on biological structures that are often difficult to examine up close.

Visitors could also watch a 3D scanner in action and see how a physical specimen becomes a digital model. It was an enjoyable evening of conversations and discovery, showing how the tools we use in research can also bring natural history to a wider audience.

Event photo credits: Deborah Vicari.