New Languages for Science: IBSA Foundation’s Commitment to Scientific Dissemination

Scientific dissemination is not merely about sharing knowledge; it is about providing people with the tools to understand and critically interpret the world around us. In an increasingly complex and interconnected society, corporate foundations can play a fundamental role in establishing an open and constructive dialogue between the scientific research community and the public, fostering a scientific culture that is accessible, transparent, and evidence-based.

Promoting "Science for All" and facilitating access to knowledge is the core mission of the IBSA Foundation for scientific research, the main promoter of the IBSA Group's social responsibility programme. This commitment is pursued across two complementary fronts: on one hand, providing concrete support to research through fellowships and scholarships dedicated to young researchers and students; on the other, establishing a diverse programme of initiatives open to the public. These projects span medicine, culture, health, and society, actively involving experts and speakers of international renown. It is precisely through these dissemination activities that the Foundation experiments with new ways of storytelling in science, making it increasingly accessible, engaging, and close to people.

SCIART: WHEN ART AND SCIENCE COLLIDE

One of the most distinctive aspects of the IBSA Foundation’s dissemination work is the dialogue between different disciplines. Art, music, philosophy, and science become complementary tools to stimulate curiosity, offer new perspectives on reality, and bring the public closer to scientific themes.

This philosophy is the driving force behind SciArt, a project promoting collaboration between the artistic and scientific worlds. Despite using different tools and languages, artists and scientists share the exact same drive for inquiry and discovery. Through dialogues, public talks, and debates, SciArt creates a space where seemingly distant disciplines can influence one another, generating new interpretations of our world and encouraging critical thinking.

Over the years, the project has involved leading figures from the international art and science scenes, including Stefano Mancuso, Chus Martinez, Umberto Galimberti, and Guido Tonelli, offering the public opportunities for reflection that transcend the traditional boundaries between scientific and humanistic knowledge.

This same spirit of openness and cross-pollination led the IBSA Foundation to bring Nomadic – Song for Biodiversity to Lugano in 2025. This performance, conceived by evolutionary philosopher Telmo Pievani and musician Gianni Maroccolo, merged music, words, and science. The project invited audiences to view migration through a fresh lens, demonstrating how diverse expressive languages can make complex topics of collective interest both accessible and deeply moving.

LET’S SCIENCE! NURTURING CURIOSITY AND AWARENESS IN YOUNGER GENERATIONS

Special attention is dedicated to younger generations, with projects specifically designed to transform science into a hands-on, participatory experience that speaks their language. A prime example is Let’s Science!, a project that tackles topics related to science, health, and society through comic strips, interactive exhibitions, and experiential workshops.

Among the latest initiatives under this umbrella is Happiness 2.0, a journey dedicated to digital well-being. It guides secondary school students in reflecting on technology usage, online identity, and the relationship between virtual and real life. Through hands-on HappyLabs, students participate in experiential activities and discussions designed to build greater self-awareness regarding their relationship with the digital world.

PODCASTING AS A NEW CHANNEL FOR DISSEMINATION

The desire to bring science closer to everyday life has also driven the IBSA Foundation to explore contemporary communication formats capable of reaching new audiences. This gave rise to a collaboration with Tintoria, the highly popular Italian podcast hosted by Daniele Tinti and Stefano Rapone and co-produced by The Comedy Club. For the very first time, the show came to Switzerland for a special live episode organised by the IBSA Foundation in Lugano.

Yesterday, Monday 22 June 2026, during the live recording at the Palazzo Congressi in Lugano, Dario Bressanini – chemist and one of Italy’s most authoritative science communicators – joined the hosts to discuss nutrition, fake news, and the perception of risk. This event beautifully demonstrated how platforms originally designed for entertainment can be transformed into spaces for dialogue and reflection, successfully weaving scientific culture into daily conversations and capturing the attention of entirely new audiences.