Next 29 September sees the return of the 'European Night of Female Researchers and Researchers', an annual event created at the instigation of the EU Commission with the aim of spreading scientific culture, which is celebrated simultaneously throughout Europe. In Tuscany, a rich programme of initiatives - presented today at a press conference - is planned, under the title BRIGHT-NIGHT. A name that is also a programme: the word night is combined with the acronym for 'Brilliant Researchers Impact on Growth Health and Trust in research', i.e. talented researchers have an impact on growth, health and trust in research.

BRIGHT-NIGHT deploys the entire world of research in Tuscany: it is promoted by the universities (University of Florence, University of Pisa, University of Siena, Siena Stranieri, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa, Scuola Normale Superiore and Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca) and by a broad network of research organisations - the National Research Council (CNR), the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO-Virgo), the National Institute of Astrophysics - Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory (INAF-OAA) - with the support of the Region of Tuscany, in the framework of Giovanisì, the regional project for the autonomy of young people.

The heart of the event in Pisa will be the five "Research Squares" set up in Logge dei Banchi, Largo Ciro Menotti, Piazza Dante, Piazza dei Cavalieri and Piazza Santa Caterina, each one dedicated to a macro-theme: Virtual Communities and Society 4.0; Radio Wellness: listening to mind and body; Welcome to the Cyberworlds; Interview with Planet Earth; Mediterranean: a sea of cultures, with workshops and live experiments. The boys and girls who complete the tour of the squares will obtain the title of "Scientist/Scientist for a Night" and a BRIGHT-NIGHT gadget. The public will also be able to participate in the 'Walks with Science' and the 'Pedalling with Science', designed to raise awareness of sustainable mobility issues. Universities, research centres, museums and libraries will also host workshops, lectures and games open to all visitors and schools.

The Researchers' Night in Tuscany is a project co-funded by the European Commission's HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Citizens programme, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

The programme in detail is available at www.bright-night.it.