With the goal of bringing students closer to science through active, accessible, and innovative learning, the international project TIMEPIX@school of the CERN & Society Foundation is being launched in Italy with the support of Fondazione Bracco. The initiative will introduce cutting-edge tools into schools to enhance the teaching and learning of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
An accessible and groundbreaking tool
At the heart of the project is a high-level scientific device: Timepix, a particle detector embedded in a USB drive that can be used on any standard computer. This innovative tool allows students to observe phenomena invisible to the naked eye—such as cosmic rays—and to engage with fundamental physics concepts through practical, hands-on experimentation.
This approach enables schools to:
- promote experiential learning, even in the absence of traditional science labs;
- make the presence of subatomic particles in the environment tangible and visible;
- stimulate curiosity, critical thinking, and scientific vocations among young people.
Pilot phase launched in Italy
During the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 school years, Fondazione Bracco will implement a pilot phase of the project in selected Italian schools, with the aim of scaling the initiative nationally in collaboration with the CERN & Society Foundation.
TIMEPIX@school is already active in several CERN Member and Associate States, including the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Belgium, Portugal, and Greece. According to CERN data, in the countries where the project has already been implemented, there has been a notable increase in student interest in STEM subjects, particularly among girls. The global ambition is to reach 20,000 students by 2030.
A shared educational platform
In the coming years, the project will be supported by an international digital platform developed by CERN, offering multilingual educational resources such as tutorials, guided experiments, videos featuring role models, teaching materials, and virtual spaces for cross-border student collaboration.
TIMEPIX@school also contributes directly to 5 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including quality education, gender equality, and reducing inequalities.
A Key Initiative within progettoDiventerò
Fondazione Bracco’s support for TIMEPIX@school is part of its broader progettoDiventerò, launched in 2012 to accompany and empower talented young people along their educational and professional journeys.
TIMEPIX@school was officially presented on 30 June 2025 at the Teatro alla Scala during the annual progettoDiventerò Award Ceremony. It serves as a prime example of Fondazione Bracco’s commitment to inclusive, high-quality education that prepares the next generation to face future scientific, environmental, and social challenges.
