The scientific high school Nino Cortese by Maddaloni (Caserta) won the first prize of the ninth edition of the Mad for Science National Competitionpromoted by Diasorin ETS Foundation, with the project “The invisible resources of the sea“Which intends to isolate microorganisms with marine waters, study them and use them as biofertilizers in the growth of the curly tomatoes, enhancing local resources for sustainable agriculture. The winning team, composed of students Giorgia Cirma, Elisabetta Di Nuzzo, Valentino Granatello, Gianluca Quintavalle, Salvatore Rossino, And coordinated by the teacher Emma Sanzari, he obtained a value of 75,000 euros to enhance the science laboratory starting from the current school year.
Second classified the Majorana-Corner Scientific High School of Mirano (Venice) with the “DNA, Plants and Innovation project: the challenge for clean water”, awarded with 45,000 euros.
In third place, The Carlo Gallini Agricultural Technical Institute of Voghera (Pavia)), with the “Leaves in turmoil – from nature to energy” project, which received a prize of 30,000 euros.
The scientific high school Piero Martinetti di Caluso (Torino), the Technical Technical Institute Luigi Dell’erba di Castellana Grotte (Bari)the scientific high school Antonio Vallone of Galatina (Lecce), the scientific high school Leonardo da Vinci of Jesi (Ancona) and the Technical Technical Institute Da Vinci-de Giorgio di Lanciano (Chieti) They received the finalists award worth € 10,000 each, as recognition for the excellent work done.
It is the initiative with which Diasori Foundationn wants to support the passion for science in young people within the school environment. The Challenge Mad for Science 2025, open to scientific high schools, classic high schools with a biology path with biomedical curvature and technical institutes, took place last Thursday in Turin, involving The 8 best institutes selected from over 140 schools from all over Italy.
The finalists have passed rigorous selections and presented innovative projects on the topic “Natural resources and health. How biotechnological research helps us to safeguard people and ambientAnd “winning a total prize pool of 200 thousand euros.
To evaluate the finalist projects, an exceptional jury composed of: Francesca Pasinelli, President of the Jury of the final, as well as President of the Diasorin ETS Foundation and Director of the Telethon ETS Foundation; Irene Bozzoni, Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the La Sapienza University of Rome and Senior Researchier at the Italian Institute of Technology; Raffaella Di MiccoGroup Leader at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for the genical therapy of Milan and Associate Professor of General Pathology at the Iuss High School of Pavia; Silvia Giordano, Full professor of histology at the University of Turin and director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory of Cancer at the IRCCS of Candiolo e Ruggero Pardi, Full Professor of General Pathology at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University of Milan.
“The quality and originality of the projects that are presented to us every year confirm the value of young Italian talents and the extraordinary enthusiasm of the schools – he said Francesca Pasinelli, President of the Diasorin Foundation, President of the Jury and Director of the Telethon Foundation. – Mad for Science proposes itself as a launching pad for a new, conscious and passionate scientific citizenship. THEThe project presented by the Maddaloni Nino Cortese Scientific High School has distinguished themselves for the innovation of the approach and the solidity of the experimental design. The milestone of the tenth edition in 2026 will represent an important moment to celebrate the path shared with schools and to embark on new educational challenges ».
The Mad for Science competition is recognized by the Ministry of Education and merit as an initiative to enhance excellence and represents one of the most significant tools through which the Foundation promotes an innovative and future -oriented scientific teaching. In addition, Diasorin Ets Foundation is credited by the same Ministry as an trainer for the three -year period 2025/2027, confirming the quality and value of the paths dedicated to students and teachers.
The edition of this year also constitutes The initial stage of the route that will lead Diasorin Ets Foundation to celebrate the 10 years of the competitionwith a targeted program of activities that will see their culmination in May 2026.
With nine assets editions, Mad for Science has so far involved over 600 schools throughout Italy and invested more than 1.5 million euros in the promotion of scientific culture.
The previous editions of the competition were won respectively from the G. Terragni Scientific High School of Olgiate Comasco (2024), from the G. Galilei Scientific High School of Catania (2023), from the Scientific High School E. Segrè di Mugnano di Napoli (2022), from the Salesian Scientific High School of Valsalice of Turin (2021), from the Scientific High School F. Buonaroti di Pisarroti (2020), from the Ariosto Spallanzani high school of Reggio Emilia (2019), by the State Institute A. Monti di Asti (2018) and by the Institute of Higher Education of Nice Monferrato (AT) (2017).
