Co-Design at the “Enrico Avanzi” Agro-Environmental Research Centre ~ UNIPI

The “Enrico Avanzi” Agro-Environmental Research Centre in San Piero a Grado is a University Centre that combines teaching, research and agro-zootechnical production, with a strong commitment to sustainability.

In 2024, the Centre hosted a participatory design hackathon — a creative marathon — involving students of the online second-level postgraduate course in Sustainable Development and Climate Change at the University of Pisa.

Through a collaborative approach, the students tackled complex challenges and, in a short space of time, generated innovative solutions focused on the eco-sustainable design of the Centre.

Guided by Professors Sonia Massari and Alessio Cavicchi of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences — the latter also serving as the Rector’s Delegate for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Culture and Innovation — the students presented concrete proposals to improve the Centre at social, managerial, communicative and digital levels.

Among the proposals presented:

The creation of a space for families and children, accessible and geared towards agro-food education through experiential learning.
A hybrid guidance and research activity dedicated to adolescents and digital natives, enabling them to use digital tools to regain their connection with nature.
The transformation of the Centre into a place of excellence for research, attractive to national and international researchers, including solutions for so-called “research tourism”, as well as a wellbeing space for researchers and their families.
A training venue, particularly for women innovators, to help rebuild confidence in agricultural work and entrepreneurship, creating an environment for networking and the emergence of regenerative ecosystems.

“The projects, presented by each group’s spokesperson during the final day of activities open to the public, highlighted new potential for the Enrico Avanzi Centre, laying the foundations for future developments in technology, research and innovation, and promoting it as a complementary tourist destination for the city of Pisa,” commented Professor Angelo Canale, Director of the “E. Avanzi” Agro-Environmental Research Centre.

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Co-Design at the “Enrico Avanzi” Agro-Environmental Research Centre