An exceptional evening – given the unprecedented results of Saturday 14 May at the 'Museo di Storia Naturale' of the University of Pisa. More than 1,100 people including adults and children went to this event at the 'Certosa di Calci' and took part in the many activities on the program. The protagonists of the evening were the dinosaurs, whose secrets and curiosities were the object of practical experience, games for the very young and guided tours with particular focus on an exhibition about the digs the Museum are carrying out in Patagonia and in the Pisan hills (with an interest in dinosaurs). The new technology of the data-matrix codes was experimented which allows personalised access to information on the findings exhibited via mobile phones and smart phones.
As well as dinosaurs the visitors could admire the other rooms where findings of various sectors were on show with explanations and in-depth detail.
In the aquariums – the 'live' part of the Museum – spectacular fresh water fish from all over the world were presented. In the Vulcanology section talks were given on active volcanoes in Italy by the demonstration of diverse types of rocks and the simulation of 'real life' eruptions with a volcano in miniature. In the Protistology room, the protists – particular unicellular micro-organisms – were explained with projections, tri-dimensional models and through observation under a microscope.
The director of the Museum, Walter Landini, wishes to thank the delegate for the administrative director of the Museum, Sabrina Balestri, and the staff of the Palaeontology and education services sector who contributed to the success of the event: Chiara Sorbini, Angela Dini, Livia Chiappini, Silvia Sorbi, Patrizia Scaglia, Ivan Norscia, Simone Farina, Alessandra Bardi, Morgana Vighi, Martina Calamusa. He also wishes to thank Patrizia Landi, Ilaria Isola, Paola Dal Carlo and Marina Bisson from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology section at Pisa.; Professor Graziano di Giuseppe from the Italian Society of Protistanology Onlus with Doctor Franco Cantarano and the Civic Museum of Rovereto. Special thanks goes to Inna Razumova from the Colser Cooperative.