The Festival of Schools
The 24th edition of the BergamoScienza Festival will take place from 1st to 11th October 2026.
Call 2026 | Submit your workshop
All details and procedures for participating in the Call for Proposals 2026 will be published shortly.
Call 2026 | La Scuola in Piazza
The 12th edition of La Scuola in Piazza will take place on the 26th and 27th of September 2026.
Registration to participate with your school will open in March.
«Our focus on younger generations stems from the value we place on teaching and hands-on learning»
La Scienza in Classe project, now in its third edition, aims to teach teachers a workshop-based teaching method that explores STEM subjects in a way that is not traditional classroom teaching, but stimulates learning through doing and hands-on activities.
It has been observed that an experimental approach, which involves students directly in putting into practice what is usually only explained in theory, has advantages in terms of learning and motivation to study.
Discover the program of the this edition of La Scienza in Classe.
Educational Resources
We strongly believe in workshop-based teaching and one of our main goals is to offer new tools to support schools in experiencing science in the classroom in an engaging way. Schools take on the role of promoters of scientific dissemination, thanks to peer-to-peer training, where the real protagonists are the students themselves.
Here are some educational resources that we hope will be useful for your lessons!
A proposito di scienza
Videos of simple activities and experiments to replicate with your students, designed by Professor Michele Marcaccio, member of the School Committee and passionate supporter of workshop-based teaching.
"A proposito di scienza" YouTube Channel
Video resources
Our YouTube channel represents an important educational resource that allows teachers and students to explore current scientific topics and more: useful for building research and educational paths, to promote interdisciplinarity and stimulate curiosity. Take a look!
#RaccontamiUnaScuola
A teacher takes you by the hand, looks at you, listens to you, touches your life forever.
A teacher speaks softly, asks questions, inspires glances beyond.
Teachers know that even five minutes of amazement can be enough to open new worlds.
The #RaccontamiUnaScuola project is an example of how even in the classroom you can experience workshop-based and unconventional teaching. Through practical activities and experiments, students become protagonists of engaging and memorable scientific learning. Doing science together and getting your hands dirty: an experience that stimulates curiosity, passion and collaboration, transforming science into an adventure of emotions and wonder.
FAQ Call for Proposal
How do you submit a project for the Festival?
First, you need to read the call for entries very carefully. The call for entries specifies:
- The type of proposals accepted
- Mandatory requirements for proposal acceptance (location and opening hours)
- The fundamental characteristics that each proposal must have in order to be effective (scientific value, high interactivity, engagement, originality, etc.)
- Deadlines and important dates
Can all schools participate in the Schools Call?
All schools that meet the requirements of the Schools Call can participate. Preschools, primary schools, and lower and upper secondary schools, regardless of whether they are public or private, can submit projects. Technical colleges and universities, on the other hand, fall under the Private Call.
Where are the workshops held?
Workshops must be held at the schools' own premises or at other locations proposed and managed by the schools (different school complexes, libraries, or other locations).
Can schools outside the province of Bergamo also participate?
Of course! Schools from other provinces can also participate in the Call by offering in-person workshops at their own school premises.
How many workshops can a school present?
We do not have a limit, but we recommend focusing on a limited number of activities so that you can better curate the content and interactivity and ensure that they are open for the entire duration of the Festival.
How long must a workshop remain open?
We ask that the activity be available for at least one full week of the Festival, from Monday to Sunday. From Monday to Friday for schools and Saturday/Sunday afternoons for individuals.
What if we are unable to guarantee opening hours at the weekend?
You can still submit a proposal (Monday to Friday), but we ask you to make an extra effort if possible, so that we can offer the workshop experience not only to school groups but also to families and individuals on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
On which days must the workshop be open to schools wishing to visit?
For schools, the laboratory must be open during school hours, i.e., Monday through Friday mornings. Saturday afternoons and Sundays are reserved for families and individuals.
How many classes can be involved in planning the activity?
We do not have a limit, but in order for the workshop design and delivery experience to have an effective educational value, we suggest working with a limited number of classes so that it can be an enriching and formative experience for the students.
Will students act as guides in the workshop?
Of course! They will be the real protagonists! The workshop will be an opportunity for them to get involved, try their hand at being guides alongside their classmates, and experience a new way of doing science for themselves! Make way for the young people!
How many students are needed to run a workshop?
There is no set number of students, but we hope that each student will be able to take on the role of guide for at least three days so that they can perfect their skills, correct any mistakes, and learn as much as possible from this important educational opportunity. The proposal should be as inclusive as possible!
Who is the project coordinator?
The project coordinator is the teacher who worked with the students to conceive and design the workshop. This person has detailed knowledge of the scientific content of the activity, has a clear understanding of the educational objectives of the workshop, and oversaw the development of the activity during the conception phase.
The project coordinator is the teacher who, precisely because of these skills, can be contacted by the School Committee if it needs further clarification regarding the content of the workshop.
Who is the operational contact person?
This is the teacher who coordinates and manages the workshop with the students in a practical and operational manner. Their tasks include: training students so that they can independently lead the activity with the audience present; supervising the activity at all times while it is taking place; checking reservations for their workshop; transmitting daily attendance figures via the dedicated app (instructions will be sent for the latter two points).
The operational contact person is the person with whom the Festival Secretariat interfaces to obtain information and manage the various stages of the school's participation in the Festival. The operational contact person is required to check their email periodically and to provide a mobile phone number for any emergencies.
Can the project coordinator and the operational coordinator be the same person?
Yes, a teacher can hold both roles.
Who manages laboratory bookings?
Bookings will be collected directly through our website. The operational coordinator will be able to monitor progress from their personal area. They will be able to download the booking file, which will include details such as: number of participants, class, school, and contact details of the teacher who made the booking so that they can be contacted if necessary.
How will we know if our workshop proposal has been accepted?
The Festival Secretariat will send an email after the call for proposals has closed and the Evaluation Committee has assessed the projects.
Can the Evaluation Committee contact the teachers who submitted the workshop proposals?
The role of the Evaluation Committee is to support schools that intend to submit projects, in case they present any critical issues in terms of content, scientific value, and interactivity. The members of the Committee have the right to contact the project representatives if they need more detailed information or to arrange an informal meeting to visit the workshop already in the design phase.
Can the design and delivery of the workshop for the Festival be recognized as PCTO?
Yes, certainly. This must be indicated in the application in the appropriate section. In this case, we recommend activating or renewing the agreement as early as spring.
What is attendance tracking?
It is very important for us to know how many visitors and schools are participating in the Festival as audience members. We therefore ask you to help us collect attendance data for the workshops using the app we have set up. The app allows you to confirm a reservation when the class arrives or to enter unreserved visitors. All you need is a connected smartphone!
Is it mandatory to attend both days to participate in La Scuola in Piazza?
Yes, it is mandatory. Saturday morning is usually dedicated to setting up, while Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday are open to the public.
Do students have to participate too?
Absolutely! As with the Festival workshops, La Scuola in Piazza will be run by school students, who are the real stars of the event.