Years 2023-24 / 2024-25
"The Twinning Project" between Italy and the USA
October 17, 2024
As every year during the Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo, we kicked off the series of meetings for the TPIU Twinning Project Italia-USA.
We opened the event with an exceptional guest, Dr. Cristina Cassetti, an internationally renowned virologist and Deputy Director of the NIH-NIAID. Dr. Cassetti shared her professional journey with the students and, most importantly, conveyed her immense passion for SCIENCE, the theme of this year.
November 14, 2024
The second meeting of this school year featured the guest speaker General (ret.) Alessio Grasso, an engineer and Manager of the Space and Defense Unit at the Dallara Group.
The discussion focused on the future of aerospace, the boundless possibilities space offers, and the idea that sometimes all it takes to achieve the impossible is just "one more moment" of effort. The meeting was a valuable opportunity for the students to connect with a professional who has personally experienced the evolution of aviation and space technologies, and who now leads one of the main industrial players in the defense and space sectors.
December 5, 2024
The third meeting of the Twinning Project ITALIA-USA featured Dr. Lino Tessarollo, Director of the Mouse Cancer Genetics Program and the Gene Targeting Facility at the National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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The session was entirely focused on genetic engineering, and students posed numerous questions and expressed a great deal of curiosity about the topic. Dr. Tessarollo shared his expertise in genetic research and its applications, providing valuable insights into how genetic engineering is used to advance cancer research.
The meeting sparked interest and deeper reflections among the students on the potential of genetic technologies to shape the future of medicine and healthcare.
January 16, 2025
An extraordinary meeting kicked off the new year of the Twinning Project Italy-USA exchange program.
We had the privilege of hosting two exceptional experts from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Dr. Lisa Milani and Robert Lucchesi, who guided us through a fascinating lesson on meteorology, precipitation calculation, the use of satellites, and the phenomenon of snow.
February 6, 2025
Guest of the month, Engineer Marco Baudino, met with students in person at the Capellini-Sauro Institute in La Spezia.
Baudino delved into the topic of "circular economy," explaining how it is now possible to produce without generating waste. The meeting sparked great interest, with numerous questions from students connected both from Italy and the United States.
March 6, 2025
The sixth meeting of the TPIU Twinning Project Italia-USA once again focused on science. The students had the opportunity to meet Dr. Francesco Ferretti, a marine biologist and professor at Virginia Tech University.
With great passion and enthusiasm, Dr. Ferretti shared his research project on the great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea, offering the students a unique opportunity to explore an important and fascinating topic like marine wildlife conservation.
April 3, 2025
For the second year, we were invited to the International Festival of European Geopolitics in Venice, held at the M9 Museum. Once again, the TPIU Project stood out thanks to the students—on this occasion, the “Transoceanic Interviewers”—who engaged with intelligence and depth on the topic of international relations, asking questions of great relevance and timeliness.
Also joining from the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C., the Head of the Education Office, Dr. Francesca Vanoli, who reiterated the importance of projects that promote cultural and educational exchange among students.
May 15, 2025
Closing Event of the TPIU Project
Theme of the Meeting: Bioethics between Science and Values – A Vital Balance between Scientific Progress and Ethical Principles
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We had the honor of hosting Father Diego Puricelli, who, with sensitivity and clarity, delved into crucial topics such as scientific experimentation, the protection of human dignity, medical decision-making, and the complex challenges related to genetics and biotechnology, all while respecting fundamental rights and ethical principles.
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Joining us were also special correspondents from Vatican Radio and the Formal Director and Founder of the Italian American Museum of Washington DC, Liz DiGregorio, who helped make the dialogue even more stimulating.
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At the end of the event, we awarded a grant to Christopher Alvarez, a student at Oxon Hill High School. Congratulations!
From La Spezia to Washington, D.C.
Video created by the students of the "Capellini Sauro" Institute from La Spezia (Italy)
for the Twinning Project Italy-USA