During the 2026 European Researchers’ Night, MONALISA partners brought the topic of desertification directly to young audiences in three Italian cities through an interactive educational activity designed to make environmental science accessible, engaging and practical.
On 25–26 September, researchers from CNR, UNISS and ISPRA took part in Researchers’ Night activities in Turin, Sassari and Rome, using the Desertification Goose Game to introduce children and young people to the challenges of land degradation and the importance of protecting soil, water and biodiversity.
The activity was based on a familiar game format, but with a scientific twist. As participants moved through the board, they encountered questions and situations linked to landscapes at risk of desertification. With researchers guiding the activity, the game became an opportunity to discuss what desertification means, why healthy soils are essential and which practices can help prevent further degradation.
By combining play with direct interaction, the activity helped translate complex research topics into something younger audiences could explore in an intuitive way. Rather than presenting desertification as an abstract environmental issue, the game encouraged participants to think about the links between soil, water, biodiversity and the way landscapes are managed.
This type of engagement is particularly important for MONALISA, where research on desertification prevention, land restoration and sustainable land management is closely connected with stakeholder participation and knowledge exchange. Bringing these themes into public events helps create a bridge between scientific research and the communities that are ultimately affected by changes in land and soil conditions.
The participation of MONALISA partners across three different cities also demonstrated how a common engagement approach can be adapted to different local settings while maintaining the same core message: protecting land starts with understanding how landscapes function and why healthy soils matter.
European Researchers’ Night provided an ideal setting for this exchange. By meeting researchers face to face, asking questions and learning through play, young participants were able to engage with the science behind desertification in a direct and memorable way.
For MONALISA, the activity was another step in bringing research beyond the scientific community and into places where awareness, curiosity and future action can begin.
