NET Village - European Researchers' Night (Rome edition)

NET Village: Rome as the capital of science for a weekend

Every year, on the last Friday of September, the European Researchers' Night lights up hundreds of cities across Europe. In Rome, the event is called NET Village and transforms the Città dell'Altra Economia, in the Testaccio district, into a massive science village. In the heart of the capital, within the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio region, researchers step out of their labs for an entire weekend to meet the public in a direct, informal, and engaging way.

The NET - scieNcE Together project

NET Village is the Roman manifestation of the European project NET - scieNcE Together, coordinated by the National Research Council (CNR) and co-funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the Horizon Europe program. The project involves major local research institutions—including ENEA, INAF, INFN, INGV, ISPRA, and CINECA—alongside various universities in Rome and Lazio such as Tor Vergata, Sapienza, and the University of Tuscia. The goal is to bring society closer to science and its protagonists, showing how research is part of everyday life.

What to expect

The square of the Città dell'Altra Economia fills with over 60 stands featuring experiments, demonstrations, and activities for all ages. The event's typical program includes:

• Interactive workshops and live experiments, from DNA extraction to material physics;
• Science speed-dates: lightning meetings of a few minutes to ask researchers direct questions;
• Theatrical performances and scientific storytelling, with arenas dedicated to narrative;
• Contests and challenges like Stand-Up Research, where young scientists talk about their work;
• Activities for children and families, games, treasure hunts, and documentary screenings.

A major European event

The European Researchers' Night is an initiative that involves about 400 cities and thousands of scholars across Europe every year. NET Village is one of the most vibrant and well-attended Italian stops, confirming Rome's role as a national reference point for scientific outreach. Admission is free and open to all: just show up and let yourself be guided through stands, labs, and shows.

Where and when

The event takes place at the Città dell'Altra Economia, in Largo Dino Frisullo, in the Testaccio district of Rome, usually on the weekend closest to the last Friday of September. Activities are concentrated in the evening, when the square comes alive with visitors of all ages.