The project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and led by Professor Filippo Schenker, head of the Geology division at the Institute of Earth Sciences, was launched with the aim of fostering dialogue between geology, design, the arts and philosophy. Through creative expression and new forms of storytelling, ‘Essere Pietra’ aims to introduce the public – and in particular high school students in Ticino – to the complexity and beauty of Earth sciences.
The judging committee, composed of representatives from the Institute of Earth Sciences and the Institute of Design, unanimously selected the project submitted by Emma Cavadini, entitled “Divenire minerale” (“Becoming Mineral”). The proposal was praised for its ability to weave a poetic reflection on matter with a perspective that invites us to move beyond an anthropocentric view of the relationship between humans and the environment, as well as for its excellent logistical and technical feasibility.
Born in 2003, Emma Cavadini is a young professional from Ticino in the early stages of her artistic career, with a background in film studies at CISA—the International Conservatory of Audiovisual Sciences. Her project involves the creation of a digital video art piece accompanied by a workshop, designed to be presented in educational settings and adapted to the school spaces of Ticino’s high schools.
The residency will get underway this coming July, with the artist participating in the traveling co-design workshop scheduled to take place in Olivone, Cadagno, and Val Piora.
This programme will enable Emma Cavadini to engage directly with the locations and, in a second phase, with the scientific and cartographic data from the research conducted by SUPSI on the Lepontine Dome, transforming geological knowledge and observations of the area into an accessible and engaging artistic narrative.
The final work will be delivered by 10 December 2026; it will become part of SUPSI’s physical collection and will be included in the travelling exhibition aimed at schools in the Canton of Ticino. This outcome fully embodies the spirit of the project: to forge connections between scientific research, creativity and public engagement, making knowledge about the Earth a shared and tangible experience.