Subtitle: “A potentially viral exposure”. It is the Castelgrande exhibition, in Bellinzona, on stage until 6 November

An interactive exhibition, which offers a powerful and immediate reflection on the theme of contagion, with a double meaning: the biological contagion, from which we flee with vaccines and masks, and the social and cultural one that we all badly need.

The exhibition was created by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine and L'ideatorio of the Università della Svizzera italiana , with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation. The project is promoted in collaboration with the City of Bellinzona, the Sasso Corbaro Foundation, and the Bellinzona and Upper Ticino Regional Tourism Organization. The interactive exhibition, housed in the Sala Arsenale of Castelgrande, was developed to guide the public through encounters with the protagonists of stories of contagion, through screens and interactive stations.

The contents of the exhibition they touch on the most important scientific issues related to contagion, but they also have an interdisciplinary value, incorporating cultural and social aspects, to place scientific knowledge in a broad context of society.
The public therefore has the opportunity to explore the biology of viruses and bacteria as well as the ethics of vaccinations, deepen the history of scientific progress as well as the social representations of diseases and their consequences on society. For the visit of the itinerary, an interactive booklet will also be available to each visitor to be able to tell their experiences, experiences, fears and challenges experienced in these two historical years and leave their testimony and thoughts inside the exhibition . The strength of this project comes first and foremost from the excellent network of partners participating in it. It makes use above all of the scientific skills of the experts of the Research Institute in Biomedicine (IRB) of Bellinzona (DDr. Santiago González, Prof. Davide Robbiani, Prof. Mariagrazia Uguccioni and Dr. Luca Varani).
It can also count on the skills of L'ideatorio which for 17 years has been offering exhibitions and educational courses suitable for the general public and schools. However, wishing not to limit the contents to scientific knowledge only, the collaborations extended with the medical historian Prof. Bernardino Fantini (University of Geneva), the epidemiologist Prof. Emiliano Albanese (USI) and the Sasso Corbaro Foundation, which has been working in clinical ethics and medical humanities for years. The realization of this project was possible thanks to the support coming from the National Fund for Scientific Research, the City of Bellinzona, the Swisslos Fund and the Cantonal Doctor's Office (and numerous other bodies and foundations).

The exhibition was created in collaboration with the interior design studio it's of Lugano, with the assistance of architect Giulio Zaccarelli of the University of Applied Sciences ( SUPSI ); the graphic design concept was entrusted to Studio Seinschein of Arosio.

Hours and info

The exhibition will be open every day from 9 April to 6 November, from 10 to 18 and Wednesdays in July and August until 20. From Monday to Friday, schools will be welcomed by appointment and accompanied by the animators of L'ideatorio USES.
Registrations are open and today over 60 classes have already been booked.

Related events

Together with the Sasso Corbaro Foundation, a series of events entitled “Aperitifs at the castle” was organized to reflect on the post-pandemic with various experts and personalities. They will take place inside the exhibition spaces at 18 pm, every week from the end of April to the end of May. For details, please consult the attached flyer. Furthermore, every week there will be a meeting with the IRB researchers who will be present at the exhibition, as part of the series of events “Face to face with science”, to dialogue with the public. These meetings will make it possible to learn about the current challenges of scientific research and will culminate with the open day at the new IRB headquarters, Bios +, scheduled for Saturday 14 May 2022. Starting from 1 May, on some weekends, it is scheduled also for families in the court of Castelgrande a theatrical animation entitled "The eye of the dragon" with the actor-narrator Giancarlo Sonzogni. From 29 September to 2 October 2022 the Sconfinare Festival in Bellinzona will offer numerous events including cinema, music, art and science around contagious themes. Finally, it should be noted that the exhibition will open in Lugano in 2023. Opening hours: 10 am to 18 pm (Wednesdays in July and August until 20 pm) Admission prices: Adults: Fr. 15. - Reduced / students: Fr. 8.- Family: Fr.35.-