On January 15–16, 2025, Professor Cinzia Cristiani from the Polytechnic of Milan and Dr. Sergio Molina Ramirez (Polytechnic of Milan & University of Genoa) met with approximately 50 students from ”G. Galilei” High School in Voghera, Italy. This event was organized at the invitation of three teachers, Alessandra Casati, Paola Guado and Dimma Molinari, to raise awareness about the circular economy, critical raw materials, and climate-related challenges.
On the first day, Cinzia Cristiani delivered an introductory lecture on circular economy and the green transition, focusing on critical raw materials, urban mining, and the REMHub approach.
On the second day, Sergio Molina Ramirez introduced the topic of CO₂ capture and valorization, presenting SILCO, an Italian national project aimed at addressing climate change.
Both sessions were interactive, encouraging students to engage in discussions and explore how science and research can provide solutions to environmental and resource-related challenges.
The learning process will continue in the coming months with hands-on activities:
1. Mobile phone recycling campaign
The school has joined a project by the Jane Goodall Institute Italy and ANISN (Italian Science Teachers Association) to collect discarded mobile phones. The project is part of the Roots and Shoots programme, which aims to bring students closer to their local area through a combination of knowledge and action. Inspiring, Observing, Acting and Sharing are the 4 phases of the R&S method, which involves students in a positive action to concretely benefit the local territory, but also to fight climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and armed conflicts in Africa, in a cross-disciplinary and international civic commitment.
The discarded mobile phones will be sold, and the proceeds will support an educational program for children at Sanganigwa Children’s Village in Tanzania. This initiative connects circular economy principles with a humanitarian cause.
2. Students’ independent research
After the lectures, students will explore the environmental and social aspects of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), focusing on improper disposal and opportunities for recovering valuable materials from mobile phones. Teachers and Cinzia Cristiani will monitor their progress.
3. Expert training sessions
Students will receive additional training from experts, including geologists and science communicators. Paolo Carli (Politecnico di Milano) will teach them how to communicate scientific topics effectively to a broader audience.
4. Awareness campaign planning & execution
Students will design and implement a campaign within their school to promote WEEE recycling through posters, presentations, and lessons for other students.
5. Serious gaming and geocaching
In collaboration with Larix Srl, a startup specializing in serious games, students will adapt an existing app developed in RM@Schools4.0 for WEEE recycling. They will create educational content and design a collection bin as the final ”treasure” in a geocaching-style game.
6. ”WEEE Hunting Day” – A school-wide recycling event
The school will organize a WEEE Hunting Day, where students will collect old mobile phones through a gamified challenge. Participants will receive small prizes, such as bin-shaped keychains, while the organizers may be awarded book or music vouchers.
This initiative is expected to expand further. Cinzia Cristiani Paolo Carli and Larix Srl are applying for funding from the LGH Foundation, which supports projects related to circular economy, renewable energy, and smart land technologies. The app and concept will be freely available for educational use if granted.
Through REMHub, students gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in sustainability, circular economy, and resource recovery – empowering them as the next generation of innovators and decision-makers!