The Department of Energy at the 2026 International Engineering Festival
The sixth edition will take place from 18 to 20 September, involving both of Politecnico di Milano’s Milan campuses, Bovisa and Leonardo.
The Department of Energy will actively take part in the Festival, taking place from 18 to 20 September, with outreach lectures, Open Labs, and activities for children.
Below are the details of the initiatives organized by the Department of Energy, which will take place on Saturday, 19 September:
Outreach Lectures
held by Prof. Augusto Della Torre
Saturday, 19 September, 10:00–10:45
An interactive experience designed for younger participants to discover what is hidden inside an engine! From moving pistons and opening valves to roaring sounds, children will be able to see up close how the “heart” of cars, aircraft and ships really works. They will be able to handle real components, watch live demonstrations and discover, through play, the secrets of one of humanity’s most fascinating inventions. A unique opportunity to spark their curiosity… and perhaps even inspire a new passion!
“Energy, Health and Innovation: The Central Role of Nuclear Energy in the Challenges of the Future”
held by Prof. Davide Bortot
Saturday, 19 September, 12:00–12:45
Nuclear technology is often perceived as being linked exclusively to energy production. In reality, its role is much broader and increasingly central to the major challenges of our time. From the decarbonisation of energy systems to medicine, from industrial innovation to space exploration, nuclear technologies offer practical solutions across a wide range of fields.
This session explores the central role of nuclear technology in energy, health and innovation, showing how the same scientific foundations can contribute to producing sustainable energy, improving the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and enabling new technological frontiers. It is an opportunity to gain a clear and accessible understanding of a complex technology that is often at the centre of public debate, but is becoming increasingly strategic for the future.
Laboratory Tours
The transition hits full speed
Energy is the key to the ecological transition, whose success will depend on our ability to develop new energy technologies and integrate them into our everyday lives. Turbomachinery, i.e. machines capable of converting the energy of a fluid flow into mechanical energy, represents one of the cornerstones of this transition. It will support distributed and flexible energy systems, enable innovative systems based on alternative fluids such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide and ammonia, and promote the large-scale exploitation of wind energy, particularly in offshore environments.
During the visit, participants will be able to observe different types of turbomachinery experimentally studied in the Laboratory and discover how their digital twins are created to analyse their physics, improve efficiency, and develop new ideas and concepts.
Energy Conversion – LabX
At LabX, energy systems for a sustainable future are conceived, designed and optimised in close collaboration with companies. Thanks to a fully equipped infrastructure, the performance of energy conversion and storage systems can be tested and improved, including cogeneration and trigeneration units powered by natural gas, hydrogen, syngas or mixtures of these fuels, and potentially equipped with thermal storage systems.
The Laboratory also carries out tests on electrolysers, heat pumps, absorption refrigerators, boilers and water purification systems, as well as climatic tests on instrumentation used in natural gas and hydrogen distribution, such as quality analysers and flow and volume meters.
During the visit, participants will be able to observe the experimental test rigs of several ongoing projects, focusing on a multi-product microgrid, a hydrogen-powered residential boiler, and hydrogen flow meters.
The Sound Wave Race
The Acoustics Laboratory investigates topics related to reducing vibration and noise in domestic and working environments, acoustic and vibration comfort in means of transport, noise pollution caused by road and rail traffic, and the improvement of acoustic conditions in indoor and outdoor spaces. The Laboratory also develops experimental techniques and methods for analysing and reconstructing acoustic fields.
During the visit, participants will have the opportunity to enter the semi-anechoic chamber, whose surfaces, with the exception of the floor, are covered with highly sound-absorbing materials so that sound is absorbed rather than reflected. The chamber is equipped with microphones, a multichannel analyser and a HATS binaural dummy, or Head and Torso Simulator.
The Laboratory is also equipped with sound level meters, instruments for measuring sound intensity, and software for simulating sound propagation and studying the acoustic quality of concert halls, theatres and conference rooms.
The Magical World of Sound
Are you ready to enter the magical world of sound? During the visit, you will discover a truly special place: the Acoustics Laboratory, where the sounds, noises and vibrations that surround us every day are studied.
You will enter a mysterious anechoic chamber, a unique room in which sound is absorbed instead of bouncing off the walls. Together, we will carry out some fun experiments: we will pop a balloon, listen to a heartbeat and discover how guitar strings vibrate to create music.
You will also meet a curious dummy with two microphones in its ears, called HATS, which listens just like we do and helps researchers understand how we perceive the sounds around us. It will be a visit full of surprises, with invisible sounds, mysterious silences, and instruments to observe, touch and listen to.
Solar Photovoltaics for Cities
MG2Lab and SolarTechLab form a small city of the future, where different needs such as electricity, heating, cooling, drinking water, and the charging of electric bicycles and cars are integrated with renewable energy generation systems, high-efficiency fuel-based technologies and storage systems.
The Laboratories analyse the performance of photovoltaic and hybrid modules under different operating conditions and develop models to predict their energy production. Thanks to an experimental microgrid, management systems based on forecasting algorithms and artificial intelligence are also developed and tested, with the aim of maximising the use of renewable energy sources and minimising emissions.
During the visit, an experiment will be carried out using photovoltaic panels to observe how their behaviour changes under different environmental conditions. The electricity produced will be assessed by varying the intensity of solar radiation, creating shading, and applying coloured filters to the surface. The experience will help participants understand how a photovoltaic panel works and how much power can be generated from it.
The visit will be cancelled in the event of rain.
Hearing the Invisible: Radioactivity and Nuclear Fission
The Nuclear Measurements and Electronics Laboratory studies and develops methods and techniques for measuring ionising radiation fields, with applications in spectrometry, dosimetry and microdosimetry.
During the visit, thanks to instruments used to detect and measure radiation, participants will be able to hear how the “radioactive sound” produced by a natural material changes when it encounters a swarm of neutrons.
Workshop Kids
Little explorers discover Urban Mobility
Un incontro interattivo dedicato al mondo della mobilità, pensato per bambini dai 6 ai 9 anni, per scoprire in modo semplice e coinvolgente come ci muoviamo ogni giorno tra casa, scuola e città. Attraverso esempi concreti, immagini, oggetti reali e piccole dimostrazioni, i partecipanti potranno osservare da vicino diversi mezzi di trasporto e comprendere come i nostri spostamenti cambino in base alle distanze, ai percorsi e ai luoghi attraversati. Tra curiosità, domande e momenti di gioco, i bambini saranno accompagnati in un piccolo viaggio nel mondo della mobilità, imparando che le scelte relative al modo in cui ci spostiamo sono importanti e che anche i più piccoli possono diventare osservatori attenti e consapevoli della città in cui vivono. A rendere l’esperienza ancora più coinvolgente, ogni bambino riceverà un Passaporto sostenibile, uno strumento semplice e divertente con cui seguire le attività, collezionare le diverse tappe del percorso e conservare un ricordo dell’esperienza. Un’occasione per esplorare il mondo dei trasporti in modo concreto, divertente e vicino alla quotidianità.
