GeMM - Museo Geo-Mineralogico del Politecnico di Torino and Mapei, leader in the field of chemical products for the building industry, proudly announce a new partnership. Thanks to this collaboration, the Museum is opening its doors and organising free monthly guided tours for the public to discover its precious scientific and technological collections.
The GeMM, located at the Politecnico di Torino's headquarters in Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, within the spaces of the Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering -DIATI, was inaugurated in June last year and is the first example of a permanent exhibition space within the University, and one of the major historical university collections open to visitors in Turin.
GeMM and Mapei share a clear vision: to promote the importance of research as an instrument of knowledge to face the challenges of the present. Making the Museum's documentary, historical and scientific heritage accessible to the public provides a living historical testimony to the value of discovery as a driving force for society. Mapei is committed to this goal, supporting numerous cultural realities and actively promoting research through collaborations with the scientific community and the academic world. Taking part in study, knowledge and research in the field of mineralogy is fundamental for Mapei whichnot only uses mineral-based raw materials in its formulations but also contributes to underground infrastructure projects (tunnelling & mining) through its dedicated business unit, Mapei UTT.
The first event in the calendar of visits, part of the Turin Science Weeks and National Mining Day was fully booked. The public, guided by Professor Adriano Fiorucci, had the opportunity to admire over 600 samples of minerals, rocks and meteorites and more than twenty models and machines. This included the magnetic electrocerning machine for separating magnetite from copper ores, designed by Quintino Sella in 1854. which was immediately patented and used in the Traversella mine (Turin), and the first model of the Sommeiller drilling machine (1861), used in the excavation of the Frejus railway tunnel starting in 1861.
This is only a part of the collections held at the Politecnico, which span over 170 years of scientific and technological history since the foundation of the Scuola d'Applicazione per gli Ingegneri (Technical School for Engineers) in 1859, from which the university originated.
As well as offering the chance to explore the invaluable collections, a visit to the museum provides insight into some of the contemporary challenges of scientific and technological research in the field of raw material extraction and recovery, including critical raw materials which are essential for the energy and ecological transition.
Following the sold-out first date, the next two dates before the summer closure are already scheduled: Saturday 28 June and Saturday 26 July. Visits will then resume in September.
