B9072 - LETTERATURA DIVULGATIVA PER L'INFANZIA E L'ADOLESCENZA

Learning outcomes

Popular science storytelling allows younger generations to get into the vast world of biological, physics and technical knowledge emerged from the historical processes of discovery and application of knowledge. The course aims to explore the wide repertoire of informative stories both from a historical point of view and from a theoretical point of view. At the end of the course, students will therefore be able to: (a) learn about the historical evolution of science popularization for children; (b) identify the fundamental characteristics of the main types of scientific dissemination for the new generations, analyzing the relationship between text-image and scientific content exposed; (c) have an in-depth knowledge of the current editorial landscape for children and adolescents dedicated to scientific dissemination; (d) being able to identify, also by comparative means, the editorial, graphic-textual, visual and content elements that characterize quality scientific dissemination aimed at children; (e) knowing how to recognize historically and pedagogically the terms of the relationship between youth imagery and scientific curiosity both in the field of popular non-fiction and in the field of fiction (especially science fiction, fantastic and horror); (f) being able to identify the contaminations, overlaps and discontinuities between popular non-fiction and scientific fiction (documentaries, films, TV series, video games) for children; (g) know how to identify and apply the fundamental terms of effective scientific dissemination communication in the field of non-fiction type publishing for children.

Course contents

The aim of this course is to provide a coherent and systematic reflection on science communication narratives for children, adolescents, and young adults. Today, younger generations encounter science through a wide range of media, including informational books, television documentaries, picturebooks, sticker collections, websites, and many other formats. However, this is a process with a long history. From the mid-eighteenth century onwards, and especially throughout the nineteenth century, publishers, scientists, writers, educators, and amateur enthusiasts were actively engaged in producing books, paintings, toys, and illustrations with the explicit purpose of introducing children to the sciences. Scientific communication for young audiences is therefore part of a long historical process that intersects not only with the development of science itself, but also with the advancement of pedagogy, the dynamic transformations of the social imagination, the history of childhood, the refinement of communication techniques, and, ultimately, the evolution of national cultural policies.

More specifically, the course will address the following topics:

• The history of science communication for young audiences.

• The formal frameworks, narrative styles, and artistic features of science communication for children and young people, with particular attention to the roles and interconnections among the cultural industries, literature, information, and visual culture.

• The cultural, political, and scientific motivations underlying science communication, as well as its purposes and objectives.

• The role of pedagogy in science communication for children.

• The influence of the social imagination on the production and dissemination of science communication.

Readings/Bibliography

Preparation for the written examination test should follow the pathway outlined below:

1. Reading and study of an introductory course packet and supplementary materials uploaded to the Virtuale platform: the course packet has been prepared by the professor and will be made available free of charge at the beginning of the course.

2. Reading and study of one text selected from the list provided below:

   - Ciardi M., Quando Darwin incontrò Flash Gordon. Scienza e cultura di massa tra Otto e Novecento, Carocci, Roma, 2023.

   - De Marchi V e Favia R., Con gli occhi della scienza. Viaggio nei libri di divulgazione, Editoriale Scienza - Giunti, Firenze-Trieste, 2024.

   - Grandi W., Gli ingranaggi sognati. Scienza, fantasia e tecnologia nelle narrazioni per l'infanzia e l'adolescenza, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2017.

   - Marazzi E. (a cura di), Letteratura e scienza nel libro per ragazzi tra XIX e XX secolo, Guerini e Associati, Milano, 2016

   - Zanoni E., Scienza, Patria, Religione. Antonio Stoppani e la cultura italiana dell'Ottocento, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2014

3. Students are required to read two of the following narrative and informational texts

- Accati E., Fiori in famiglia. Eva Mameli Calvino si racconta, Editoriale Scienza, Trieste-Firenze, 2023.

- Barbascura X (a cura di), Il satiro scientifico - Riprodursi male. Sesso e amore apparentemente contro natura, Mondadori, Milano, 2023.

- Barbascura X (a cura di), Il satiro scientifico. Mostrologia applicata. Manuale scientifico di sopravvivenza a zombie, vampiri e altre creature brutte e cattive, Mondadori, Milano, 2025.

- Bestard A., Paesaggi perduti della Terra, L'ippocampo, Milano, 2020.

- Bossù R., Il soffio della balena, Camelozampa, 2023.

- Bressanini D., Doctor Newtron. La scienza nel fumetto, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2023.

- Dixon D., After man. A Zoology of the future, Breakdown Press, London, 2021.

- Downey G., Avventure nella natura. Storie da 5 minuti per scoprire i piccoli miracoli intorno a noi, Fabbri, Milano, 2022.

- Duprat G., Il libro delle Terre immaginate, L'ippocampo, Milano, 2009.

- Errante V., Palazzi F., Il Tesoro del ragazzo italiano - Enciclopedia illustrata - Volume I, UTET, Torino (a scelta o la prima edizione del 1939 oppure le seconde edizioni del 1943 o del 1948).

- Ferrara A., Eroe guasto, Settenove Edizioni, Cagli (PU), 2021.

- Jankeliowictch A., Simler I., Regni minuscoli, L'Ippocampo, Milano, 2021

- Kelly J., L'evoluzione di Calpurnia, Salani, Milano, 2014.

- Lacombe B., L'erbario delle fate, Rizzoli, Milano, 2012.

- Mari I. e E., L'albero, Babalibri (vari anni di edizione).

- Mari I. e E., La mela e la farfalla, Babalibri (vari anni di edizione).

- Mari I. e E., L'uovo e la gallina, Babalibri (vari anni di edizione).

- Quarzo G., Vivarelli A., La danza delle rane, Editoriale Scienza, Trieste-Firenze, 2019.

- Schettini V., La Fisica che (mi) ci piace, Mondadori, Milano, 2022.

- Setola M., Teatro di Natura, Canicola, Bologna, 2021.

- Zambello S., Zanella S., Cometario. Catalogo delle grandi comete, Nomos Edizioni, Busto Arsizio (VA), 2022.

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PROGRAMME FOR ERASMUS STUDENTS

To sit the written examination, Erasmus students are required to study:

1. The course handout, which will be made available on the Virtuale platform at the beginning of the teaching period.

2. A set of seven articles, which will also be uploaded to Virtuale at the beginning of the teaching period.

3. Two of the following popular-science books for young readers, to be selected by the student: 

   - Accati E., Fiori in famiglia. Eva Mameli Calvino si racconta, Editoriale Scienza, Trieste-Firenze, 2023.

   - Barbascura X (a cura di), Il satiro scientifico - Riprodursi male. Sesso e amore apparentemente contro natura, Mondadori, Milano, 2023.

   - Barbascura X (a cura di), Il satiro scientifico. Mostrologia applicata. Manuale scientifico di sopravvivenza a zombie, vampiri e altre creature brutte e cattive, Mondadori, Milano, 2025.

   - Bestard A., Paesaggi perduti della Terra, L'ippocampo, Milano, 2020.

   - Bossù R., Il soffio della balena, Camelozampa, 2023.

   - Bressanini D., Doctor Newtron. La scienza nel fumetto, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2023.

   - Dixon D., After man. A Zoology of the future, Breakdown Press, London, 2021.

   - Downey G., Avventure nella natura. Storie da 5 minuti per scoprire i piccoli miracoli intorno a noi, Fabbri, Milano, 2022.

   - Duprat G., Il libro delle Terre immaginate, L'ippocampo, Milano, 2009.

   - Errante V., Palazzi F., Il Tesoro del ragazzo italiano - Enciclopedia illustrata - Volume I, UTET, Torino (a scelta o la prima edizione del 1939 oppure le seconde edizioni del 1943 o del 1948).

   - Ferrara A., Eroe guasto, Settenove Edizioni, Cagli (PU), 2021.

   - Jankeliowictch A., Simler I., Regni minuscoli, L'Ippocampo, Milano, 2021

   - Kelly J., L'evoluzione di Calpurnia, Salani, Milano, 2014.

   - Lacombe B., L'erbario delle fate, Rizzoli, Milano, 2012.

   - Mari I. e E., L'albero, Babalibri (vari anni di edizione).

   - Mari I. e E., La mela e la farfalla, Babalibri (vari anni di edizione).

   - Mari I. e E., L'uovo e la gallina, Babalibri (vari anni di edizione).

   - Quarzo G., Vivarelli A., La danza delle rane, Editoriale Scienza, Trieste-Firenze, 2019.

   - Schettini V., La Fisica che (mi) ci piace, Mondadori, Milano, 2022.

   - Setola M., Teatro di Natura, Canicola, Bologna, 2021.

   - Zambello S., Zanella S., Cometario. Catalogo delle grandi comete, Nomos Edizioni, Busto Arsizio (VA), 2022.

 

 

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered through lectures conducted in Italian. During each session, a portion of the time will be devoted to collective discussion in order to collaboratively develop a conceptual framework that will help students navigate the contents, language, and themes addressed during the class. Supplementary materials will be made available on Virtuale.

Assessment methods

Learning will be assessed by means of a written examination. The written examination is designed to evaluate students’ knowledge of the course content, their linguistic proficiency, and their ability to organize and present information concerning the topics addressed during lectures and discussed in the assigned readings. Sample examination papers will be made available on the Virtuale platform. Erasmus students may sit the written examination in Italian, English, Spanish, or French.

The written examination consists of four questions:

1. Questions 1 and 2 will concern the course handout.
2. Question 3 will concern the student’s selected text (or the set of seven articles for Erasmus students).
3. Question 4 will concern the analysis of the picturebooks selected by the student.

Each question will be graded on a scale from 0 to 7.5 points, based on both the accuracy of the content and the quality of the analysis. The maximum overall score is 30 points, as final grades are awarded on the Italian 30-point grading scale.

In the event of failing the examination, students are not required to skip a subsequent examination session and may register for the next available sitting.

To sit the examination, students must register through the online examination system (AlmaEsami) within the prescribed deadlines. Students who are unable to complete their registration due to technical issues must promptly notify the Academic Affairs Office, and in any case before the official closing of the registration lists. Admission to the examination will remain at the discretion of the course instructor.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly advised to contact the relevant University Office well in advance (University Office for Students with Disabilities and SLD [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it] :):)). The Office will propose any appropriate accommodations to the students concerned. Such accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will evaluate their suitability in relation to the intended learning outcomes of the course.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools during the examination is strictly prohibited in any form, including chatbots, text generators, advanced translation tools, content-summarization systems, and AI functionalities integrated into electronic devices.

Teaching tools

Throughout the lectures and in the period following the course sessions, a wide range of teaching and learning materials will be made available on Virtuale to students enrolled in the course in order to support and facilitate their study activities.

Office hours

See the website of William Grandi