Christian Rinaldi, associate professor at the Department of Physics, led a group of students from the Istituto Magistri Cumacini in Como in the development of a microprocessor-based digital control system.
Thanks to the work-study programme created in collaboration with Prof. Silvana Antonacci of the ITIS in Como, the students were able to undertake a training course that began in their fourth year and concluded in their fifth, allowing them to gain practical insight into the world of scientific research.
The project went beyond simple guided tours, providing direct access to the laboratories with the aim of offering an up-close insight into research activities. As Christian Rinaldi explains, the students were placed in the Nanomagnetism laboratory to work on projects requiring specific skills, including the use of microcontrollers, the management of experimental platforms and the design of complex printed circuit boards.
Furthermore, the students had the opportunity to experience the reality of the Politecnico di Milano, with the chance to visit the Polifab cleanroom and the associated laboratories, including the one coordinated by Marco Sampietro, full professor in the Department of Electronics at the Politecnico di Milano,
Results achieved during the internship
The results achieved were particularly surprising given their practicality and the level of technology involved.
During the internship, tools were developed that the laboratory did not previously have. In the fourth year, an automated rotation system was developed, capable of measuring the magnetic properties of thin films; in the fifth year, a three-axis micro-positioner controlled via a joystick, complete with dedicated electronics and 3D-printed casings.
The students were able to tackle and solve practical problems with great ease and produce high-quality scientific reports, demonstrating a solid grounding in their subject. This highlights the value of students who choose to pursue university studies, helping to bridge the gap in preparation between those from technical colleges and those from sixth-form colleges.
As Christian Rinaldi observes, «students who have attended well-equipped laboratories such as those at the Istituto Magistri Cumacini, which is equipped with state-of-the-art milling machines for the production of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards), arrive at university with a head start in practical skills». Many researchers and PhD students at the Politecnico do indeed come from technical colleges, with a level of preparation that enables them to successfully tackle their university studies.
Next steps
The main challenge is to ensure the continuity of this initiative, so that the most deserving students can gain a first-hand experience of university life.
According to Christian Rinaldi, gaining exposure to research before choosing a degree programme can make all the difference. The aim is to introduce young people to advanced engineering fields, such as those related to materials science, electronics and photonics, as well as cleanroom technologies.
The daily newspaper La Provincia di Como has dedicated an article to the initiative, which also aims to raise awareness among young people about choosing technical colleges in preparation for engineering fields.