Two weeks after the installation of a new magnetic and magnetotelluric station for the study of the Earth's natural electromagnetic field and the deep geophysical characterization of the territory, they go on in Sardinia, In the Onanì-Mamone Prison (Nuoro), the activities of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) with the positioning of a local seismic network and a weather station.
The close collaboration between the Institute, the Management of the Penal Colony of Mamone , Sardinia Regional Directorate of the State Property Agency made the new installations possible.
The instrumentation used was acquired within the project MEET (Monitoring Earth's Evolution and Tectonics) of the INGV, funded by the PNRR, which will end in April 2026. The project has allowed us to conduct a series of measurement campaigns with the aim of collecting the fundamental data to support the candidacy to host theEinstein Telescope, the future third-generation European gravitational wave observatory. Geophysical Characterization Center for the Einstein Telescope, recently established within the INGV, will continue these activities by coordinating the geophysical campaigns that will be conducted in the candidate area in the coming months.
"The activities underway in Sardinia represent a very important step in supporting Italy's bid to host the Einstein Telescope, one of the most important European scientific challenges of the coming years.", comments the President of INGV, Fabio Florindo. "At the same time, this experience demonstrates how research can generate value on a human and social level: the collaboration with the Mamone Penal Colony is a concrete example of how science, institutions, and the local community can work together to create opportunities for growth and inclusion.".
The experiment at Mamone, expected to last two months, has the objective ofidentification of seismic noise sources in the area and study of its propagation modesThese are crucial parameters for assessing the suitability of the site, which has extremely low levels of anthropogenic noise and is therefore particularly suitable for geophysical observations. If the recordings are of high quality, the 16 seismic stations installed could be integrated into a permanent seismic network.
The installation was created by four INGV researchers, supported by two colleagues from theNational Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and from a researcher of theUniversity of CagliariIn the initial stages, the Penal Colony staff provided invaluable assistance in identifying the optimal locations for the equipment, leveraging their knowledge of the area.
The operational phase of the installation involved six inmates from the Penal Colony, whose contribution proved crucial to completing the work on schedule. Their strength, dexterity, and ability to quickly understand the technical requirements allowed the group to operate efficiently, in a climate of genuine and respectful collaboration that allowed to combine a human and social dimension with the scientific value of the initiativeThe inmates' active participation in a European-wide scientific research project represented an unusual and stimulating work experience, far removed from the daily routine of the facility. It is the hope of all participants that this small but concrete experience will positively contribute to the reintegration of the Colony's inmates, offering them contact with the world of science and new opportunities to express their skills and abilities.
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