Ferraris' “Electronic Skin” presented to Minister Valditara
After its success at the Global Junior Challenge 2021, the ‘Electronic Skin’ project, winner in the Entry into the world of work category, was presented to the Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara, during his visit to the Galileo Ferraris Technical and Industrial Institute in Naples. The event was reported by the journalist Mariagrazia Capone in the most widely read daily newspaper in Southern Italy [‘The girls from Ferraris and that electronic glove that detects breast cancer’, Il mattino, 28 March 2025].
The meeting with the students who conceived the project was one of the most significant moments of the ministerial visit. The young innovators told us about the process that led them to create an electronic glove for the early self-diagnosis of breast cancer, an experimental device equipped with piezoelectric sensors capable of detecting irregularities in the breast tissue, signalling any nodules through a system of LED lights. An original and technologically advanced idea, which brings together digital skills and social awareness, created by an all-female team led by teacher Agata Aurilio.
The ‘Electronic Skin’ is the concrete result of a training process that combines technical knowledge, creativity and attention to women's health. A virtuous example of how a school can become a real laboratory of the future, especially in complex contexts such as that of Naples. During the visit, student Chiara, currently the recipient of a scholarship, explained how the prototype works, and told us about her dream of continuing her studies in Mathematics and one day contributing to scientific and technological research.
Minister Valditara and the institutions present praised Ferraris' experience as a model of an innovative and inclusive school, capable of offering real opportunities to young people and enhancing female talent in STEM subjects. ‘One of the fundamental objectives is to increase the presence of girls in this institute’, emphasised the head teacher Daniela Conte, highlighting how the commitment of the female students represents a strong signal for the whole school community.
The Electronic Skin project, in addition to the Global Junior Challenge award, has also been registered as a patent, demonstrating how youthful creativity can translate into concrete solutions for the health and well-being of society.
