Sybaris, students teach inmates 3D printing to reproduce archaeological finds

With the last lesson held this week in the halls of the Hippodameo module of the National Archaeological Museum of the Sibaritide , in Sibari , Calabria, the second phase of Copycat - replicable hopes officially kicks off. A project in the course of which boys from the Herodotus of Thurii Vocational Institute in Cassano allo Ionio, guided by their professors and Park staff, taught inmates of the Castrovillari prison the techniques of reproduction with a 3-D printer. While Museum staff explained the exhibits to everyone, framing them in their period and recounting their functions and value, the inmates listened to the explanations, made the copies, talked to the boys, visited the Museum, and learned things. The boys, in turn, also learned new things as did their professors and museum workers.

It was a mammoth organization that not even bureaucracy stopped and that involved six inmates of the Castrovillari prison, six Ipsia studentsof the Herodotus of Thurii Secondary High School inCassano all’Ionian and six professors from the same school, an archaeologist and - in turn - three reception, fruition and supervision assistants, two courageous prison directors, a courageous official and a very courageous principal, fifteen original artifacts dated between the 6th and 3rd centuries B.C.C., three “trainers” from the non-profit organization “Maestri di Strada,” three seminars for a total of sixteen hours of preliminary training aimed at teachers and museum operators, a driver and a minibus provided by the municipality of Cassano all’Ionio to also physically connect prison and museum.

These, in detail, are the numbers of Copycat - replicable hopes conceived, produced and implemented by the Archaeological Park of Sybaris - an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Culture led by Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano - which also saw the four appointments of four hours each in the museum conclude yesterday. Four short escapes from a harsh reality, on the wings of culture, aiming for personal and social redemption, now kicking off the second phase.

“Copycat is drawing to a close,” began Sibari Park Director Filippo Demma, “but we are all happy, because we are all a little richer. After the completion of this educational part, now the copies of the ancient objects made during the activities will be displayed in the prison and then used in other workshops with blind and visually impaired people, who could not touch the delicate originals, but through the copies they will at least be able to perceive the shape of the ancient objects. Another detail, which is not insignificant, is that the 3-D printer, purchased by the Park expressly for the workshop, was donated to IPSIA Herodotus of Thurii, because courage - Demma closed - always finds its reward.”

“The proposal to join Copycat,” explained Anna Liporace, head of Iiss Herodotus of Thurii, “was immediately welcomed not only by me but in particular by the teachers of the ”Robotics and Automation“ address because the project path corresponded to the study, actions and activities that flow into this address of study. We are talking about a process of knowledge transmission that has reached various social groups and where the relationship with prisoners has brought many insights to both teachers and students without lacking emotional and touching moments. I like,” he concluded, “to emphasize this educational alliance put in place to offer young people a real training path. Therefore, I thank my students for the commitment and dedication with which they carried out the project, the managers of the Castrovillari prison Giuseppe Carrà and his successor Mario Antonio Galati for opening their doors to us and to the young people, the mayor of Cassano Giovanni Papasso for hishelp in logistical matters, and, above all, the director Filippo Demma for his staff for the brilliant idea of involving us in a course that is as exciting as it is educational not only for the boys but also for the adults.”

“We are very convinced of the usefulness of the initiative,” commented for his part “Rosetta Sisca” director Mario Galati, “because it allows us to give inmates a real opportunity for reintegration into society and to create a useful osmosis between inside and outside, between prison and city.”

Sybaris, students teach inmates 3D printing to reproduce archaeological finds

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