Art and science meet at Triennale. And leave us with something to learn from.

On May 23, in the Gioco space at Triennale Milano, adult-child pairs wove colorful ribbons together to understand what water is.

An artistic workshop to explain hydration to children. An interactive scientific session for parents, taking place simultaneously in the same room.

The project i colori raccontano storie® per Nutrire la Biodiversità (“Colors Tell Stories® for Nourishing Biodiversity”) arrived at Triennale Milano on May 23 with a clear ambition: to bridge the gap between what science knows about hydration and what families actually do. The project was conceived by Cristina Ciusa in collaboration with the Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Pavia, within the framework of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), with the scientific contribution of ANSISA.

The problem that brochures cannot solve

Professor Hellas Cena, head of the Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Pavia and President of ANSISA, framed the issue clearly: there is a significant gap between scientific evidence on hydration and the everyday habits of families. The data exist. The recommendations exist. Yet children still arrive at school dehydrated, with direct consequences for concentration, memory, and overall physical and psychological well-being. Often, neither the children nor their parents recognize the cause.

This is precisely the kind of problem that traditional institutional communication struggles to solve. Information campaigns may raise awareness, but they rarely change behavior. The format chosen for May 23 took a different approach: it embedded the message within an experience and allowed participants to build understanding with their own hands.

The children created a collective textile artwork using ribbons and threads, inspired by the work of Maria Lai and by insights shared by researchers. The result was a visual narrative about what water means for the planet and its connection to biodiversity. The fabrics came from collections donated by Tessitura Galbiati of Villa Guardia and included organic and recycled fibers.

At the same time, adults engaged directly with researchers from the University of Pavia and ANSISA, discussing practical questions: How much water do we really need at different stages of life? What are the signs of inadequate hydration in children? How do hydration needs change in hot weather?

Two parallel journeys, one shared message. A format designed to create a multiplier effect within the family itself, rather than outside it.

What remains

In 2026, biodiversity is no longer only about the variety of foods we eat. It is about the way environmental, urban, and food systems interact with human health. In this context, water has become the connecting thread linking the environment, nutrition, health, and everyday choices.

It is a systemic vision. And it is exactly the kind of narrative that the most advanced communication strategies are learning to build: not around a single product or a single cause, but around an ecosystem of meanings.

MiRò Comunicazione managed media relations and content creation for the project i colori raccontano storie® per Nutrire la Biodiversità.