My research stems from the need to convey and help retain, in a simple and immediate way, the lithologies and genetic processes of rocks to non-geologists.

Since 1999, I have been engaged in ornamental stones through the Laboratory Testing activities for conducting characterization and frequently holding seminars at spreading knowledge and the use natural stone products to industry professionals and designers and users.

The-commercial terminology of the sector, quite concise and cryptic, all the working lithotypes into a few extremely commercial families: “marbles,” “gran,” “travertines,” and “stones to which “quartzites,” “sl,” “limestones “sandstones,” etc., have recently been added.

This classification ends grouping within the same name rocks of completely different composition, texture, structure, and genetic environment, exposing users to the risk of generalizing the behaviors of different stones and choices incompatible with their intended use (non-durable).

The correct use of lithotypes depends closely the accurate recognition of composition, texture, structure, and genetic environment.

Over the years, I have endeavored to find effective examples to allow non-geologists to visualize and retain mineralogical, petrographic, textural, genetic concepts, etc.

This research led me to explore neuroscience and the mechanisms of brain function and learning, primarily related to the creation of associations and analogies: in essence, seeing the analogies between the reality surrounding us and scientific concepts simplifies understanding and creates “shortcuts” in our brain, which finds it beneficial to use them to effortlessly internalize these concepts.

Moreover, the more counterintuitive the associations and analogies are, the more effective and “downhill” the shortcut is. (see David Brooks: The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement 2011; Marco Malvaldi: L’infinito tra parentesi, 2016).

These are the premises underpinning the experiential and educational projects I have devised and continue to develop.