Education Initiative Fuses Emotional Learning with Robotics Research in 2025

Progressive educational methodologies in 2025 have featured a deliberate integration of emotional learning frameworks with advanced technological applications. A central demonstration of this convergence was the "Bulli ed Eroi" event, which received backing from the European Parliament and the Collodi Foundation. The initiative centered on promoting emotional education and creativity as a response to bullying, operating under the principle, "Ubuntu. Io sono perché noi siamo," meaning "I am because we are."

The festival concluded its proceedings with a final presentation in Sovicille on December 22, 2025, following earlier stages in Arezzo. This final phase served as the venue for unveiling preliminary findings from emotional intelligence studies conducted in partnership with the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), a prominent Italian research institution. The CNR has concurrently engaged in other technology-focused activities throughout 2025, including events related to robotics and artificial intelligence, such as the RomeCup competition.

The practical application of this interdisciplinary approach was evident on December 22, 2025, when students from Sovicille, Rosia, and the Val di Merse area participated in an immersive educational laboratory at the La Tinaia location. Pupils engaged directly with a sophisticated robot dog, providing a tangible interface for their learning. Researcher Pericle Salvini, formerly affiliated with Oxford University, guided the session, emphasizing a human-centric philosophy toward technology adoption and contrasting the limitations of machines with authentic human experience.

Salvini leveraged his prior research from Oxford University, which examined how environmental factors influence robot behavior, to draw parallels with the educational setting's impact on student development. The festival concluded with an awards ceremony honoring student projects focused on anti-bullying initiatives. These projects drew specific inspiration from the moral lessons embedded within the Pinocchio fable, linking classic literature to contemporary social issues. The CNR's broader involvement in robotics in 2025, exemplified by RomeCup, underscores the role of Italian research in integrating ethical and emotional considerations into AI and robotics development.