A science lesson for the little ones, and not only, that starts from the initiative of a researcher and a technician of the National Research Council (Cnr), together with their 9 year old son. The theme is how to deal with the health emergency these days in a simple and light way and above all suitable for the very young.
The inspiration comes from the famous Muppet Show, a parody of the variety that had puppets as characters (anthropomorphic, realistic animals, robots, imaginary creatures), made with soft materials, with large and protruding eyes and mouth and above all with a strong, funny temper and irreverent.
"We imagined how children were experiencing this strange and particular period, also in light of the information disclosed on television or on the web, most often characterized by complex and technical language. Hence the idea of making the new coronavirus speak directly Thus was born Viruloso ", explain Tiziana Masullo of the Institute of Studies on the Mediterranean (Cnr-Ismed) and Luca Caruana of the Institute for biomedical research and innovation of the Cnr (Cnr-Irib).
Thus was born the popular science video that features the researcher and a puppet called Viruloso, who together discuss lightly and fun, without ever moving away from the real condition, on the role and repercussions on the population that this virus is causing .
The project was developed in 10 days, during which the creators, using the smart working period, created Viruloso using materials and tools found in the home. Then the scientific contents were selected (such as virus characteristics, diffusion vectors and transmission routes; concept of outbreak, epidemic and pandemic), the script was developed, the scenography and the video edited. Among the contents, the filmmakers wanted to refer to the importance of simple behavioral rules and good practices to be adopted to reduce contagions, without forgetting the response of the environment.
