Il detective sociale: laboratorio di divulgazione delle scienze sociali per la scuola primaria

This paper documents the design and initial implementation of the educational workshop “The Social Detective”, held on July 1, 2025 at the CNR Research Area in Turin as part of the Settimane della Scienza organized by Associazione CentroScienza Onlus. Aimed at children aged 9-11, the workshop sought to introduce the figure of the social scientist and their data-gathering practices through a participatory theatre format set in the municipality of Noasca (Turin), a real case study within the international ABRESO project. The initiative was situated within the framework of the CNR’s Third Mission and aligned with the objectives of the DeCART dissemination and communication group of the Turin Research Area. It provides a detailed account of the workshop’s structure, including its characters and prompt materials, as well as the unfolding of four sessions involving different groups of children and the reflections that emerged on the children’s responses to the creative workshop and the format’s ability to make the work of the social scientist visible. The experience suggests that the workshop can, prospectively, be adapted as a replicable participatory theatre format for social sciences outreach, suitable for different research topics, audiences, and commissioning bodies. An appendix includes a composite transcript of the sessions. The workshop is scheduled to be delivered again on July 9, 2026, in a second cycle comprising four additional sessions.