IRPPS, together with the National Institute for Nuclear Physics, organized two days to address the issue of gender in scientific research, with particular reference to the physics sector. The events, promoted within the framework of the European project GENERA (Gender Equality Network in the European Research Area), involved 12 countries, 18 research institutions, and 13 observer organizations. Part of the two days was dedicated to upper secondary schools, which participated in a competition of ideas on the theme ‘Women, science, and gender prejudice’ involving over 150 classes. Students were invited to prepare a project in the form of a video or written contribution. The competition aimed to encourage active participation to foster reflection on gender stereotypes in the world of research, initiating extracurricular study, discussion, and collaboration within the classrooms.