  In recent decades it has been detected in Italy a decrease in enrollment in
basic sciences, i.e. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. The increase in
specific orientation is strategically crucial to achieve the goal of
maintaining and increasing the number of motivated and capable students who
enroll in these courses. With the purpose of increasing scientific vocations,
workshops were organized in high schools and teachers involved in planning and
implementation of laboratories, conferences for scientific outreach, thematic
exhibitions, guided tours of research laboratories, summer's schools for
students and courses for teachers were realized for developing a cultural
enhancement in teaching basic sciences. Particularly significant is the case of
activities organized by the Department of Physics of the University of Siena
for students and teachers in Southern Tuscany. The methods used in cultural
enhancement of teachers and activities designed to support schools with limited
laboratory facilities, together with stimulating activities for motivated
students are allowed to take root for some good practices in physics teaching
and orientation to scientific degrees. Beyond describing the main activities
for orientation to Physics, activities done in partnership with chemists,
biologists and geologists are reported, as well as an activity in which the
Departments of Mathematical Sciences and Physics are both involved in looking
for introducing new interdisciplinary methodologies to increase students'
understanding in high school of some selected topics in which both disciplines
give a contribution in the construction of important and mutually reinforcing
basic concepts.
