{"id":1464,"date":"2022-02-22T14:28:58","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T13:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mathematicus.it\/?page_id=1464"},"modified":"2025-06-16T01:01:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T23:01:52","slug":"kits-and-gadgets-designed-and-produced-by-cesare-baj","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mathematicus.it\/en\/kits-and-gadgets-designed-and-produced-by-cesare-baj\/","title":{"rendered":"Kits and gadgets designed and produced by Cesare Baj"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cUnderstanding by doing\u201d is the philosophy Cesare Baj has always applied as part of his commitment to promote the diffusion
\nof scientific knowledge.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>

The author<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"\"Cesare Baj is the son of an engineer and philosopher, who has been passionate about science and technology since childhood. He has always had a particular instinct for forms of popularization and teaching that combined the transmission of knowledge to activities to be carried out.
\nHe has consistently applied this principle in the various publishing branches he has worked in, putting it into practice with the design and production of numerous kits targeted at science and technology enthusiasts, including dozens of gadgets proposed in conjunction with culturally focused editorial products.
\nHe has also carried out consultancy work and led experimental activities in Montessori schools.
\nHe co-organised the \u201cPaper tools to teach science\u201d workshop with the famous designer Bruno Munari.
\nIndeed, the philosophy \u201cUnderstanding by doing\u201d can be magnanimously applied to any field, as demonstrated by his recent works in the area of mathematics, which has been wrongly judged as being an \u201cabstract\u201d, \u201carid\u201d and \u201cdifficult\u201d matter.
\nAn overview of his main works, produced in-house or for other publishers over the past decades are listed below.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Kits and gadgets designed and produced by Cesare Baj<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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The Complete Game of Astronomy<\/span><\/h4>\n

1980<\/span><\/p>\n

A set of classical instruments, made out of cardboard, used by astronomers and topographers dating from the Renaissance period to observe the night sky and conduct experiments.
\nItalian and French editions were produced.
\nThe same and other similar materials were included in a 6-volumes encyclopedia of astronomy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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An abridged German edition was also released .<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Astrolabe<\/h4>\n

1980<\/span><\/p>\n

An astrolabe covering 8 latitudes. The first ever instrument able to show in addition to stars the position of the True Sun, represented by a lemniscate in the form of a figure of eight visible on the transparent cursor.
\nItalian and French editions were produced.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Newton, a monthly magazine focused on \u201cscience, technology and fantasy\u201d edited by Cesare Baj<\/h4>\n

1981-1982<\/span><\/p>\n

The first European science magazine published for young adults containing cut-out materials in every issue to carry out experiments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Orientation, Topography, Navigation<\/h4>\n

1985<\/span><\/p>\n

A set of 33 instruments used by navigators, topographers and those involved in the sport of orienteering.
\nItalian and French editions were produced as well as an abridged German edition.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Advanced pilot computing and plotting kit<\/h4>\n

1986<\/span><\/p>\n

A set of instruments intended for aeroplane pilots.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The \u2018Espresso\u2019 magazine sundial<\/h4>\n

1986<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018L\u2019Espresso\u2019 is a popular Italian magazine (approximate circulation of 600,000 copies). One edition featured a free portable sundial.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Hoepli Pocket Planetarium<\/h4>\n

1987<\/span><\/p>\n

A special version of astrolabe that was produced for the \u2018Hoepli\u2019 publishing house in Milan specializing in scientific literature.<\/p>\n

It’s a universal astrolabe, i.e. usable at all latitudes, based on a projection studied by Juan de Rojas in the 16th century.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The wearable sundial<\/h4>\n

1992<\/span><\/p>\n

An amusing T-shirt able to tell the time.
\nIt comes complete with a compass and instruction manual.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Cosmombrello<\/span><\/h4>\n

1986<\/span><\/p>\n

A high-quality, dual purpose umbrella that can also be used as a portable planetarium.
\nIt\u2019s accompanied by an instruction manual.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Birdsong
\nAnimal sounds<\/h4>\n

1993<\/p>\n

A range of audio cassettes produced as a simplified young adult edition of a more comprehensive product originally targeted at adults.
\nOther audio products:<\/p>\n