Virtual visits to the Virgo Gravitational Wave detector for schools across Europe and beyond

Virgo, hosted at the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) in Cascina, is one of Europe’s most advanced physics research centres. As part of its educational and scientific outreach mission, Virgo virtually opens its doors to schools around the world through remote guided tours in English. During the tour, a researcher guides middle and high school students on a journey of discovery about gravitational waves and the only observatory in Europe capable of detecting them, offering a direct experience of the place where science is developed. This contribution presents the first results of the evaluation of the educational and communicative value of the virtual tour programme. The impact of the initiative is analyzed through questionnaires submitted to students before and after the tour, with the aim of understanding how this experience improves their understanding of scientific content and brings them closer to the world of STEM disciplines.