An Italian academic institution of excellence is entering a well-known prison to turn science into a tool for social and human redemption. This is the challenge posed by METHEXIS 2.0, a project developed by the Departments of Mathematics and Physics at the Polytechnic University of Milan, a prominent engineering university in the Lombardy city. Through informal workshops conducted by researchers and students, the initiative engaged more than 80 individuals at the historic San Vittore prison in Milan, with a particular emphasis on the women's section and young people aged 18 to 35 and has also expanded to the prison in Bergamo. In a correctional setting characterized by high cultural diversity and regular turnover, scientific disciplines provided a neutral and democratic meeting ground: no education need or language barrier, but challenges based on puzzles, logic games, and strategy accessible to everybody. Supported by the “5x1000”, the portion of income tax that Italian taxpayers can allocate to research, the programme has brought together lecturers, university tutors and even prison police officers. The program exhibited tremendous social value by changing inmates' attitudes from passive attendance to enthusiastic participation, restoring confidence, dignity, and self-esteem. This scalable training technique, which is available online, is ready to be replicated in other contexts of vulnerability.