INFN at the Rome Science Festival with seven events dedicated to artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, art and science
On April 15, a new edition of the Rome Science Festival will open at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, produced by the Music for Rome Foundation, with project partnership by Codice Productions, promoted by the Department of Culture of Roma Capitale, and organised with the CNR National Research Council, INAF National Institute for Astrophysics, and INFN National Institute for Nuclear Physics, in collaboration with many other scientific partners.
This year’s theme is “Chaos and Harmony” and for the occasion INFN presents seven events including conference-shows, round tables and exhibitions, with the aim of presenting to the public some of the most fascinating frontiers of scientific research. Three exhibitions will be on display: “The Cosmos in a Leap. Atoms, quanta, technological revolutions”, hosted in the Spazio Serra from April 15 to May 10, is a travelling exhibition that guides visitors through the discovery of the birth and development of quantum mechanics and its technological revolutions; “The Double-Slit Experiment. Sometimes wave, sometimes particle”, set up in the Foyer Archeologico, is an installation presenting one of the most fascinating experiments in physics and allowing the public to directly observe how the behaviour of light changes as it passes through two slits; “Quantum in Therapy. Quantum mechanics in comics”, in the Foyer Petrassi, offers an original perspective on the famous theory through the illustrations of cartoonist Luca Ralli, whose protagonist, a “quantum” engaged in psychotherapy sessions, humorously addresses the paradoxes and fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.
On April 17, at the Teatro Studio Borgna, two conference-shows are scheduled. At 11:00, “Digital Einsteins? Between myths, fears, ethics and scientific research” will take place, a meeting dedicated to upper secondary school students and focused on artificial intelligence. Speakers will include Antonio Zoccoli, president of INFN and professor at the University of Bologna, and Daniele Bonacorsi, INFN researcher and lecturer at the University of Bologna, who will explain the functioning, opportunities and challenges of AI and how it intersects with and supports scientific research. The contributions will be moderated by Serena Dandini, television presenter and writer, and accompanied by comic-style illustrations by artist Filippo Paparelli of the Becoming X collective. The event will be structured in three acts – time, harmony, algorithm – with artistic and musical moments: Roberto Ficosecco and Emma Grace will perform compositions blending chamber music and electronic music, while graphic designer and illustrator Roberto Ballestracci will create live illustrations. At 20:30, “In all the languages of the cosmos” will be staged, dedicated to multimessenger astronomy. Speakers will include Alberto Colombo Sormani, researcher at the INFN Rome division, Piera Sapienza, researcher at the INFN National Laboratories of the South, and Viviana Fafone, researcher at the INFN division and professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, who will describe the birth and development of this new discipline, based on the coordinated observation of different cosmic messengers: gravitational waves, electromagnetic radiation and particles. Their monologues will be accompanied by readings by actress Bianca Mastromonaco and music by Stefano Bezziccheri on piano and Danilo Rossi on viola.
On April 18, at 11:30 in the Sala Ospiti, the round table “New energy frontiers: scenarios and challenges of the transition” will take place, organised in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA). Speakers will include Rosaria Villari, Head of the Divertor Tokamak Test Division of the Nuclear Department, Fabrizio Pirri, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies (CSFT) of IIT, and Marco Maggiora, Director of the INFN Turin division. The discussion will be moderated by Sandro Iannaccone, freelance journalist for Galileo Servizi Editoriali, Repubblica, Wired. The discussion will offer an analysis of the current state of the energy transition, comparing opportunities, challenges and possible scenarios from a technological and scientific perspective. At 18:30, in the Sala Petrassi, the meeting “The Universe and the art of evolving: Michelangelo Pistoletto and Guido Tonelli in dialogue. Art and science in comparison around the great narrative of origins” will take place. During the event, Michelangelo Pistoletto, artist, painter and sculptor, and Guido Tonelli, INFN researcher and professor at the University of Pisa, moderated by Sara Zambotti, radio presenter on Rai Radio 2, will discuss the concept of cosmic time and the origin of the universe, intertwining artistic and scientific perspectives in search of new points of contact between different forms of creativity and knowledge.
To find out more and book INFN activities at the Rome Science Festival: https://collisioni.infn.it/evento/linfn-al-festival-delle-scienze-di-roma-2026-caos-e-armonia/
The Rome Science Festival 2026 is produced by the Music for Rome Foundation, in partnership with Codice Edizioni, promoted by the Department of Culture of Roma Capitale, and organised in collaboration with the National Research Council (CNR), the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), with the scientific partners Area Science Park, CMCC Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, ENEA National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, ESA European Space Agency, Fondazione Bioparco di Roma, GARR Network, GSSI Gran Sasso Science Institute, Human Technopole, IIT Italian Institute of Technology, INGV National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, ISPRA Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, and the Galileo Museum.
