“Italia. Pensiero, futuro” is a series of events curated by the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of London, Francesco Bongarrà, and journalist Massimo Sebastiani.
Italy’s vibrancy and diversity are not only reflected in its art, landscapes, and cuisine. Since the post-war period and particularly in recent years, the country’s renowned creativity and dynamism have taken new directions (from research in neurobiology to AI) while also finding ways to revitalise the glories of its more or less recent past (from classical antiquity to political laboratories).
To introduce this perhaps lesser-known Italy to an international audience, ICI London has organised a series of events – a true collection of “gems,” each represented by individuals whose ideas, passion, and research make Italy a key player in thought and innovation.
Each month, a guest will take part in a talk-show-style discussion, reflecting on a word that summarises the essence of their work and responding to questions from Director Francesco Bongarrà, Massimo Sebastiani, and the audience.
The second event will feature Giorgio Vallortigara, professor di Neuroscience at the Centre for Mind-Brain Sciences of the Università di Trento, that he has also directed.
Wednesday, 30 April at 6:30 pm, at ICI London.Book your place HERE
The series is supported by Intesa Sanpaolo and DLA Piper Studio Legale Tributario Associato.
Giorgio Vallortigara is Professor of Neuroscience at the Centre for Mind-Brain Sciences of the Università di Trento, which he has also directed.
He has been Adjunct Professor at the School of of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences of the University of New England, in Australia, for several years.
He has published over 400 scientific articles on international magazines (with over 31000 quotations) and of several books, most recently “Pensieri della mosca con la testa storta” (Adelphi, 2021, translated in English as “The Origins of Consciousness” Routledge, UK), and “Born Knowing” published by MIT Press in 2021 and in a new Italian edition in 2023 as “Il pulcino di Kant” with Adelphi. His latest book is “A spasso con il cane Luna” (Adelphi, 2025).
He has been awarded the Premio internazionale Geoffroy Saint Hilaire for etology and a degree honoris causaat the University of Ruhr, in Germany. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. He is one of a small number of European scientists to win the prestigious ERC Advanced Grant twice.
He contributes to the cultural pages of several newspapers and magazines including Il Sole 24 Ore, Prometeo, la Lettura and Le Scienze.