by InTrieste
Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Psychology Festival, organized by the Psicoattività Association of Palmanova, marks its fifth edition with an exploration of intelligence in its many forms. Running from March 7 to April 11, 2025, this traveling festival will feature six in-depth discussions on the theme, “Intelligences: From Natural Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence,” across six cities: Gradisca d’Isonzo, Gorizia, Tavagnacco, Trieste, Palmanova, and Cormons.
The festival kicks off in Gradisca d’Isonzo on March 7 with “Teaching to Think: Is Artificial Intelligence an Enemy or an Ally?” exploring AI’s role in education. Subsequent discussions include creativity and science in Gorizia (March 14), AI’s impact on music in Tavagnacco (March 21), and the intersection of psychology, AI, and ethics in Trieste (March 28). Palmanova (April 4) will examine human cognitive abilities and AI’s potential, while Cormons (April 11) concludes the festival with an exploration of animal intelligence.
Scientific direction is led by Claudio Tonzar, Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Urbino and President of Psicoattività, with support from Tiziano Agostini, Professor of General Psychology at the University of Trieste. The festival will feature prominent national and international scholars, including Dario Floreano, Director of the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at EPFL, Switzerland.
This year, the event emphasizes youth participation through collaborations with the University of Trieste and the SASS – School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica. Psychology students at the University of Trieste can earn academic credits for attending. Additionally, the festival will host the Third Prize for Innovative Research in Psychology, awarded to young researchers under 36, with the ceremony set for March 28 in Trieste.
The initiative enjoys the support of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Cassa di Risparmio di Gorizia Foundation, and local municipalities. Discussions will touch on AI’s ethical implications, its influence on daily life, and the evolving relationship between human and artificial cognition. With topics ranging from generative AI to robotics and the study of creativity, the festival promises to shed light on the complexities of intelligence in the modern world.
