by Maximiliano Crocamo
The region of Friuli Venezia Giulia unveiled the program for the seventh edition of the Malnisio Science Festival, an event that continues to transform the former “A. Pitter” hydroelectric plant in Malnisio into a hub for scientific exchange, public engagement, and cultural innovation. Running from Nov. 21 to 24, the festival brings together 40 speakers from across Italy for four days of talks, performances, and hands-on workshops in one of the most distinctive industrial heritage sites of the eastern Alps.
Presented in the Sala Predonzani of the regional government building in Trieste, the festival is promoted by the Municipality of Montereale Valcellina with support from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, as part of the “Contenitori Culturali e Creativi” project. Organizers say the event continues to grow, drawing more than 10,000 visitors in recent editions and positioning Malnisio as a reference point for scientific outreach in Italy’s northeast.
Regional Councillor for Labor, Research, and Universities Alessia Rosolen praised the festival’s interdisciplinary vision. Scientific knowledge today, she noted, “is no longer made of closed boxes but of the ability to bring together multiple fields, from the humanities to the hard sciences.” She described the initiative as both “revolution and evolution,” crediting local leaders for engaging research institutions and schools in one of the region’s so-called “internal areas.”
Mayor Igor Alzetta emphasized the symbolic value of the venue, a pioneering hydroelectric plant from the early 20th century. “Today,” he said, “it produces a new kind of energy: knowledge, innovation, and creativity.”
Andrea Paroni, municipal councillor and the festival’s artistic director, highlighted the breadth of the 2025 program and the contribution of national scientific institutions. Co-director Eleonora Gobbato stressed the significance of organizing such an event from a small mountain community, calling it a “pop” approach to scientific outreach capable of attracting audiences from across the region, particularly in the lead-up to Pordenone’s bid for Italian Capital of Culture 2027.
Representatives from major research partners — including the National Research Council (CNR), Area Science Park, and SISSA (the International School for Advanced Studies) — underlined the festival’s role in connecting advanced research with the wider public. For the CNR, which participates for the third consecutive year, the festival is a key moment for what it calls its “third mission”: sharing scientific knowledge with society. SISSA Director Andrea Romanino noted that the event demonstrates how science can meaningfully engage local communities, while Area Science Park Director Stefano Cozzini emphasized the importance of communicating both the opportunities and the costs of technological change.
A Four-Day Exploration of “(R)evolution”
The 2025 edition centers on the theme “(R)evolution. Are You Ready to Change?”, highlighting the dual nature of transformation — evolutionary and revolutionary — across scientific, technological, environmental, and social domains.
Speakers include physicist and author Gabriella Greison; climate scientist Roberto Buizza; immunologist and science communicator Antonella Viola; economist Carlo Cottarelli; astrophysicist Fabio Peri; philosopher of science Giovanni Boniolo; data journalist Donata Columbro; MUSE (Trento) director Massimo Bernardi; Wired Italia director Luca Zorloni; and science journalist Silvia Bencivelli. Researchers from SISSA, Area Science Park, the CNR, INFN, the AIRC Foundation, and the Veronesi Foundation will join them.
The recently inaugurated Aristide Zenari Auditorium — honoring a pioneer of hydroelectric engineering — will serve as the festival’s main stage.
Opening Night: Gabriella Greison Returns to the Stage
The festival opens on Friday, Nov. 21, with Greison performing Einstein Forever, a theatrical exploration of the origins of quantum mechanics marking its 100th anniversary.
Saturday: Quantum Narratives, Climate Science, and Economic Futures
On Saturday afternoon, the festival hosts “Regenerative Symphony,” a multimedia installation on critical materials and AI, followed by talks on stellar evolution, a second theatrical piece by Greison, an exploration of climate prediction by Buizza, a discussion on “gender innovation” in science by Viola, and a closing dialogue between Cottarelli and Paroni on economic and social challenges ahead.
At the Caffè Letterario, sessions will range from evolutionary biology to myths and earthquakes, while CNR-led workshops will engage families and children in ecology and scientific literacy. Exhibitions include an immersive installation on cognitive perception by Cooperativa Itaca and the multimedia show “Regenerative Symphony,” open through Dec. 31.
Sunday: Gravitational Waves, AI Costs, and “Out of the Box” Thinking
Sunday’s program focuses on major frontiers of scientific research. Talks cover water purification, quantum physics with SISSA’s Alessandro Silva, and the latest advances in gravitational-wave exploration presented by INFN physicists Michele Maggiore and Annalisa Allocca. Cozzini will address the hidden environmental and economic costs of artificial intelligence.
Other sessions will examine data-driven social change, the human impact on the planet, overtourism, and cultural narratives. Bencivelli will close the day prompting audiences toward more unconventional modes of scientific thinking.
Parallel sessions at the Caffè Letterario will feature medical innovation, sustainable nutrition, physical anthropology, neural networks, and participatory storytelling.
Monday: A Festival for the Next Generation
The final day, dedicated entirely to students, is organized in collaboration with the “E. Torricelli” high school in Maniago. CNR researchers will lead laboratory sessions, followed by workshops on climate emotions, diversity, and active citizenship. Journalist Rosy Battaglia will close the 2025 edition with a reflection on personal and collective “revolutions.”
Free Admission and Public Exhibitions
Throughout the festival, visitors may freely tour the historic hydroelectric plant, the immersive installations by Area Science Park, and the sensory exhibition by Cooperativa Itaca. Entry to all events is free with on-site registration.
A Regional Network Project
The festival is organized by the Municipality of Montereale Valcellina with artistic direction by Paroni and Gobbato, supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region through the “Contenitori Culturali Creativi” grant. Partners include CNR Area Territoriale Roma 1, Fondazione AIRC, Duegradi, Eupolis, Associazione Tandem, and Pordenone Turismo, with educational support from the “E. Torricelli” Institute. It is sponsored by SISSA, INFN, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, CICAP, Fondazione Veronesi, SIBE, Area Science Park, MUSE, and others, and forms part of the broader “Pordenone 2027” cultural pathway.
Media partners include the Nord Est Multimedia Group and Messaggero Veneto.
For information, photo requests, and interview inquiries:
ufficiostampa@malnisiosciencefestival.it | +39 349 2861293
