Physics of Data and Societal Challenges Workshop 2023
Extreme weather events, the emergence of infectious diseases, climate change, food-security big data and technology advancements are some of the major challenges identified for the next decade, in the 2022 Global Risks report. These grand challenges require multidisciplinary approaches to be addressed, but the fundamental nature of the biophysical, physical, and environmental systems that define them calls physics of data to play a leading role, particularly in light of the digital transformation of many processes and the availability of large masses of data in so many areas that are the basis for then developing predictive models and analyses.
In this sense, the grand societal challenges also represent an opportunity for today’s physicist. In particular, we identify three major areas that are of interest to next-generation physicists: 1) Epidemiology and precision Medicine; 2) Food, Environment and Climate; and 3) Technology, and Quantum Frontiers. To critically learn about and train skills that can help study these transformations and their impact in society, the Physics of Data and Societal Challenges project aims to provide students with interdisciplinary and extra-curricular training (including soft skills) through a series of seminars and two workshops. In this way, students will meet with top experts from both the academic and corporate worlds capable of activating formative processes in students to make critical and mature synthesis of these societal transformations.
Accommodation in Asiago will be covered thanks to the UNIPD grant in teaching innovation. Limited number of places available – preferences will be given based on the student’s career.
Organizers: prof. S. Suweis, prof. C. Poletto, prof. A. Triossi, prof. M. Zanetti, prof. M. De Domenico, C. Divari, T. Bertola, D. A. Altamirano Coello, A. Garbo, G. Di Prima, M. Feizi, F. A. Pasian and F. Baghaei Saryazdi
Workshop organizational support: Sonia Gelain
WHEN
25 - 27September 2023
Accomodation
Registration form
Registration closed, soon participants will be contacted for the result of the selection procedure.
PROGRAM
Monday 25
14.45 – 15.00 Introduction
15.00 – 16.00 Timo Felser, Tensor Solutions CEO – Tensor Networks – From Quantum Mechanics to explainable AI
16.00 – 17.00 Prof. Fabrizio Ferrandi, Politecnico Milano – High-Level Synthesis of Complex Parallel Applications
17.00 – 17.30 Break/discussion
17.30 – 18.30 Dr. Marco Andorno, CERN – Designing Chips for High-Energy Physics Experiments
18.30 – 19.00 Open Discussion
20.00 Dinner
Tuesday 26
9.00 – 10.00 Prof. Sandro Meloni, IFISC – Epidemic modeling: simple models with practical implications
10.00 – 11.00 Dr. Laura di Domenico, INSERM – Data-driven modeling of COVID-19 spread in France to inform pandemic response
11.00 – 11.30 Break/discussion
11.30 – 12.30 Dr. Nicolo Gozzi, ISI Foundation – Measuring and modeling the impact of inequalities on the spread of infectious diseases
12.30 – 13.00 Open Discussion
13.15 – 15.00 Lunch
15.00 – 16.00 Prof. Maria Cristina Rulli, University of Milan – TBA
16.00 – 17.00 Dr. Luca Famooss Paolini, University of Bologna – Hybrid statistical-dynamical seasonal prediction of summer extreme temperatures over Europe
17.00 – 17.30 Break
17.30 – 18.30 Prof. Jose Cuesta, University Carlos III of Madrid – Inferring the fitness landscape of a propagating virus
18.30 – 19.00 Open Discussion
20.00 Dinner
Wednesday 27
9.00 – 10.00 Dr. Max Falkenberg, City U. London – TBA
10.00 – 11.00 Dr. Antonio Lima, Senior Research Scientist at Spotify – Digital Traces of Human Mobility and Interaction: Models and Applications in Academia, Public Policy and Industry
11.00 – 11.30 Break
11.30 – 12.30 Fabio Semenzato, Bending Spoons – Unlocking the Future: A Journey of Innovation and Impact
12.30 – 13.00 Open Discussion
13.15 – 13.30 Conclusion
13.30 – 15.00 Lunch