CNR-IOM at Trieste Next 2026: magnetism, biomolecules and artificial intelligence

From 25 to 27 September, the CNR Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) will take part in Trieste Next with hands-on activities in the “Forms of Knowledge” exhibition space, a public discussion on artificial intelligence and participation in Street Science.

From magnetism to proteins, from supercomputer simulations to the questions raised by artificial intelligence: the CNR Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) will be among the institutions of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Scientific and Innovation System (SIS FVG) taking part in Trieste Next, the Festival of Scientific Research, from 25 to 27 September.

Over three days, visitors will have the opportunity to meet researchers and explore some of the Institute’s research topics through experiments, interactive activities and public discussions.

The Forms of Knowledge: exploring magnetism and proteins

CNR-IOM will be present at Space 20 – The Forms of Knowledge, curated together with Area Science Park, CERIC-ERIC and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste.

From artificial intelligence and data analysis to materials research and omics sciences, the space offers a journey across different disciplines, showing how data, models, experiments and advanced technologies contribute to generating new knowledge.

From Friday morning to Saturday morning, CNR-IOM will present “Pole Workshop: Discovering Magnetism”, an activity coordinated by Riccardo Cucini.

Why do only some materials react to a magnetic field? Are all magnets the same? And how can we “see” a magnetic field? Using magnets, iron filings, solenoids, electric motors and other simple experiments, visitors will explore the relationship between magnetism, electricity and temperature, and observe phenomena such as induction and magnetic braking. The activities will also feature CNR educational kits developed as part of the Science in a Box project.

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, the focus will shift to biomolecules with “How Do Proteins Work? 3D Structure, Simulations and Artificial Intelligence”, presented by the CNR-IOM BioMed Theory & Simulation unit together with the CNR Institute of Crystallography (CNR-IC) and coordinated by Angela Parise, Luca Grisanti, Francesca Paoletti and Andrea Caporale.

Three-dimensional models and virtual reality headsets will allow visitors to explore protein structures and discover how experiments, supercomputer simulations and artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold help researchers understand their structure, movements and interactions. Younger visitors will also have the opportunity to build their own 3D protein models using paper, scissors and glue.

Who thinks in the age of artificial intelligence?

On Saturday 26 September, from 3:00 to 4:15 pm, in Sala Biasutti, the event “Who thinks in the age of artificial intelligence?” will invite the audience to explore some of the questions raised by the growing use of AI in research and knowledge production.

The discussion will bring together Guido Caldarelli, theoretical physicist, Full Professor of Physics at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Director of the CNR Institute for Complex Systems, and Giovanni Boniolo, philosopher of science and bioethicist. The event will be moderated by Francesca Zavino, Communication Officer at CNR-IOM.

How much can we trust the results produced by machines? How is our relationship with knowledge changing? What are the ethical implications of knowledge increasingly mediated by artificial systems? The discussion will bring together the perspectives of complex systems science, philosophy of science and bioethics.

Research meets the city with Street Science

CNR-IOM will also take part in Street Science, an event bringing together institutions from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Scientific and Innovation System under the Porticoes of Trieste City Hall.

Science leaves the laboratories and meets the city through a series of short “street talks”, where researchers share their work, discoveries and the questions that drive their research.

Among the speakers, Angela Parise from CNR-IOM will present “Biomolecules and Drugs: A Dance Made Visible by Supercomputers”, showing how simulations can be used to investigate interactions between biological molecules and drugs.

Riccardo Cucini from CNR-IOM will host Street Science, guiding the audience through talks by researchers from Area Science Park, CNR-IOM, the G. Tartini Conservatory of Music, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, the Italian Liver Foundation, ICGEB, ICTP, INAF Trieste, INFN Trieste, OGS, SISSA, TWAS, the University of Trieste and the University of Udine.

From the exhibition space to street talks, Trieste Next once again offers an opportunity to bring together different institutions, disciplines and audiences, taking the diversity of research that shapes the Friuli Venezia Giulia scientific community into the heart of the city.