The Complexity of Human Nature: different perspectives

Martedì 4 Febbraio alle ore 16:00 presso Scuola Superiore di Catania Aula Minutoli i Professori F. Gonella e M. Casazza terranno un seminario dal titolo:

The Complexity of Human Nature: different perspective
Introduce: Alessandra Romano

Abstract

The words ‘complex’ and ‘complexity’, recently become more and more popular, permeate multiple fields of scientific investigation, partially acquiring different meanings. Our ability to control complex systems and identify leverage points is a fundamental challenge of contemporary science.

Assuming the perspective of system thinking and eco-physics (i.e.: the application of physics to ecology) we will show, with practical examples, how a complex system might be described at different scales, from the human body to human society, unveiling how the same configurations can describe the malfunctioning of human body (in the asymptomatic and symptomatic diseases) and human society when deprivation of resources and competition occur.

Bio sketches

Francesco Gonella

PhD in Physics, full professor of Physics at Ca’ Foscari University, with more than 20 years of research activity in the experimental study of silicate glasses. In recent years, his research interests have shifted to Systems Thinking and Emergy (spelled with “m”) analysis. F.G. worked as visiting professor/scientist in Canada (Université Laval), United States (Vanderbilt University, University of Florida), Japan (Tokyo Institute of Technology). He is currently guest lecturer at the Normal Beijing University in China.

Alessandra Romano

Hematologist, PhD in Stem Cells and Molecular Medicine at the University of Catania in 2011. A.R. worked as Research Assistant at George Mason University, USA, Post-doc fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA, and then Post-doc fellow at the Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano. She is currently at the Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Università di Catania, to take care of blood cancer patients. Thanks to an Italian Society of Hematology grant fellowship, A.R. joined Ca’ Foscari to study systemic approaches and tailored therapies to multiple myeloma, a currently incurable form of blood cancer.

Marco Casazza

Physicist and violin player. Specialist in Sanitary Physics. PhD in Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development. In the process of becoming associate professor at the School of Intelligence Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Zhuhai Campus (China). M. C. is Correspondent Fellow of the Siena Academy of Sciences “Dei Fisiocritici”. His research focuses on the integration of eco-physics, environmental monitoring and system thinking in the fields of environmental security, environmental engineering and environmental forensics. In parallel, M. C. works focus on the application of art-based research in the field of environmental sciences and sustainability.  M. C. worked as visiting professor/scientist in China (School of Environment, Beijing Normal University), Sweden (Department of Chemical Engineering, Division of Energy Processes, KTH, Stockholm), Germany (School of Geophysics and Meteorology, Koeln University). 

Per informazioni: Dott.ssa Maria Sanfilippo - E-mail: maria.sanfilippo@ssc.unict.it