On Friday, November 22, 2024, SISSA will celebrate the start of the new academic year, marking the 46th since its foundation. The opening ceremony will take place in the Aula Magna “Paolo Budinich” at 11 am.
The event will open with institutional greetings and a welcome speech by SISSA Director Andrea Romanino, setting the tone for the academic journey ahead. This will be followed by addresses from SISSA’s community representatives: Riccardo Iancer, speaking for the administrative staff, and Ludovica De Paolis, representing the student body.
A highlight of the event will be the lectio magistralis titled “The Origin and Evolution of the Nervous System” by Professor Detlev Arendt, Senior Scientist and group leader at the Developmental Biology Unit of EMBL Heidelberg. A distinguished member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Professor Arendt is known for his pioneering research on cell type evolution, particularly in the study of eye and brain development. His work has earned him two consecutive European Research Council Advanced Grants.
The ceremony will also feature an awards segment to recognize the achievements of SISSA students and staff. Concluding the event will be a musical performance of “Vocalise, 14 Romances, Op. 34” by Sergei Rachmaninov, presented by the Conservatorio “Giuseppe Tartini” of Trieste.
Giulia Casasole, project manager of SISSA’s Master’s Course in Science Communication “Franco Prattico,” will chair the event.
Simultaneous translation services will be available, and a buffet will follow for attendees.