What does it mean to think? How does an idea come about? How much of our way of knowing depends on the brain, and how much on our interactions with the environment, other human beings and technology? And what has changed now that artificial intelligence has become part of the processes through which we generate knowledge, make decisions and imagine the future?
These are some of the questions at the heart of the fifteenth edition of Trieste Next, the Festival of Scientific Research scheduled for 25 to 27 September 2026 under the title ‘The Shape of Thought: Interactions between Brains and Intelligences’, and supported by SISSA.
Special events include a talk with Oxford archaeoanthropologist Lambros Malafouris and DNA, a live performance by Telmo Pievani and the Deproducers. The afternoon and evening of Friday 25 September will be enriched by activities organised for the European Researchers’ Night.
All events are free of charge, but booking is required.
The full programme is available at https://www.triestenext.it/
Below are the events organised by or involving the School.
Conferences
Thursday 24 September, 6 pm
DOCUMENTARY SCREENING: “BUDINICH, IL PIRATA DELLA SCIENZA”
Friday 25 September, ore 15
THINKING WITHOUT CERTAINTY
With Gianluigi Rozza, Erika Coppola, Antonella Mele. Chair: Luca Mingotti Landriani.
Friday 25 September, 3 pm
BRAINS THAT LEARN. PERCEIVING, THINKING, IMAGINING
With Domenica Bueti, Corrado Calì, Mirella Manfredi, Jordi Manuello. Chair: Giancarlo Gola.
Saturday 26 September, 10 am
THE BIRTH OF KNOWLEDGE: HOW THE BRAIN DISCOVERS. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN HISTORICAL SOURCES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
With Leonardo Egidi, Guido Sanguinetti, Monica Verzar Bass.
Saturday 26 September, 4.30 pm
RETHINKING SUSTAINABLE AI: COST OR SOURCE OF VALUE?
With Francesco Rullani, Michele Tornielli, Roberto Trotta. Chair: Teresa Scantamburlo
Saturday 26 September, 6 pm
TALKING MACHINES, THINKING MINDS
With Domenica Bueti, Sebastian Goldt, Silvano Zipoli Caiani. Chair: Chiara Meriani.
Sunday 27 September, 3 pm
INSIDE THE MIND: COMPARING INTELLIGENT MACHINES AND THE HUMAN BRAIN
With Sara Candussio, Marina Cobal, Giulia Salzano, Enrico Santi, Ketty Segatti, Regione FVG. Chair: Elisabetta Pozzetto.
Sunday 27 September, 11.30 am
TRIESTE NEXT PRIZE - SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Sunday 27 September, 4.30 pm
STAY AWAKE AND DREAM: BETWEEN SCIENCE AND IMAGINATION
With Giuseppe de Alteriis.
At the SISSA's stand in Piazza Unità
On Friday 25 13-22, Saturday 26 10-22, Sunday 27 10-20:
BETWEEN NEURONS AND ILLUSIONS: HOW WE SEE THE WORLD
THINKING WITH DATA: INSIDE NEURAL NETWORKS
School activities on Friday morning organised by SISSA for Schools, only upon reservation:
ARTIFICIAL PAINTERS, with Elvira Antonucci and Lorenzo Tausani
IF I SEE IT, I WILL (NOT) BELIEVE IT, with Elvira Antonucci and Claudia Ruzza