Venice, September 29 – October 4, 2025
Speakers
Markus Arnoldini, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Matthieu Coppey, Institute Curie, Paris, France
Gonzalo de Polavjeia, Found. Champalimaud, Lisboa Portugal
Thierry Emonet, Yale University, New Haven, USA
Mirta Galesic, Complexity Science Hub, Vienna, Austria
Simon Garnier, NJ Institure of Technology, Rutgers, USA
Irene Giardina, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Karine Gibbs, University of California, Berkley USA
Chaitanya S. Gokhale, Würzburg University, Germany
Deborah Gordon, Stanford University, California USA
Matti Gralka, VU Amsterdam, The Nederlands
Ralf Kurvers, MPI Human Development, Berlin, Germany
Francesco Musco, IUAV, Venice, Italy
William Ratcliff, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, USA
Elena Scarpa, Cambridge University, UK
Allyson Sgro, HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus, USA
Yuko Ulrich, MPI Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
Scientific Committee
President: M. Vergassola ENS, Curator: F. Seno U. Padova, Members: M. Ackermann ETH, S. Bergmann UNIL, S. De Monte ENS, T. Emonet U. Yale, N. Fahkri MIT, N. Leonard U. Princeton, P. Liberali FMI Basel, A. Seminara U. Genova, C. Tarnita U. Princeton, S. van Vliet U. Bern.
The School focused on collective behaviour across biological systems, from cells to communities, and will use a highly interactive format to foster knowledge exchange between disciplines and career stages. Early career scientists, from PHD student to starting group leaders, were welcomed participants.
School web site
Participants engaged in a blend of research presentations by invited speakers and participants, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops. large time was devoted to panel and group discussions and to foster networking opportunities. The 6-day School aims to:
Promote interdisciplinary research on collective behavior, bridging gaps between physics, ecology, system biology, data science, and related fields;
Enhance understanding and innovation in collective behavior research.
Equip participants with cutting-edge methodologies and tools;
Stimulate innovative research that addresses significant scientific and interdisciplinary challenges;
Foster long-term collaborations and networks among young researchers and established scientists.
Abstract Booklet
Special events
A visit to European Cultural Center at Palazzo Bembo introduced the participants to the Venice Biennale, the world famous international cultural exhibition. The title of the Biennale Architettura 2025 is Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective, offering a close connection with the themes of the School.
The visit to the Giardini del Redentore — the vast Convent Garden of the Church of Redentore with its Old Workshops and Greenhouse, restored, maintained, and managed by the Venice Gardens Foundation, under the direction of president Adele Rerebaudengo. The visit was an opportunity to meet Professor Donatella Calabi, curator of the book Venezia è Viva!, which focuses on the vitality of a city that resists the overwhelming assault of mass tourism.
Conference on Venice and the Lagoon. Professor Andrea Rinaldo, President of Istituto Veneto presented Reflections on Venice in a Changing World and Francesco Musco, Professor of urban planning at IUAV Università di Venezia, alysed the relationship of Venice and a regulated lagoon.
Finally, to bridge the areas of Alma Dal Co’ passions, Science and Music: A Conversation took place with Massimo Cacciari, philosopher, Sandro Cappelletto, musicologist, Daniela Perani, neuroscientist, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and the doctorate students of Venice Conservatory, performing a Concert of new and ancient music.
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