Giacomo Fiumara is an Associate Professor at the University of Messina, Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences. He holds academic rank since October 2021. Previously, he served as a Permanent Researcher (2008–2021) and secondary school teacher (1997–2008). He earned a Doctorate in Physics (1993) and a Degree in Physics (1989), both from the University of Messina. He is an associate member of the Accademia Peloritana dei Pericolanti and qualified as an associate professor in INF/01 and ING-INF/05 sectors. His research focuses on social network analysis, network science, data science, criminal networks, knowledge representation, bioinformatics, and computational modeling. He has supervised over 170 theses and advised PhD students in Mathematics and Computational Sciences. Key collaborations include work with Prof. Pasquale De Meo on criminal networks and complex systems, and international projects with institutions in the US, UK, China, and Australia. Teaching includes courses on Algorithms, Data Structures, Bioinformatics, and Machine Learning across Computer Science, Engineering, and Medical programs since 2000. He also contributed to international programs at Lviv Polytechnic, Birzeit University, Cluj-Napoca, and Murcia. His editorial roles include Associate Editor of IEEE Access and Academic Editor of Complexity. He holds a patent for predictive analysis of criminal organizations' social structures and has received FFABR research funding. Key awards include FFABR funding (2017) and recognition in the FFABR Unime 2020 II edition. He organized conferences like Crimenet 2014 and participated in high-profile events such as the 2022 Complex Networks conference in Palermo, presenting on quantum walks for criminal network analysis.
Giuseppe Bruno Averta is a Fixed-term Researcher at the Department of Control and Computer Science (DAUIN), Polytechnic University of Turin, and a member of the Interdepartmental Center SmartData@PoliTO - Big Data and Data Science Laboratory. He is affiliated with the College of Computer, Film and Mechatronics Engineering and contributes to national and international research in artificial intelligence and robotics. Averta has held a Visiting Researcher position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from January to June 2019. His research interests include Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Robotics, Neural Architecture Search, Egocentric Vision, Embodied Intelligence (Edge/Tiny ML), and Human-Robot Collaboration . His work is aligned with ERC sectors in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Robotics, and contributes to UN SDGs such as Good Health and Well-being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, and Responsible Consumption and Production. The recent publication trends highlight his focus on vision-language models (e.g., CLIP), egocentric action recognition, efficient neural architectures (e.g., BiSeNet, MaskFormer), and robust deep learning. His research bridges theoretical advances with practical robotics applications, including grasping and manipulation. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Georges Giralt PhD Award (euRobotics AISBL, 2021) Wiley Best Reviewer (Wiley, Italy, 2021) Best Paper Award, ICUMT 2015 (2017) Fellow, ELLIS Network of Excellence (2022–) Fellow, DAAD AInet (2022–) DAAD AInet Fellowship Advising and Grants : Averta supervises multiple PhD students in the Artificial Intelligence and Computer and Systems Engineering doctoral programs at Politecnico di Torino. He is involved in teaching at both the master’s and doctoral levels, including courses on Robot Learning and Machine Learning and Deep Learning. He is also a co-inventor on a national and international patent for a method and algorithm for the automatic design of neural networks through machine learning, indicating active research funding and innovation. Labs and Research Groups : He is a member of the SmartData@PoliTO center and contributes to research in the VANDAL PoliTO lab (as indicated by his student Davide Buoso). His work is deeply integrated with teams working on egocentric vision, embodied AI, and neural architecture search.
Dr. Gianluca Demartini is a leading researcher in Human-in-the-loop AI Systems with significant contributions to Crowdsourcing , Information Retrieval , and Generative AI applications. His work bridges Machine Learning and Human-Computer Interaction , focusing on Bias Management , Fact-Checking , and Ethical AI . Major Affiliations : L3S Research Center, ScienceWISE platform, and collaborations with institutions like University of Queensland and University of Padua Over 15 years, his research has explored Crowdsourcing Quality Control (Mechanical Cheat 2012), Entity Ranking (2008-2013), and Semantic Search . Recent work (2024-2026) focuses on Generative AI Impacts in domains like Media Literacy , Data Curation , and Visual Analytics . Scientific Recognition : Best Paper Award (Top 1.4%) at ICTIR 2023 Best Short Paper Award (Top 0.6%) at ECIR 2020 Honorable Mention (Top 2%) at CSCW 2020 Best Demo Award at ISWC 2011 3rd Best Paper at LA-WEB 2008 His 15 most recent publications (2024-2026) demonstrate expertise in LLM-based Content Moderation , Immersive Data Visualization , and Trustworthy AI Systems . He has pioneered methods for Bias Detection in Wikipedia (2013), Entity Ranking (2008-2013), and Human-AI Collaboration frameworks. His work consistently addresses ethical challenges in AI for Social Good and Responsible Data Science .
Nicola Capodieci is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physical, Computer and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, specializing in Information Processing Systems (IINF-05/A). He actively teaches multiple courses including Object-Oriented Programming, Web Technologies, and General Computer Science across Computer Science and Mathematics degree programs. His research interests focus on GPU acceleration for embedded systems, autonomous vehicles, and real-time computing. Dr. Capodieci's work addresses critical challenges in heterogeneous computing platforms, particularly for automotive applications and smart city infrastructure. His research bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in autonomous driving and urban mobility systems. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on optimizing GPU performance for latency-sensitive applications, particularly in autonomous vehicles. His work spans path planning algorithms, memory interference management, and real-time scheduling on heterogeneous platforms. A significant portion of his research addresses practical implementation challenges in embedded systems where computational resources are constrained but timing predictability is critical. Dr. Capodieci's teaching portfolio demonstrates expertise in both foundational programming concepts and advanced topics in web technologies. His courses emphasize practical implementation skills while covering theoretical foundations of object-oriented programming, web development frameworks, and computational thinking.
Michela Maschietto is a Full Professor at the Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with a focus on mathematics education methodology and historical mathematical artifacts. She previously held positions at the Mathematics campus and leads the Laboratory of Mathematical Machines. Research Interests: Her work bridges physical and digital tools in mathematics education, emphasizing semiotic mediation, argumentation development, and historical instrument reconstruction for pedagogical purposes. She explores geometric-mechanical artifacts for calculus concepts and investigates connections between spatial/geometrical knowledge. 2025 study on geometry education trends using didactic tetrahedron model 2024 research on physical-digital tool integration for argumentative skill development 2023 projects involving tactile calculus devices and conic section machines Teaching Activities: She designs mandatory laboratory components for primary education students, covering national guidelines, semiotic mediation theory, and historical artifacts like abacuses and programmable robots. Her courses emphasize problem-solving, geometric visualization, and standardized assessment analysis. Laboratory Involvement: As head of the Mathematical Machines Laboratory, she organizes exhibitions and workshops using reconstructed historical instruments for mathematics popularization. This includes collaborations with international researchers on topics like the Pythagorean theorem and conic sections.
Simon Masnou is a Full Professor at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, affiliated with the Institut Camille Jordan (CNRS UMR 5208). He holds leadership roles as Head of the 'Applied Mathematics, Statistics' Master's degree and Head of the 'M2 Maths in Action' program. Previously, he served as Director of the Camille Jordan Institute (2018-2022). His research focuses on applied mathematics, image processing, shape optimization, and geometric measure theory, with contributions to variational models, geometric flows, and applications in computer vision and materials science. Education: PhD in Mathematics (1998, Paris Dauphine) and HDR (2008, Paris 6). Research projects include ANR STOIQUES (2024-2028), PEPR PDE-AI (2023-2028), and collaborations with industry on topics like defect prediction in aluminum production and high-dimensional data analysis. Teaching includes courses on linear algebra, optimization, and machine learning at undergraduate and graduate levels. Key contributions span phase field models, varifold-based surface approximation, and image inpainting. He supervises PhD students in geometric variational problems and computational methods. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with industrial challenges, addressing issues in materials science, medical imaging, and cultural heritage preservation.
Stefania De Vincentis is an Associate Professor of History of Contemporary Art at the Department of Humanities, Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She teaches across multiple degree programs including History of Contemporary Art, Digital and Public Humanities, and Economics and Management of Arts and Cultural Activities. Her office is located at Malcanton Marcorà (VeDPH, second floor) where she holds student office hours on Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Dr. De Vincentis earned her PhD with honors in Human Sciences from the University of Ferrara. Her educational background includes studies in video art and visual arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, the IUAV-Institute of Architecture at the University of Venice, and a Master's Degree in Cultural Heritage Management (MuSeC) at the University of Ferrara. She was a Visiting Student at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles and a fellow at the Ermitage Italia Center for Art History. Her research focuses on the intersection of art history and digital technologies, particularly examining how digital tools transform museum experiences and art historical scholarship. Dr. De Vincentis investigates digital museum applications, virtual reality approaches to art collections, and the impact of technologies like IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) on art historical research. Her work explores how AI, VR, and other digital methodologies can enhance engagement with cultural heritage while raising critical questions about the nature of digital art history as a discipline. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on practical digital applications in museum contexts, particularly at institutions like the Galleria Borghese in Rome. Her work spans from theoretical reflections on digital art history methodology to hands-on implementations of virtual reality and AI technologies for museum collections. As a founding member of the DiDiART laboratory (Diagnostics and Digital for Art) at the University of Ferrara and a member of the Venice Center for Digital and Public Humanities (VeDPH), Dr. De Vincentis actively contributes to digital humanities initiatives. She has collaborated extensively with cultural institutions including the Ferrara Arte Foundation, Pinacoteca Nazionale di Ferrara, and Estense Castle, bridging academic research with practical museum applications. Her teaching portfolio demonstrates a commitment to preparing students for careers at the intersection of art, technology, and cultural heritage management. She offers specialized courses that equip students with both theoretical frameworks and practical skills for engaging with digital transformations in the cultural sector.
Federica Burini is a Full Professor of Geography at the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures of the University of Bergamo . She serves as Scientific Coordinator of the Imago Mundi Lab, member of the Center for Territorial Studies, and Scientific Director of OrobieLab. Her academic career spans participatory processes, collaborative mapping, and sustainable territorial regeneration. Full Professor of Geography Imago Mundi Lab Coordinator Center for Territorial Studies member OrobieLab Scientific Director Research Focus : Federica specializes in participatory geography through collaborative mapping techniques for environmental governance in both rural and urban contexts. Her work emphasizes sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa and European mountainous regions, with particular attention to landscape valorization via participatory processes and responsible tourism. Key projects include digital co-mapping initiatives for community engagement and territorial regeneration. Participatory mapping tools Sustainable tourism frameworks Mountainous area development Rural community empowerment Digital geospatial applications Landscape perception studies Publications : Recent works explore digital collaborative mapping tools (2024), industrial heritage interpretation for slow tourism (2024), and water resource-driven community regeneration (2024). Earlier contributions examine pandemic impacts on tourism (2020) and participatory cartography methodologies (2016). Her research consistently bridges geographical theory with practical territorial governance solutions.
Federico Becattini is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics (DIISM), University of Siena, Italy. He is an active member of the Siena Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAILab), where he contributes to cutting-edge research in computer vision, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. His work spans multiple interdisciplinary domains, including autonomous driving, human behavior understanding, cultural heritage, neuromorphic vision, and fashion recommendation. His research interests center on memory-based neural networks , which he has applied in numerous publications at top-tier venues such as CVPR, ECCV, IEEE TPAMI, and ACM TOMM. He has also delivered tutorials on this topic at international conferences including ICIAP 2022 and ACM MM 2022, and taught a Ph.D. course at the University of Florence. His recent work is aligned with the Collectionless AI paradigm, which emphasizes continual learning and interaction with dynamic environments. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in human-centric AI , focusing on understanding people through multimodal analysis of face, body, and clothing, as well as generating 3D virtual avatars. There is also a clear emphasis on memory-augmented architectures for temporal reasoning, explainability, and adaptive learning. His editorial role as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Multimedia Information Retrieval further underscores his standing in the research community. Associate Editor, International Journal of Multimedia Information Retrieval (IJMIR) Organizer, Workshop on Facial and Body Expressions (ICPR2020) Co-organizer, T-CAP Workshop (ICIAP2021, ICPR2022) Co-organizer, MCFR Workshop (ACM MM 2022) Co-organizer, WCPA Workshop and Challenge (ECCV 2022) Federico Becattini actively advises students and researchers within SAILab, particularly in the context of Ph.D. theses and research projects related to Collectionless AI and memory-based models. While specific grants are not mentioned, his extensive publication record and leadership in workshops and editorial roles suggest involvement in funded research initiatives. He collaborates with both academic and international research communities, serving as a reviewer for top-tier conferences and journals. He is a core member of the SAILab research group, which is pioneering the Collectionless AI initiative—a framework for continual learning over time, interacting with humans and agents without relying on pre-built static datasets. This lab serves as a hub for innovation in adaptive and sustainable AI systems.
Fabrizio Falchi is a researcher at the Artificial Intelligence for Media and Humanities (AIMH) Lab of the Institute of Information Science and Technologies (ISTI) within Italy's National Research Council (CNR). He also maintains an associate position at the Biorobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. His work focuses on developing advanced multimedia retrieval systems, with the VISIONE platform being his most notable contribution, which has won international competitions including the Video Browser Showdown in 2024 and placed second in 2023. Falchi's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Information Engineering from University of Pisa (Italy) Ph.D. in Informatics from Faculty of Informatics of Masaryk University of Brno (Czech Republic) M.B.A. from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa His research spans deep learning, convolutional neural networks, deep features extraction, similarity search algorithms, distributed indexing systems, multimedia information retrieval, computer vision applications, and peer-to-peer systems. Falchi has made significant contributions to fine-grained visual understanding, cross-modal retrieval (particularly image-text matching), and robustness of deep learning systems against adversarial attacks. His work demonstrates a strong focus on practical applications of these technologies, particularly in video retrieval systems and safety monitoring solutions. Analysis of Falchi's recent publications reveals a strong focus on video and image retrieval systems, with the VISIONE platform being central to his work. His research shows increasing emphasis on fine-grained understanding in computer vision, cross-modal retrieval, and addressing practical challenges like cross-resolution face recognition. Recent work demonstrates innovation in making these systems more efficient through techniques like knowledge distillation (ALADIN) and leveraging virtual worlds for training data. His publications consistently bridge theoretical advances with practical applications in surveillance, safety monitoring, and multimedia search. Falchi's work has received significant recognition: Best paper award at CBMI 2024 for 'Is ClLIP the main roadblock for fine-grained open-world perception?' VISIONE 2024 won the Video Browser Showdown competition in Amsterdam VISIONE obtained second place at Video Browser Showdown 2023 in Bergen Best Paper Award for 'Learning Safety Equipment Detection using Virtual Worlds' at CBMI 2019 Falchi collaborates extensively with researchers at ISTI-CNR, particularly within the AIMH Lab. His work on VISIONE involves collaboration with Giuseppe Amato, Paolo Bolettieri, Fabio Carrara, Claudio Gennaro, Nicola Messina, Lucia Vadicamo, and Claudio Vairo. As co-chair of Ital-IA 2023, the 3rd National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, he plays an active role in the academic community. He is a member of ACM (since 2012), the Computer Vision Foundation, the Italian Association for Computer Vision Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning (CVPL), and the CINI Lab on Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems. Falchi is a key member of the Artificial Intelligence for Media and Humanities (AIMH) Lab at ISTI-CNR, where he leads research on video retrieval systems. The lab has developed the award-winning VISIONE platform, which combines multiple scientific results in content-based video retrieval. His team focuses on developing systems that enable users to search for target videos using textual prompts, drawing objects and colors, or images as query examples. The lab's work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging computer science with practical applications in media, safety monitoring, and urban environments.
Maria Luce Lupetti is a Fixed-term Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD) at Politecnico di Torino . She actively contributes to the College of Architecture and Design and is a member of the College of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering . Her academic role involves teaching Cognitive Ergonomics and HMI in the Automotive Engineering master's program and collaborating on Design and Communication courses. Editorial Roles: Associate Editor for the journal INTERACTIONS since 2024 Conference Leadership: Participating in organizing committee for CHI 2026 Research Projects: Scientific Director of PARJAI (2025-2028) on Participatory Design Justice for Ethical AI Transitions Research Focus : Maria's work bridges Design with Human-Robot Interaction , focusing on Ethical AI , Speculative Design , and Urban Robotics . Her recent publications explore: Speculative design for sustainable digital futures Contextual adaptability challenges in urban robotics Design taxonomies for demystifying AI Trustworthy embodied agents in healthcare Creative applications of AI in HRI Ethical frameworks for energy futures Design Philosophy : She emphasizes participatory approaches, critical design thinking, and transdisciplinary collaboration to address societal challenges at the intersection of technology, ethics, and human factors. Her work appears in leading venues including CHI , HRI , and Frontiers in Neurorobotics , while also contributing to edited volumes and journal special issues.
Giovanni Mento is an Associate Professor at the Department of General Psychology, University of Padova. His research focuses on cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and clinical neurology, with a particular emphasis on neural mechanisms underlying cognitive control, emotional processing, and neurodevelopmental disorders. He employs advanced neuroimaging techniques like high-density EEG to investigate topics such as temporal prediction, decision-making in children, and the impact of preterm birth on brain development. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining machine learning with electrophysiological data analysis to address challenges in epilepsy forecasting and predictive brain activity. Key research areas include implicit learning, motivational contexts influencing cognition, and the application of EEG to study socio-emotional and behavioral disorders in clinical populations. Recent studies explore the effects of yoga-mindfulness interventions on cognitive control in children, dynamic brain states in preschoolers, and methodological rigor in EEG-based machine learning models. His contributions span both theoretical frameworks (e.g., re-examining top-down control models) and applied clinical research (e.g., neonatal intensive care practices). Mento’s articles highlight trends in understanding developmental trajectories, predictive neural mechanisms, and translational applications of neuroscientific findings to real-world contexts like education and healthcare.
Emma Colamarino is a Researcher at the Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering "Antonio Ruberti" of Sapienza University of Rome. She holds an M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (2014, cum laude) and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering (2019). Since 2015, she has been a research collaborator at the Neuroelectrical Imaging and Brain-Computer Interfaces Lab of IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia in Rome and served as a Visiting Ph.D. student at Imperial College London (2018). From 2019 to March 2023, she was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Sapienza University. Her research focuses on Advanced electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) signal processing Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) protocols for cerebral function recovery Machine learning in neurorehabilitation Hybrid BCIs integrating cortico-muscular networks Recent publications address stroke rehabilitation, BCI design, spectral graph theory, and EMG-EEG integration. Her work spans biomedical data analysis, neuroengineering, and rehabilitation technology validation. Scientific awards include multiple grants from Sapienza University and the Italian Ministry of Health, a Student Award at the 7th International BCI Meeting (2018), and recognition as a Subject Expert (2019). She has supervised/co-supervised 18 MD theses across Biomedical, Management, and Robotics Engineering disciplines.
Alexander Kocian is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Aalborg University (Denmark) and a Master's in Electrical Engineering from TU Vienna (Austria). His research focuses on Machine Learning, IoT, Agro Informatics, Health Informatics, and Real-time embedded systems. He has led major projects like AGRITECH (€40M funded by PNRR) and FuorisuoloSmart, advancing smart agriculture and healthcare technologies. Dr. Kocian serves as IEEE Senior Member (since 2024) and EAI Fellow (since 2022). He is Associate Editor of IEEE Access (2025–present), and Editorial Board member of Stats (2019–present) and Signals (2020–present). He has organized conferences like the EAI Int. Conf. on Intelligent Transport Systems (INTSYS) as General Chair (2024) and Steering Committee Member (2023). His work includes 50+ peer-reviewed publications, 4 patents, and contributions to telemedicine platforms like TESHEALTH (ESA-funded). Key projects span precision farming, IoT-based greenhouses, and AI-driven healthcare solutions. Current efforts emphasize data spaces for agritech and health informatics interoperability.
Paolo Trunfio is a Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Calabria, Italy, and co-founder of DtoK Lab S.r.l., an academic spin-off focused on data analysis and distributed systems. He holds a Ph.D. and is affiliated with the DIMES Department, specializing in big data, cloud computing, and high-performance computing (HPC). His research emphasizes scalable data analysis frameworks, edge-cloud continuum solutions, and machine learning applications for social media and disaster monitoring. Trunfio serves as an Associate Editor for ACM Computing Surveys and Journal of Big Data , and is on the editorial boards of several journals including Future Generation Computer Systems . He has authored four influential books, including Programming Big Data Applications (2024) and Data Analysis in the Cloud (2015). His work spans distributed systems, IoT-based smart objects, and exascale computing. Notable projects include the EU-funded eFlows4HPC and ASPIDE initiatives, which focus on HPC workflows and exascale programming models. Trunfio’s publications (over 200 papers) address topics like social media analytics, energy-efficient P2P networks, and parallel data mining. He leads research in urgent computing for disaster response, edge-cloud integration for urban mobility, and AI-driven data analysis. His contributions to cloud frameworks (e.g., JS4Cloud, ParSoDA) and HPC libraries (e.g., DCEx) highlight his expertise in bridging theory and practice in distributed computing ecosystems.
