Beatrice Lerma is an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin , affiliated with the Department of Architecture and Design and serving as Deputy Coordinator of the Doctoral School of Design and Technology: People, Environment, Systems . Research focuses on Innovative Materials , Sensory Design , and Design for Cultural Heritage Key skills in Environmental Engineering , Industrial Design , and Circular Economy Her recent work explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Material Innovation , particularly in sustainable polymer systems and transparent wood technology. She leads the BIOMAPS (2025-2028) and AI-TRANSPWOOD (2024-2026) projects. 2025: AI applications in biobased materials 2024: Cultural heritage signage solutions 2024: Circular material taxonomic frameworks Scientific recognitions include ADI Design Index Selection Award (2015) and Young & Design (2013). She supervises PhD candidates Noemi Emidi and Eva Vanessa Bruno , and serves on the OFFICINA Scientific Committee since 2014.
Gabriele Bernardini is a Researcher at the Department of Civil, Building and Architectural Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) in Ancona, Italy. His office is located at via brecce bianche 12, Ancona in the DICEA, Construction Section (quota 150), where he holds office hours on Wednesdays from 9-11 AM. His work focuses on the intersection of built environment safety, risk assessment, and innovative technological applications for urban resilience. Dr. Bernardini's research interests center on multi-risk assessment and mitigation in urban built environments, particularly addressing flood risks, terrorist threats, and heatwave vulnerabilities in historical contexts. His work employs innovative methodologies including virtual reality simulations, behavioral design approaches, and data-driven predictive models. He has developed frameworks for measuring user exposure and vulnerability, optimizing evacuation paths, and creating integrated wayfinding systems for emergency situations. His research bridges the gap between theoretical risk assessment and practical implementation in real-world urban settings, with a special focus on preserving historical character while enhancing safety. Analysis of his recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a consistent focus on multi-risk scenarios in urban environments, particularly examining how different hazards interact in historical settings. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in methodology, moving from basic risk assessment to integrated multi-risk frameworks that consider user behavior, environmental factors, and technological solutions. A significant portion of his research applies virtual reality and extended reality technologies to safety training and evacuation planning, showing the evolution from theoretical models to practical applications with real-world testing. His research has practical applications across multiple domains including urban planning, emergency management, and building maintenance. Through his work on automatic detection systems using maintenance requests and predictive management approaches, he's contributing to more responsive building management practices. His case studies on specific locations like Matera demonstrate the translation of theoretical frameworks into context-specific solutions for historic urban environments.
Maria Elisa Fina is a Researcher (RtdB) at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies and the Interdepartmental School of Economics, Languages and Entrepreneurship for International Exchanges. Her work focuses on multimodal analysis of cultural heritage communication, translation studies, and audiovisual translation. She teaches courses in translation technologies, post-editing, and audiovisual translation at both undergraduate and master's levels. Education: Bachelor's in Literary and Technical-Scientific Translation (University of Salento, 2011) PhD in Linguistic, Historical-Literary, and Intercultural Studies (Ca' Foscari University, 2016) Research Interests: Multimodal analysis of audio guides, intersemiotic translation, museum communication for children, digital storytelling, and accessibility in cultural mediation. She has contributed to projects like DIETALY (PRIN 2020) and iNEST Tourism, exploring translation in cultural heritage contexts. Notable Achievements: Winner of the AIA/Carocci PhD Prize 2017 for best PhD thesis in Anglistica Published Investigating Effective Audio Guiding (Carocci, 2018) Recipient of the 2021 Ca' Foscari Excellence Award Teaching: Courses include Translation and Post-Editing Technologies , Audiovisual Translation and Audiodescription , and Translation Technologies: Tools and Methods . She emphasizes practical skills in translation technology and digital tools. Lab/Team Affiliations: Collaborates with research groups on accessibility in cultural heritage, digital humanities, and language mediation. Active in editorial boards of Trans-Kata and Le Simplegadi .
Marco Bozzola is an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD) of Polytechnic University of Turin. He serves as Deputy Coordinator of the College of Architecture and Design and holds key roles in Polito's Spin-Off Evaluation Commission and Patent Commission. Research areas: Design for Cultural Heritage, Design for Territory, Packaging Design ERC sectors: SH5_8 (Cultural heritage), PE8_10 (Industrial design), SH7_5 (Sustainability sciences) His work focuses on enhancing cultural heritage through multidimensional design interventions, including signage systems, narrative artifacts, and inclusive strategies. He explores sustainable packaging solutions and territorial development projects, particularly for SMEs and artisanal businesses. Recent publications analyze intercultural design methodologies and environmental sustainability in packaging. Prof. Bozzola holds editorial roles in ARCHALP (2018-) and Architecture Design Technology (2017-) and has received prestigious awards like ADI Compasso d'Oro (2013). He supervises PhD students Claudia Rolletto, Monica Oddone, and Irene Caputo.
Toma' Berlanda is a Full Professor at the Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST) at Politecnico di Torino . Previously, he served as Professor of Architecture at the University of Cape Town (2015-). His research intersects architecture, justice, and post-colonial urbanism, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Research Interests: Environmental Technology, Global South, War Ruins, Post-colonial Studies, Land Conflicts Awards: National Research Foundation Fellowship (South Africa, 2016-), EDRA Great Places Award Honorable Mention (2019) Publications: 15+ works (2020-2025) spanning topics like Colonial Infrastructure Legacy , Conflict Urbanism , and Decolonizing Architecture . Editorial Roles: Member of The Journal of Architecture (2022-2025) and FOLIO (2018-). Teaching: Courses on Adaptive Reuse and Architectural Technology , emphasizing experiential learning and social responsibility.
Claudia De Giorgi is a Full Professor at Polytechnic University of Turin , Department of Architecture and Design, with a focus on human-centered design , sustainable innovation , and cultural heritage . She serves as Vice-Rector for Equal Opportunities, Inclusiveness, and Life Quality since 2018, leading initiatives like the GEDIW Plan aligned with the European Charter for Researchers. Key research areas: sensory design, materials archive, intercultural design Notable projects: MATto (innovative materials archive), Materialmente (Cultural Heritage enhancement) Collaborations with SMEs, neuroscience, psychology, and social organizations Her recent publications emphasize participatory design , inclusive environments , and material culture studies . Awards include the Compasso d'Oro Honorable Mention and multiple design innovation recognitions. As an ANVUR expert and editorial board member of design journals, she impacts national education quality assessments and global design discourse. Supervises PhD students in topics spanning modern architecture conservation, narrative design, and industrial conversion.
Irene Caputo serves as a Research Fellow at the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD) of the Polytechnic University of Turin, concurrently holding an external lecturer/teaching assistant position within the same department. Her teaching portfolio spans multiple academic years (2020/21–2024/25) across critical design domains: Design and Communication for Cultural Heritage (2020/21–2024/25) Concept Design (Design Module I) (2020/21–2022/23) Inclusive Design in Architecture and Engineering Sciences (2024/25) Exploratory Design (Design Module III) (2024/25) Her research centers on design-driven solutions for sociocultural challenges, with emphases on cultural heritage interpretation, accessibility for diverse user groups, and intercultural communication frameworks. Key projects include signage systems for university environments and cultural sites like Turin’s Valentino Castle, alongside methodologies for inclusive packaging and peace education through design curricula. This work consistently bridges theoretical design principles with practical urban applications in Turin’s cultural landscape. Publication trends from 2024–2025 reveal a cohesive focus on applying design to real-world inclusivity challenges—particularly through intercultural case studies, heritage narration, and accessibility tools. Her collaborative approach (frequently with Marco Bozzola’s team) prioritizes user-centered methodologies across architecture, education, and product design contexts. No scientific awards, student advisement records, or dedicated research labs were documented in the source material. Her external lecturer role suggests project-based academic engagement rather than permanent faculty status, though institutional integration remains evident through departmental teaching and research outputs.
Nicoletta Sorrentino serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Naval, Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Genoa, teaching Industrial Design Representation for the Naval Engineering undergraduate program. Her research specializes in maritime communication systems, with emphasis on passenger wayfinding, user-centered design, and visual safety protocols aboard large vessels. She investigates integrated orientation systems, visual language effectiveness for safety communications, and the relationship between navigation company branding and onboard services. Her 2020-2023 publications reveal a consistent focus on maritime human factors design, with most works addressing shipboard communication challenges. The 2023 Virgo detector publication represents a notable interdisciplinary collaboration in gravitational wave data analysis, while the remaining works establish her expertise in maritime user experience and safety-oriented visual systems.
Riccardo Palma is a Full Professor at Polytechnic University of Turin's Department of Architecture and Design, specializing in architectural composition and urban design. His research focuses on sustainable mobility infrastructure, particularly the design of long-distance cycling routes and integration of historical infrastructure into contemporary landscapes. He coordinates projects like CYCLING WATERWAYS (EU-funded) and Ri-REVERSE (regional development), and leads the doctoral program in Architecture History and Design. His research explores the intersection of architectural design, cartography, and sustainable mobility systems. Key interests include: Cycling infrastructure as cultural landscape Architectural theory and pedagogy Adaptive reuse of transport heritage Multiscalar territorial design Publications consistently address sustainable mobility solutions through architectural interventions, with recent works examining cycle tourism infrastructure, self-sufficient shelters for cyclists, and integration of cycling networks with cultural heritage landscapes. This research aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and ERC sector PE8_3 (Civil Engineering and Architecture). Awards: PAN Ardito Desio (Landscape, Architecture, Nature) - IPSAPA (2010) Supervision & Projects: Currently mentors PhD candidates researching cycle route design methodologies. Leads multiple competitive projects including EU territorial cooperation programs and regional infrastructure studies. Coordinates commercial research agreements with municipalities for cycling network development and historical infrastructure reuse.
Laura Miola is an Assistant Professor at the University of Padova, focusing on environmental psychology and spatial cognition research. Her work explores the intersection of human cognition with environmental interactions. Institution: University of Padova Position: Assistant Professor Contact: laura.miola@unipd.it Research interests include: Biophilic design applications Gender differences in navigation Virtual environment cognition Restorative environments Well-being in urban contexts Article analysis reveals consistent focus on spatial cognition (12/15 papers), environmental psychology (10/15), and gender studies (6/15). Recent work (2024-2025) emphasizes healthcare facility design and environmental quality metrics.
