TRIESTE NEXT-SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR. AWARD CEREMONY

Mauro Tretiach, vice-rector of of the University of Trieste

Martina Ardizzi, researcher in Medicine University of Parma, author of L’algoritmo bipede. L’avvincente storia di come mente, corpo e tecnologia evolvono insieme (Egea)

Giuliano Benenti, professor in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics Insubria University, co-author of "Il computer impossibile. Come il calcolatore quantistico cambierà il mondo" (Raffaello Cortina Editore)

Giulio Casati, emeritus professor in ...? Insubria University, co-author of "Il computer impossibile. Come il calcolatore quantistico cambierà il mondo" (Raffaello Cortina Editore)

Emilio Cozzi, journalist, science writer specialised in Space and gaming, author of Geopolitica dello Spazio. Storia, economia e futuro di un nuovo continente(Il Saggiatore)

Simone Montangero, director Quantum Computing and Simulation Center, University of Padua, co-author of "Il computer impossibile. Come il calcolatore quantistico cambierà il mondo" (Raffaello Cortina Editore)

Alfio Quarteroni, honorary professor Polytechnic University of Milan and EPFL-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, founder of MOX Laboratory, winner of the 2024 Blaise Pascal Medal for mathematics, author of L’intelligenza creata. L’AI e il nostro futuro (Hoepli)

Marinella Chirico, journalist

The award ceremony celebrates four books that, from very different perspectives, explore our relationship with knowledge, technology and the future. The journey begins with "Geopolitica dello Spazio", which takes us into the silent yet decisive competition for power and resources beyond Earth. It then moves inward with "L’Algoritmo bipede", a reflection on how every tool we create—whether a chipped stone or a digital device—becomes an extension of our thought and identity. With "Il computer impossibile", we enter the heart of the quantum revolution, where new logics of computation, communication and security are poised to reshape both science and everyday life. The final stop is artificial intelligence, examined with clarity and critical balance by Alfio Quarteroni, who highlights its extraordinary opportunities while also confronting the risks and ethical questions it raises. Four works, four complementary outlooks that shed light on the transformations of our age, inviting us to reflect on how knowledge can guide innovation without losing its human dimension.