FuturoPresente is born in Parma: the first major university festival combining science, ethics, and society

Parma, former Italian Capital of Culture in 2020 and future European Youth Capital in 2027, is preparing to host a completely new event in the Italian university landscape. From October 24 to 26, 2025, the first edition of the FuturoPresente – Science Ethics Society Festival will take place, promoted by the University Center for Bioethics (UCB) of the University of Parma.

Today’s presentation was held at the ParmaUniverCity Info Point, with speeches by Rector Paolo Martelli, Councillor Francesco De Vanna representing the Municipality of Parma, and Professor Antonio D’Aloia, Director of the University Center for Bioethics.

An innovative approach that sets a European benchmark

FuturoPresente stands out nationally for its interdisciplinary approach, connecting the major themes of scientific progress with their ethical, environmental, and social implications on a broad scale. The city of Parma becomes a true laboratory, hosting over 100 distinguished speakers from Italy and abroad—including academics, experts, and key figures in contemporary cultural debate—across 50 events including lectures, roundtables, dialogues, and presentations. The festival creates a widespread public space for dialogue on the pressing questions raised by recent scientific and technological developments.

The added value of a public university

That such an initiative originates from a university is particularly significant.

“We are truly pleased that this festival is born within the University,” said Rector Paolo Martelli. “It could not be otherwise, as the University is a place of dialogue, debate, and reflection—a frontier space and an outpost for the future. The themes at the heart of the festival are crucial for the near future, and I hope the public will participate in large numbers and take full advantage of this three-day opportunity.”

“The public university is once again a protagonist in the national cultural debate,” emphasized Professor Antonio D’Aloia, Director of the University Center for Bioethics and creator of the Festival. “FuturoPresente is an invitation to awareness and responsibility, a project born from the belief that academia must step outside its classrooms to become a catalyst for collective reflection on the issues shaping our future—and already reshaping our present.”

Open dissemination, not academia

The Festival is designed with a public outreach and inclusive spirit, aimed primarily at citizens. Events will be held in various locations throughout Parma’s city center, transforming the city into a grand stage for ideas. This is not an academic conference, but a cultural experience accessible to all, aiming to make the debate on the ethical and social impacts of scientific and technological development understandable and engaging.

“The choice of Parma is no coincidence,” said Mayor Michele Guerra. “The city, which will become European Youth Capital in 2027, earned this title for its ability to stimulate youth participation and strengthen its European identity. The Festival fits perfectly into this trajectory, reinforcing a vocation that has always been part of Parma’s institutional and cultural history—and will define it even more in the years to come.”

Key themes and featured speakers

The program will address the most urgent issues of our time, including:

• Artificial intelligence
• Neuroscience
• Sustainability and climate justice
• Protection of future generations
• End-of-life decisions
• Reproductive technologies and family models
• Ethics of space travel
• Gender identity
• Rare diseases
• Genetics and medical applications
• Animal ethics

Highlighted events include:

• “Governing Artificial Intelligence: The European challenge between rights protection and innovation” with Hon. Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur of the European AI Act, Giulio Centemero, majority rapporteur of the Italian legislation on the subject, and Ginevra Cerrina Feroni, Vice President of the Italian Data Protection Authority.
• “The famous human races” with renowned geneticist Guido Barbujani
• “Rewriting human DNA: Opportunities and risks in the CRISPR era” with science journalist Anna Meldolesi
• “Beyond technophobia. Digital from neuroscience to education” with neuroscientist Vittorio Gallese
• “Skin. What it means to think in the age of artificial intelligence” with philosopher Maurizio Ferraris
• “Why bioethics needs environmental philosophy?” with Dale Jamieson, NYU professor emeritus
• “Being parents. The issue of surrogacy” with lawyer Filomena Gallo and philosopher Chiara Lalli
• “Creativity beyond the human? The reach of generative intelligence” with Amedeo Santosuosso
• “Taboo. Nuclear energy in the age of transition” with Stefano Besseghini, President of ARERA
• “Space beings. Humanity’s journey beyond Earth” with Tommaso Ghidini of the European Space Agency

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