The setting of the Abbey of Novalesa will host on Saturday, November 8 (9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) the conference “Nature and Thought,” promoted by the Metropolitan City of Turin and the monastic community in collaboration with local institutions, educational and cultural organizations, marking ten years since the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
The event will focus on dialogue between philosophy, theology, science, and education, offering insights and reflections on the legacy of the document that marked a turning point in global ecological awareness, bringing together different perspectives around a theme that, while analyzing the present, questions the future.
The conference aims to be a dialogue among fields of knowledge—an opportunity to overcome ideological barriers and explore nature not only through the lens of science but also as a cultural, philosophical, and anthropological issue. Starting from scientific data, the meeting will examine the roots of the divide between humans and the environment, reflecting on the worldviews that have fostered this fracture, which ecological and spiritual thought seeks to heal.
Program
The morning session (9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.) will feature discussions with speakers from different disciplines, guiding participants through moments of analysis, dialogue, and reflection.
In the afternoon (2:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.), there will be a short guided tour in the green surroundings of the Abbey of Novalesa, where nature and humanity have shaped a landscape rich in examples of ecological life. The walk will offer an opportunity for an “open-air” lesson dedicated to the human–nature relationship, with a final stop at the Chapel of Sant’Eldrado.
The conclusion of the conference will be entrusted to the world of education, which plays a key role in environmental awareness and the creation of a culture of sustainability. The event aims to actively involve teachers, educators, and students, with the understanding that it is the new generations who will become the “guardians” of our planet.
The experience of the “Ghiaccio Fragile” Summer School will be presented—an initiative born from a team of teachers and researchers from the Susa Valley, which has become a leading training project in the Italian school system.
Guests and Speakers
The conference will feature the participation of Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and Deputy Mayor Jacopo Suppo. The day will be moderated by Gianni Boschis, geologist, geography teacher, and science communicator, together with journalist Eloisa Giannese.
Expected contributions include: Michael Davide Semeraro (Prior of the Abbey of Novalesa), Daniele Cat Berro (climatologist, SMI), Armando Minutola (philosophy teacher), Cristina Converso (forestry expert and writer), Luca Cavallo (agronomist, Piedmont Region), and Daniele Cane (physics teacher).
Audience and Registration
The conference is open to anyone interested in exploring environmental issues from an interdisciplinary perspective and is particularly recommended for teachers, educators, local administrators, students, and members of cultural or environmental associations. Participants who are teachers will receive a certificate valid for professional development.
Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required via the provided link: https://forms.gle/3DpFUwemob3WDNHx6.
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