AperiRAISE: first encounter with science, between robotics and curiosity
The AperiRAISE series, the scientific aperitifs promoted by RAISE as part of the 2025 Genoa Science Festival, began on October 25 at the Blue District’s Sala Cuspide A, with a conference titled “Bring Out the Real Robots!” that drew a full house.
Designed to bring the public closer to the world of research in an informal and engaging atmosphere, the event inaugurated a series of five meetings dedicated to innovation, technology, and the relationship between science and society.
The first session featured Antonio Sgorbissa, robotics expert and Full Professor at the University of Genoa, where he teaches in the Computer Engineering degree program and the European Master EMARO+ in Advanced Robotics. He also coordinates DRIM, the national PhD program in Robotics and Intelligent Machines, and directs the RICE Laboratory (Robots and Intelligent Systems for Citizens and the Environment).
During the meeting, Sgorbissa led the audience on a journey through the challenges and prospects of contemporary robotics. For decades, researchers around the world have devoted public and private resources to the development of autonomous and intelligent robots—machines capable of assisting vulnerable people, exploring complex environments, and providing information in critical situations. Much of the scientific community has focused on theoretical models and sophisticated prototypes, often destined to find real-world applications only in the distant future.
Sgorbissa also shared his experience in developing “simple yet robust” social robots, designed to provide immediate and reliable support to people and to have a tangible impact on everyday life. He illustrated how robotics can advance not only through highly complex solutions but also through machines capable of operating autonomously in real environments, offering help, companionship, and safety.
The event soon turned into a lively and engaging conversation: questions, reflections, and exchanges animated the room until late evening, in a direct dialogue between the speaker and the audience. The informal atmosphere of the aperitif fostered an authentic exchange, where scientific communication took on the tone of a theatrical dialogue.
In his concluding remarks, Antonio Sgorbissa summed up the spirit of the initiative: “This series of meetings feels much more like a theatrical performance, and I find that wonderful. When you look your audience in the eye, a mutual energy emerges—it’s not easy to explain scientifically, but you can feel it. Talking about science this way, in person and with real participation, gives profound meaning to our work.”
