SCIENCE POPULARIZATION, SANT’ANNA SCIENCE CAFE EVENT OF JUNE 15, A SEMINAR ON “LA RICERCA DEL GRANO PERDUTO” TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSLATION OF ETHIOPIAN OLD DURUM WHEAT GENETIC DIVERSITY INTO WORLDWIDE AGRICULTURE BENEFITS
On June 15 at 9.15 pm, at the SantˈAnna School Science Café, Matteo dell’Acqua, genetic scientist at SantˈAnna School, will give his talk “Alla ricerca del grano perduto: dialogo tra genomica e conoscenze contadine sulle alture dell'Etiopia”.
The 2017 SantˈAnna Science Café consists of four lectures. The program allows guests to meet real scientists and discuss their research on agriculture and biotechnologies, space medicine, and high/speed trains reaching 1.000 km/h..
Debora Angeloni, researcher of molecular biology at SantˈAnna School, explains the goals and objectives of the science investigations: “We aim to share the results of the research activity carried out at SantˈAnna School and demonstrate the contribution that science makes to society. This can involve economic and societal impact. We aim to contribute to the understanding of method, theory and application across disciplines such as biotechnologies which have expanded and flourished in these years. Excellent research should encourage reflection and conceptual advancement. The active roles played by researchers will make an impact on the spread of misinformation, presenting new evidence on the role of false stories circulated on social media. Democratic knowledge is strengthened by formal education and by access to the news media. Societies must have the necessary awareness and information to evaluate the quality of the democratic process”.
The 2017 SantˈAnna Science Café Science is an educational and entertaining event. It explores a variety of science and technology topics. Attendees can enjoy food and music while hearing from scientists and researchers. Attendees can ask questions and learn about the SantˈAnna School transparency and anti-corruption issues, good governance mechanisms and corruption fight at
“Angolo della trasparenza”.
The talk “Alla ricerca del grano perduto: dialogo tra genomica e conoscenze contadine sulle alture dell'Etiopia” by Matteo dell’Acqua, genetic scientist at SantˈAnna School, will focus on the genomic characterization of the durum wheat from Ethiopian collections as a promising strategy to translate this genetic diversity into agriculture benefits. The Ethiopian germplasm has been historically underutilized in breeding of modern wheat worldwide and thus the resistance alleles from the Ethiopian germplasm represent potentially novel sources that should encourage and facilitate its use by breeders and geneticists worldwide. To cope with the increasing demand for food and other plant-based products, improved crop varieties have to be developed. The results would lead to the development of superior varieties with improved yield, high nutritional quality and improved tolerance to feed billions, especially the populations of developing countries.
On June 22, Laura Montironi, five year engineering student, presenting “Hyperloop: l'Italia in treno a 1000 Km all'ora”, a futuristic subsonic train reaching 1.000 km/h. will make the Sant’Anna Science Café closing remarks.
The 2017 Sant’Anna Science Café event was inspired by Debora Angeloni. It is organized with the support of Francesco Ceccarelli, journalist, and Area Affari Generali Office.
The Sant’Anna Science Café is free and open to the public. Lectures will be held in aula 3 and aula magna storica - piazza Martiri della Libertà 33 - Pisa.
Cover photo: Analysis of Ethiopian Durum Wheat varieties
