Humanitas University at SOUL Festival 2025: a journey into trust
The 2025 edition of the SOUL – Spirituality Festival Milan has concluded, promoted by Università Cattolica and the Archdiocese of Milan, with Humanitas University and Fondazione Rocca as main partners. The university organised three public events exploring the theme “Trust, the fabric of ‘us’.”
The virus of distrust: science, media, and us, with Alberto Mantovani
On Thursday, 20th March, at the Auditorium of Humanitas University, the event “The Virus of Distrust: Science, Media, and Us” took place. This was a dialogue between science communicator David Quammen, author of Spillover, and immunologist Alberto Mantovani – Emeritus Professor at Humanitas University and President of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca. The discussion explored the theme of trust in science, starting from the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and retracing the moments that contributed to shaping the “crisis” of trust in experts.
The discussion explored the theme of trust in science, starting from the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and retracing the moments that contributed to shaping the “crisis” of trust in experts. Not simply an issue of “naivety” or anti-scientific beliefs, but a delicate and fragile relationship, influenced by historical, cultural, and media events.
During the event, the significant role of both traditional and new media in shaping public perception of science was highlighted. The discussion also covered the responsibilities of the scientific community and scientists in how they communicate. These are increasingly relevant issues in an era marked by health crises, climate change, and technological advancements, all of which require a clear and transparent dialogue between experts and society.
Searching for balance: a workshop with tightrope walker Andrea Loreni
How to consider imbalance? As a temporary state of instability to avoid or, on the contrary, as an opportunity? On Friday, 21st March, students from the Italo Calvino High School in Noverasco met Andrea Loreni, a tightrope walker specializing in high-altitude crossings, who led the classes through a practical workshop on trust and the body’s ability to find “balance” in imbalance. A metaphor for personal growth, but with very practical implications. Guided by the tightrope walker, and with the help of a low-tension wire, participants found their personal balance on the rope, challenging themselves and exploring the relationship between body and space. Following this, Dr. Vanessa Rossi from IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas conducted a teaching workshop dedicated to the inner ear, where students deepened their understanding of the link between hearing, sight, and balance through theoretical and practical activities using anatomage, a digital anatomical table for exploring the human body in 3D.
Words matter, with Michela Matteoli
Words as tools of trust, hope, and empathy. A truth both ethically and scientifically. This was shared by Michela Matteoli – Full Professor of Pharmacology at Humanitas University, on Saturday, 22nd March, on the stage of Piccolo Teatro Grassi in Milan, in a dialogue with neurophysiologist Fabrizio Benedetti. “Words have measurable biochemical effects: they can reduce anxiety and alleviate pain. Communication in care is crucial: it’s not enough to be transparent, we must also be clear and respectful. A misplaced hope can be as harmful as misinformation.”
Matteoli then took the audience into the mechanisms of the mind: “The brain is plastic, it constantly changes. Synapses are shaped by experiences and learning, building over time a cognitive reserve that helps us face aging.” But there is one key factor often overlooked: “The immune system plays a crucial role. Under normal conditions, it communicates with neurons, but if something goes wrong, as in chronic inflammation, this communication turns into a conflict, accelerating cognitive decline.”
The discussion also covered generative artificial intelligence, which shares similarities (such as neural networks) and differences with our brain. “AI is extremely powerful, but it works exclusively with the data we provide. If the data is of poor quality, the output will be equally flawed: in short, garbage in, garbage out. This is a fundamental difference from our brain, which, while working with imperfect information, can intuit and adapt thanks to its flexibility.” Matteoli also highlighted the role of emotions: “Those related to the amygdala, for example, make certain experiences more rooted in memory, an aspect that AI cannot replicate. In this sense, it’s important not only to use AI for scientific progress, but also to maintain a critical awareness of its use and limitations.”