The Annual Poster Session of the PhD program in Security, Risk and Vulnerability (SRV) took place on March 2, 2026, in the prestigious setting of the Galata Museo del Mare. This initiative, promoted by the University of Genoa in collaboration with the SERICS Extended Partnership, represented a significant opportunity for scientific exchange and for sharing research results among PhD candidates, researchers, and experts.

The proceedings were opened by Professor Serena Cattari, Coordinator of the SRV PhD program, who highlighted the value of the initiative within the doctoral training path. This was followed by a speech from Professor Alessandro Armando, President of the SERICS Scientific Committee, who outlined the strategic objectives and developments of the project. A major highlight was the keynote lecture by Professor Mauro Gilli (Hertie School), focused on the impact of climate change on international security and its geopolitical implications.

Excellence in Research: SERICS Finalists

The afternoon session featured presentations by researchers who have distinguished themselves for the scientific relevance of their work:

  • Lorenzo Fasolo (Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
  • Francesco Greco (University of Bari)
  • Maria Vittoria Zucca (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and IMT Lucca)

As finalists of the ITASEC Research Pitch 2026, they presented their research projects, emphasizing originality and scientific rigor. In parallel, the poster session allowed SRV PhD candidates to illustrate the progress of their studies, fostering a vibrant and stimulating interdisciplinary exchange.

Best Poster Award Winners

The event concluded with the announcement of the Best Poster Award winners:

  • 1st Prize: Pegah Aflakian for the work “Wildfire Risk Mapping in a Changing Climate: Insights from Catalonia Pilot”.
  • 2nd Prize: Guido Parodi with “Physics Informed Machine Learning: Leveraging Scientific Knowledge to Improve Data Driven Models”.
  • 3rd Prize: Giorgia Moretti with “Trust in AI is a governance issue”.

A Special Mention from the Security, Risk and Vulnerability Center was awarded to Tommaso Maria Viazzi for his contribution to structural monitoring and seismic damage assessment in strategic buildings.