ChatGPT ha detto: The Geometries of a Genius. Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro 1925–2025
15.10.2025
The celebrations marking the centenary of the death of the great mathematician Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro (Lugo, January 12, 1853 – Bologna, August 6, 1925), professor at the University of Padua from 1880 to 1925, will open on October 27, 2025, at the Palazzo del Bo in Padua.
Ricci-Curbastro’s fame is chiefly linked to the development of tensor calculus (which he called absolute differential calculus), a tool that proved essential to Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Einstein himself acknowledged his debt to Ricci and honored him with a historic visit in 1921.
On October 27, in the Archivio Antico, the event will open at 2:30 p.m. with greetings from Bruno Chiarellotto, Director of the Department of Mathematics, and Flavio Seno, Director of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Padua. This will be followed by a lecture by Rossana Tazzioli (University of Lille), titled “From Differential Geometry to Relativity”, moderated by Alberto Cogliati.
The event will continue at 4:00 p.m. in the Aula Magna of Palazzo del Bo, with greetings from the Rector of the University of Padua, Daniela Mapelli.
Robbert Dijkgraaf, Professor at the University of Amsterdam, will deliver the Galilean Lecture entitled “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Modern Physics in Mathematics.”
In his talk, Dijkgraaf will illustrate not only how recent advances in physics and mathematics inspire and enrich each other, but also how a new logical framework is emerging that encompasses both disciplines. The session will be moderated by Gianguido Dall’Agata, Director of the Galilean School of Higher Education at the University of Padua.
Registration is required to attend the event.
The centenary celebrations will continue on November 3 with the dedication of the former Paolotti building to Ricci-Curbastro, followed by a conference at the Department of Physics and Astronomyof the University of Padua.
At 2:30 p.m., with a ceremony, the University of Padua will dedicate the former Paolotti building in Padua to Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro.
Following the ceremony, the Rostagni Lecture Hall in the “G. Galilei” building (via Paolotti 9) will host a conference, opened by Bruno Chiarellotto, Director of the Department of Mathematics, and Flavio Seno, Director of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Padua.
The program will continue with a series of talks on the life and work of the mathematician, presented by Alberto Cogliati (University of Padua), Enrico Sangiorgi (University of Bologna), and Tilman Sauer (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz).
Registration is required to attend the event.
