Women, knowledge, and academic institutions
26.06.2023
From 26 June to 27 June, Palazzo del Bo hosts the international conference “Women, knowledge, and academic institutions: a Paduan debate three hundred years later” as promoted by the Centro di Ateneo Elena Cornaro and the departments of DiSSGeA, FISPPA and DiSLL of the University of Padua, with the patronage of the Accademia Galileiana di Scienze, Lettere e Arti.
Marking the 300th anniversary of the debate, sponsored by Antonio Vallisneri that took place at the Accademia dei Ricovrati on June 16, 1723, which discussed whether women ought to be allowed to cultivate the sciences and the arts and whether they should be given access to scientific institutions. This year’s conference aims to turn the early modern debate into an opportunity to ask again some of the key questions that continue to be urgent today, vis-à-vis contemporary interpretations of the role of the sciences in a changing global scenario and the position of women scientists in it.
The conference begins with institutional greetings by the director of the University Center Elena Cornaro Annalisa Oboe, the vice president of the Galilean Academy Prof Giovanna Zaniolo, and Lorenzo Rustighi of FISPPA.
Welcome guests include Rebecca Messbarger, Londa Schiebinger, Giovannella Baggio and Anne-Sophie Godfroy as they discuss the value and depth the participation of women in the production of knowledge has played as a source of innovation. The panel asks how the languages and paths of knowledge have been and how to renew them to include more and more women as agents of innovation and change. They will look at how women are transforming the contents of knowledge, how they are reopening and renewing cultural, scientific and academic archives, and intervening in the construction of a more equitable and equal science and society.
Included in the conference program is "A Day with Elena", the award ceremony of the Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia Study Prize of University of Padua which takes place on 26 June at 6 pm in the Aula Magna. The ceremony begins with institutional greetings from Gaya Spolverato, delegate for Equal Opportunities Policies, the director of the University Center Elena Cornaro Annalisa Oboe, the councilor of the Alumni Association Beatrice De Bacco, Manuela Soccol from the Friends of the University Association of Padua, and the vice president of Solgar Italia Multinutrient S.p.A. Giada Caudullo. The ceremony includes guest of honour Patrizia Carrano, author of La storia di Elena Lucrezia Cornaro, prima donna laureata nel mondo, who will offer a talk on Le ombre di Elena, sapiente illuminata.
The conference and ceremony are open to the public, registration is recommended.
Now in its fifth and final edition, the Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia - University of Padua Study Award is given by the Elena Cornaro University Centre of the University of Padua thanks to the support of the Alumni Association, the Association of Friends of University of Padua and Solgar Italia Multinutrient S.p.A.
The recognition goes young researchers as reflection for their work that highlights the authoritative contribution of female figures in the history of knowledge, research and teaching, based on new research activities on gender differences/disparities in various scientific-disciplinary fields, or those who offer ways to address scientific and humanistic knowledge from a feminist or gender studies perspective.
The ceremony includes special mention to works deemed worthy in the fields of food supplementation, human nutrition, nutraceuticals and functional nutrition for the correct physiology of the person and/or for increased nutritional needs.
