The aim of this Design Measures proposal is to develop an Erasmus Mundus joint masters degree in Complex and Adaptive Systems Across Robotics, Biology, Art and Design (ABRAx). The program will prepare students for working creatively and collaboratively across industry, society and technology with the necessary skills and preparedness to respond to major challenges concerning the environment, inclusion, health, and sustainability. Envisioning and developing innovative and sustainable solutions requires familiarity with methods and knowledge across disciplines and the ability to collaborate across sectors and disciplines, with knowledge that spans natural sciences, engineering, arts and humanities. The programme thus proposes the development of two tracks (MA and MSc) that combine knowledge expertise and cultivates interdisciplinary skills to address common goals through the development of highly-specialized, diversified profiles. The project is led by University of Trento (IT, UNITN), and involves Aalborg University (DK, AAU), Maholy-Nagy University for Art and Design (HU, MOME) and Gothenburg University (SE, GU). The proposed EMJM degree addresses a clear need from the perspective of sustainability, as there are very few HEIs that offer degree programs that balance the scientific, industrial, social, and cultural dimensions of sustainability. Furthermore, virtually none of these educational programs have a clear design focus, which is surprising given the importance of Design Thinking in industry and the relevance of bio-inspired design in the development of sustainable products and solutions.

Synthetic biology aims to exercise control in the design, characterization and construction of living organisms and biological parts. No longer the domain of science fiction literature, it has progressed by leaps and bounds in recent years, accompanied by great promises and grave risks. Law and governance lag behind. Lab experimentation and field trials take place in a legal vacuum. On top of companies and research institutes, a vibrant do-it-yourself community is engaged in research, claiming to democratize innovation. Global deliberations on the environmental and socio-economic impacts have only recently begun under the auspices of UN multilateral environmental agreements, and policy-relevant academic analysis is urgently needed. Based on my academic record in international environmental law and governance of novel technologies and my empirical knowledge of intergovernmental negotiations, complemented by training in socio-legal methodologies during the fellowship, I will develop a new integrative framework for the governance of synthetic biology. It will be built upon: a) an assessment of the current state of international law and governance, including an analysis of regulatory gaps and novel normative challenges; b) an examination of existing theoretical frameworks on risk management and responsible research and innovation, including gendered approaches to risk that have been understudied to date; and c) a typology of actors involved in synthetic biology research, including an analysis of who does what, why, and how they envisage regulation, with a particular focus on gene editing in agriculture. Aiming at improving accountability and enhancing legitimacy, both of law and governance and of the innovation process, this framework will not only bridge gaps in scholarly efforts but will also facilitate decision making, ensuring that synthetic biology applications promote the global objectives of food security, sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

In the literature on numerical cognition, vision was for a long time assumed to play an important role in the development of number representations. In line with this idea, I recently demonstrated that congenitally blind (CB) present a qualitatively different representation of numbers by comparison to their sighted peers. In this project, I propose to further explore with fMRI techniques whether the CB qualitative different numerical representation is supported by specific cerebral reorganisation of the brain. I also propose to examine whether the qualitative different numerical representations of CB could delay the acquisition of numerical concepts in childhood. I finally propose to explore the extent to which this knowledge of the blind’s numerical representation could be extended to the elaboration of a multisensory mathematics teaching program. I advocate the idea that this research program is crucial because poor mathematical competencies are common among adults and result in employment and day-to-day activities difficulties. Further research into multisensory access to numerical information could therefore lead to education benefits in teaching mathematics to young children but could also promote interventions that target specific mathematical deficits. I am uniquely suited for working on this project due to a number of parallels between the skills the proposed project requires, and the skills I possess. This includes: 1) my successful collaborations with Dr Collignon in the past; 2) good inter-personal skills; 3) my strong background in the research topic; 4) working with a variety of participant populations, and combining different methodologies. If funded, the present project will allow me to continue to explore a large overarching question by applying my pre-existing knowledge to a broader range of experimental techniques and topics - a vital skill to become an independent researcher in Europe.

I will address the fundamental question of which is the role of neuron activity and plasticity in information elaboration and storage in the brain. I, together with an interdisciplinary team, will develop a hybrid neuro-morphic computing platform. Integrated photonic circuits will be interfaced to both electronic circuits and neuronal circuits (in vitro experiments) to emulate brain functions and develop schemes able to supplement (backup) neuronal functions. The photonic network is based on massive reconfigurable matrices of nonlinear nodes formed by microring resonators, which enter in regime of self-pulsing and chaos by positive optical feedback. These networks resemble human brain. I will push this analogy further by interfacing the photonic network with neurons making hybrid network. By using optogenetics, I will control the synaptic strengthen-ing and the neuron activity. Deep learning algorithms will model the biological network functionality, initial-ly within a separate artificial network and, then, in an integrated hybrid artificial-biological network. My project aims at: 1. Developing a photonic integrated reservoir-computing network (RCN); 2. Developing dynamic memories in photonic integrated circuits using RCN; 3. Developing hybrid interfaces between a neuronal network and a photonic integrated circuit; 4. Developing a hybrid electronic, photonic and biological network that computes jointly; 5. Addressing neuronal network activity by photonic RCN to simulate in vitro memory storage and retrieval; 6. Elaborating the signal from RCN and neuronal circuits in order to cope with plastic changes in pathologi-cal brain conditions such as amnesia and epilepsy. The long-term vision is that hybrid neuromorphic photonic networks will (a) clarify the way brain thinks, (b) compute beyond von Neumann, and (c) control and supplement specific neuronal functions.