SOCIETY Rinascimento · SOCIETY Rinascimento

Overwhelmed by a pandemic that destroyed consolidated habits, researchers must think ahead and focus on what is next. The theme that we propose for the 2021 edition of the ERN is Rinascimento, the fruitful period that stemmed from the great plague raging Europe in the fourteenth century. The Italian Renaissance is known for the spectacular growth of arts, literature, and philosophy but it was rooted in times of great difficulties and major societal transformations, demonstrating how challenges can be the gateway to notable developments.The fight against the pandemic in 2020 has diverted public attention from the significant challenges humankind faces: climate change is already affecting our lives and safety; a blind development pays little attention to people?s lives and the environment, fostering widespread inequality. A new Rinascimento needs to start here, where the core of the problems lies: revisiting the economic, political, and social relations among different countries and cultures, and re-thinking how we interact with the planet and its delicate equilibria. Researchers can play a role in building a new vision of the future, but a real shift in mindset is only possible when society becomes an active actor of change. SOCIETY Rinascimento will remind the public that challenging times may provide the right context for a needed change. Thanks to its network of stakeholders, SOCIETY Rinascimento will offer a wide range of activities and topics to target different public kinds. We will base our engagement strategy on three well-established pillars: an extended partnership and a long-lasting program of activities; diversity of topics and approaches; special attention to the Next generations. Visitors will see first hand how researchers work to build a new idea of society: resilient, environmentally friendly, inclusive, and fair. Each participant will have a chance to embrace an active role in promoting societal change.