Special Events
Panel
AI in Control Education: Challenges and Opportunities
Organized in collaboration with the IFAC Technical Committee 9.4 on Control Education, this panel will examine the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on the teaching and learning of automatic control. The discussion will focus on how AI is reshaping educational practices, from the ways students use AI-powered tools to support their learning to how instructors are integrating these technologies into course design, teaching, and assessment. Panelists will share experiences, opportunities, and challenges, reflecting on the evolving role of AI in control education and discussing its implications for teaching methodologies, student learning, and the development of future control engineers. The session is designed as an interactive forum, with ample time devoted to questions, comments, and discussion with the audience. The aim is to foster an open exchange of ideas, experience, and best practices within the control education community.
Date: 3 September 2026, 14:00—15:30
Venue: Aula Magna, University Palace
Speakers:
Alberto Leva (Politecnico di Milano)
Andrea Pintus (Università degli Studi di Parma)
David Scaradozzi (Università Politecnica delle Marche)
Elio Usai (Università degli Studi di Cagliari)
Damiano Varagnolo (Università degli Studi di Padova, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet)
Chair: Antonio Visioli (Università degli Studi di Brescia)
Round Table
The Past, Present and Future of Automation: A Vision for the Next Generation
How will automatic control evolve over the next decades, and what role will it play in addressing society’s greatest technological challenges? This round table brings together internationally renowned leaders in automatic control and robotics to discuss the future of the discipline, from the convergence of control theory, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science to emerging applications in healthcare, sustainable energy, smart cities, autonomous systems, and resilient infrastructures.
Building on the remarkable achievements of the Italian automatic control community and SIDRA, the discussion will explore the scientific breakthroughs, interdisciplinary collaborations, and strategic priorities needed to ensure that Italy remains at the forefront of research and innovation. Particular attention will be devoted to educating the next generation of engineers and researchers, identifying the key challenges for the coming decades, and envisioning how automatic control will shape the technologies of the future.
Date: 3 September 2026, 16:00—18:00
Venue: Teatro Farnese, Pilotta Monumental Complex
Speakers:
Antonio Bicchi (Università di Pisa)
Maria Domenica Di Benedetto (Università degli Studi dell’Aquila)
Mariagrazia Dotoli (Politecnico di Bari)
Alberto Isidori (Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”)
Bruno Siciliano (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II)
Antonio Vicino (Università degli Studi di Siena)
Moderator: Giuseppe Milano (Gazzetta di Parma)