Opening
Physics & Art against CO2 is about bringing together physicists, artists and the general public. At the opening ceremony we want to start this process, making suggestions and collecting input from you, the people.
In order to feed a creative process which produces the only thing we are good for: culture; and as part of it, physics.
The events and exhibitions will be held in the Conference Hall at the public Library Stelio Crise in Trieste.
Largo Papa Giovanni XXIII, 6 – 34123 Trieste. See the map
Tel. +39 040 300725 / Tel. +39 040 307463
Conferences
- 11th of August, "The Linear Mirror" - H. Grassmann (University of Udine) - h. 16:00
- 13h of August, "Modernity of the mechanism of Antikythera" - P. Bussotti (University of Udine) - h. 11:00
- 18h of August, "CO2 Free Solutions for the Planet" - F. Malek (CNRS France) - ore 16:00
- 25h of August, "Project collaboration in Africa" - D. Kobor (Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor) - h. 16:00
- 3rd of September, "La conoscenza perduta della Biblioteca di Alessandria" - R. Otranto (University of Bari) - h. 11:00
- 8h of September, "The Linear Mirror and the closed cycle of Biomasses" + H. Grassmann - M. Citossi (University of Udine) - h. 16:00
- 10h of September, "Conclusions of the project" - H. Grassmann - h. 16:00
The Linear Mirror
The Linear Mirror is a very simple system for providing concentrated solar energy also at northern latituted and also in winter. It is well suited for the industrial application and can make an important contribution for the substitution of fossil fuels. On the one hand it is the most modern and innovative solar technology. On the other hand it was probably already used by Archimedes and had stayed in oblivion for more than 2000 years.
Modernity of the Antikythera mechanism
The talk is into three sections: 1) description of the Antikythera mechanism (probably 2nd century b.C.) as a sort of “sky computer” through which eclipses, planetary conjunctions, positions of the planets, etc. could be foreseen; 2) connection between this mechanism and two aspects of Greek science: a) the theoretical one; b) the technological one. For, this mechanism is related to theoretical astronomy, but also to the remarkable skills in the technological field reached in the Hellenistic age; 3) discussion on the level of Hellenistic science and technique as well as explanation of the reason of their decline and oblivion. Some scholars have also hypothesized that the Antikythera mechanism represents an heliocentric system. This hypothesis will be briefly discussed too. The purpose of my talk – though being basically historical – is not only to expound the extraordinary results of Greece science, but also to promote a discussion on their possible use in our contemporary context.
CO2 Free Solutions for the Planet
Much progress has been made for the production of electricity from renewable sources over the last decades. But since most of our energy consumption is in form of thermal energy, we cannot get rid of the fossil fuels as long as we do not have thermal energy from renewable sources. In addition, there is no alternative to using solar energy for providing heat of homes and for industrial applications. At the time being, it seems that solar power plants make economic sense only in the deserts. We discuss whether solar energy can also be used at the northern latitudes such as Helsinki. If the laws of physics allow us to heat Nordic countries with solar energy, then our solutions may be used in any place of the world, whether it is in Africa or in Europe.
From waste to renewable energy: another future is possible
Experience in waste management has led to a deep reflection on the sustainability and circularity of materials in the sector and on the high demand for energy and resources to transform waste into secondary raw materials.
The challenge, taken up by the Company, is to avoid inserting in the circuit of waste materials with high energy power, such as biomass, to enhance them in a sustainable way from the environmental and social point of view.
The linear mirrors, the use of which we are experimenting on biomass, have opened an outlook on the future: the low energy demand for the process and the absence of environmental impacts make these devices a safe starting point to develop a closed circuit able to absorb green waste, process and return compost/soil improver and heat energy ready to use, cogenerated together with electricity.
In this way, we can build a different energy future, delocalized and scalable.
Project collaboration in Africa
Also Africa needs new technologies in order to get rid of fossil fuels. Importing turn key installations from foreign countries is one possible solution. An alternative is to develop new solutions ourselves, together with colleagues all over the world, who are also dedicated to
fundamental innovation. At the University of Ziguinchor we also think, that fundamental innovation must be based on high quality physics, and that it should be done in a cultural context, in the midst of society.
We have found colleagues at the University of Udine, who agree with these priorities. We will present our laboratories at the University of
Ziguinchor and the results of our collaboration with the University of Udine. ESOF2020 at Trieste is a wonderful place for us to meet people
and to enlarge an international collaboration.
The bibliotheca inestimabilis, casket of knowledge
The Library of Alexandria, the most important library in the ancient world, founded - at the suggestion of Demetrius of Phalerum - by Ptolemy I Soter, the first Greek ruler of Egypt, and enlarged by his successor, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, still today embodies the archetype of the "universal library". Annexed to the Museum, it was a real research institute, in which scientists and philologists harmoniously lived, dedicated to the study of the most varied branches of knowledge: from philology, to geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, medicine, natural science. Built as an expression of a program that is primarily political, and that wants to connote the city founded by Alexander the Great as a city with a strong Hellenic cultural identity, the Library becomes, for the tradition of classical texts, a sort of ark which, through various mechanisms - of collection, translation, study and diffusion - allowed their conservation up to the present day.
The Linear mirror and the closed cycle of biomasses
Solar energy as well as biomass energy have important limitations. Combining them, these limitations can be overcome:
Roasting waste biomass with solar energy is a way of storing solar energy for long periods of time, and it avoids using trees for energy production. Trees and food should never used for energy production!
The Linear Mirror is the ideal device for converting waste biomass to solar carbon, and a first pilot plant is operational at AeT2000 at Udine.
There will be also the partecipation of Ing. Carlo Pestelli (Wärtsilä) with the talk: "A perspective from the industry: C. Pestelli Wärtsilä Italia".
Workshop Artistico “Orto in Blu” Cianotipia 24 agosto
L’obiettivo fondamentale del workshop è quello di ripercorrere una strada antica nel campo della fotografia, quella della Cianotipia.
La sperimentazione fotografica, ispirandosi alla Natura, ha utilizzato una tecnica fotografica che risale alla nascita della fotografia: la cianotipia. Riferendosi a due straordinari fotografi del passato, Anna Atkins (botanica e fotografa inglese), e Karl Blossfeldt (artista, scultore, fotografo e botanico tedesco) ci si avvicinerà al mondo della botanica, riproducendo le erbe, i fiori e le foglie su carta fotosensibile personalmente preparata, realizzando un Erbario in Blu.
La cianotipia (o blueprint) è un antico metodo di stampa caratterizzata dal tipico colore Blu di Prussia. Il processo si basa su alcuni sali di ferro, il ferrocianuro di potassio e il citrato ferrico ammoniacale che, mescolati, divengono sensibili alla luce del sole. Frapponendo un oggetto, una pianta o un negativo tra la luce del sole e un foglio di carta, su cui è stata applicata la soluzione ai sali ferrici, si produce un’immagine fotografica.
Struttura del workshop
Il workshop è condotto dalla fotografa Annamaria Castellan
Presidente dell’Associazione Culturale Acquamarina di Trieste Il workhsop si articola in due parti:
Parte Teorica
- elementi di storia della fotografia,
- tipologie botaniche,
- elementi tecnici per la realizzazione della raccolta del materiale fotografico,
- tecnica della cianotipia sottolineando l’aspetto creativo
Parte Pratica
- raccolta delle piante o realizzazione di immagini digitali nell’ambito naturale,
- scelta delle piante o visione critica delle immagini ed elaborazione grafica la fine di ottenere dei negativi,
- preparazione della soluzione chimica,
- stesura della soluzione su carta d’arte,
- test del preparato chimico,
- sviluppo delle immagini,
- lavaggio e asciugatura delle immagini.
Workshop Il Foro stenopeico o pinhole 25 agosto
Il foro stenopeico o pinhole è una scatola che, al posto dell’obiettivo, ha un forellino praticato in un materiale sottile. Con questa scatola si possono ottenere delle fotografie, anche senza l’uso della pellicola, ma solamente con della carta fotografica. Può essere costruita in modo più o meno rudimentale, con materiali quali cartone, legno, latta e quant’altro, può avere delle forme diverse. Ma il foro stenopeico è innanzitutto uno strumento per comprendere le modalità della ripresa fotografica liberandosi dall’ingombro della tecnologia, ad utilizzarle meglio ma anche in modo più creativo perché, attraverso queste conoscenze si possono individuare modalità e campi di applicazione al di là di quelli consueti.
Il workshop è condotta dai fotografi Annamaria Castellan e Luigi Tolotti
Il workshop si articola in due parti:
Parte Teorica
- elementi di storia della fotografia
- visione di un filmato
- il foro stenopeico, modelli con e senza pellicola
- come fotografare con il foro stenopeico
Parte Pratica
- carica delle scatole con carta fotografica in camera scura
- uscita in giardino per l’esposizione
- sviluppo e asciugatura della foto
Conclusions of the workshop
Physics & Art against CO2 is about bringing together physicists, artists and the general public for meetings, asking questions, looking for answers.
It is therefore an experiment about new ways of doing physics as part of human culture. It is also an art performance in the spirit of Joseph Beuys, social sculpture. And we hope to reconnect to an old European culture, lost 2000 years ago with terrible consequences.
We have therefore the highest goals, and so failure is a possibility.
In these conclusions we will present an evaluation of our project: did it work? what did we learn? Is this the future? Can we stop CO2 without falling in poverty or extinguishing ourselves?