Elettra at the Nova Gorica Science Festival (Press review)

What is a protein actually like? Which fine particles pollute the air we breathe and how many are there? How can we reveal what happens on the surface of an archeological find corroded by atmospheric agents? How can we make a truly high quality food mixture? On Friday 19 September, from 7.00 to 8.00 pm, physicist Franco Zanini will be the special guest of the opening night at the Nova Gorica Science Festival, where he will discuss with the audience how one can find answers to all of the questions above and plenty more by doing research with... a light beam.

Franco Zanini graduated in physics at the University of Trieste and is currently a researcher at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste where he is investigating technology applications to the agri-food sector and to cultural heritage conservation. He also also teaches applied chemistry (at the Archeology  Postgraduate School in Aquileia) and physics (at the University of Calabria).
 
Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste is an international research centre that specialises in materials science research. Elettra's instruments for probing the structre of materials, such as supermicroscopes, exploit the brightness of synchrotron light - an electromagnetic radiation endowed with extraordinary properties - in order to reveal the structure and behaviour of atoms and molecules. Unprecedented details can thus be disclosed. Indeed, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste assists both industry and the research world in facing the most crucial challenges across a wide range of sectors: pharmaceuticals, medicine, engineering, nanotechnology and cultural heritage conservation.
 
Franco Zanini will be illustrating countless “adventures with light”, in particular that of the Guadagnini violin dating back to 1753, analysed at Elettra: image after image, he will be taking the audience on a journey into the very heart of this precious instrument, where ancient music meets state-of-the-art technologies.
 
The Nova Gorica Science Festival will be taking place on September 19-20 in the town's main square and will feature a number of activities, shows and round tables aiming to disseminate science and technology to audiences of all ages .
(www.festivalznanosti.si)