EVENT PROGRAM
On the occasion of the world conference on Stochastic Resonance (Perugia 17 - 21 August 2008) the laboratory NiPS - Noise in Physical Systems of the Physics department of the University of Perugia will present a series of events related to the concept of NOISE.
NiPS is the promoter of a scientific-cultural event entitled "SCIENCE IS NOISY" dedicated to the concept of NOISE and to its many implications in the field of science and art.
The word NOISE is used in everyday life to indicate an acoustic disturbance, an unpleasant sound in contraption with a pleasant sound such as music. From a technical point of view, in the field of telecommunications, the word indicates an interference which hinders the intelligibility of communication.
The aim of this cultural-scientific event is to show how, contrary to normal intuition, NOISE is a phenomenon of great importance both in science and in art and how its role both in physics and in biology can be positive and beneficial. NOISE is at the basis of the functioning of many important physiological systems, from the brain to the nervous system. Its ultimate nature has its roots in physics and its treatment today is one of the most ambitious issues of international science.
Alongside the international conference Stochastic Resonance 2008, the event will include three independent but linked initiatives:
- Scientific/educational exhibition: In praise of noise
- Photographic exhibition: The art of noise
- Gala dinner /Concert/vernissage: Noise in every sense
1) - Exhibition - In praise of noise
The exhibition In praise of noise , a journey through experiments and phenomena that reveal the unexpected role of noise in natural processes. Starting from stochastic resonance, main theme of the conference, the exhibition In praise of noise alters the idea that visitors have of noise, which instead of being an element of disturbance becomes a key element for the realization of many natural processes.
Noise is usually considered an annoying element in everyday life. Noise sometimes reminds us of chaos, disorder, it always seems to be connected with some unpleasant experience. This is not the case of the exhibition Elogio del rumore - In praise of noise - that invites the public to experience the pleasant side of noise.
* free entrance
2) - Exhibition - The art of noise
The photographic exhibition "The art of noise", in a "noisy series" of shots by famous photographers and young disabled people, recounts and interprets the concept of noise as "private dimension". The idea is to compare the work of internationally known photographers with those of people who experience noise in the first person as disorder, chaos, disharmony, also psychologically, without necessarily giving it a negative connotation. Starting from April 2008, with the support of the USL Umbria and of the association Paeseinphoto, a series of creative workshops will be launched, dedicated to mentally disabled people being cared for in local health structures. Their works will be exhibited next to those of famous authors (such as Frank Dituri, Paolo Tosti, ...) with the wider intention of showing that art is a means of communication accessible to everyone, both the renowned artist and the adventurous beginner.
* free entrance
3) - Gala dinner /Concert/vernissage: Noise in every sense
Gala evening at the women's monastery of Santa Giuliana in Perugia (built in 1253). It stems from the idea of offering guests a multi-sensorial and multicultural experience by means of mini events during the evening. The journey begins with the inauguration of the photographic exhibition "The art of noise", and carries on with artistic culinary performances with well-known Umbrian chefs, distributed in chaotic but logical sequences, concerts, dances, with the ambitious intention of captivating all the guests' senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, triggered by noise.
The purpose is to go "Beyond acoustics" by using the theory of signals which allows us to extend the concept of noise to signals coming from different physical sources (such as the mechanical vibrations of objects in contact with air), in other words all those noises which are perceived by our senses, different from hearing:
- noise associated to sight (each time an image reaches our eyes in a disturbed manner such as a photograph out of focus or filtered...)
- noise associated to touch (a rough surface,...)
- noise associated to smell (the confusion of smells and perfumes, a different smell interfering with the smell of food...)
- noise associated to taste (...)
* Upon reservation.
A detailed programme of the event will soon be available.
For further information please send an email to info@ stochastic-resonance.org
