Mario Tozzi | Sapiens on the Brink of a Nervous Breakdown

Sconfinare Festival 2024

BEYOND THE WALL | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | 3:30 PM

Today, the same species that dominates the Earth unchallenged is also the one with the greatest impact on its devastation: the assault on resources, the depletion of life, and the climate crisis are indeed real issues threatening the functioning of the entire ecosystem. But why, in this scenario, do humans not seem to be concerned, or even appear to be amazed, by the changes in their surrounding environment? How do they approach the countless global challenges that involve them daily? Why do some minimize or even deny these events, observing them with detachment and cynicism? Together with Mario Tozzi, we will explore some of the most pressing issues of our time, focusing on the human-environment relationship – a dichotomy that, even in our latitudes, particularly following a summer marked by floods, deluges, and natural disasters, appears urgent.

Mario Tozzi is one of the most well-known contemporary science communicators. He holds a PhD in Earth Sciences and is currently a senior researcher at the National Research Council of the Italian Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering. He has authored numerous scientific publications, geological guides, and popular science texts. Since 2019, he has hosted "Sapiens, un solo pianeta" and "Sapiens Files" on Rai 3. Among the many television programs he has hosted over the years are: "Fuori Luogo" (2014-2017) on Rai 1; "La Gaia Scienza" (2009-2010) on La7; "Terzo Pianeta" (2007-2008), "Gaia - il pianeta che vive" (2000-2007) on Rai 3, where he also collaborates with "Kilimangiaro". He has hosted 120 documentaries in the series "Che bella l'Italia" for Rai International. His publications include: Pianeta Terra ultimo atto (Rizzoli, 2012), Paure fuori luogo (Mondadori, 2017), Com'è nata l'Italia (Einaudi, 2019), Uno scomodo equilibrio (Mondadori, 2021) and for Rai Libri, in 2023, Oltre il fango. Una nuova visione per uscire dal rischio idrogeologico.

The event will be moderated by Christian Bernasconi, a biologist and science journalist at RSI.