In celebration of the 800 Anniversary of the University of Padua and the return of the annual Turin Book Fair, a series of initiatives take place as part of a collaborative effort in the sharing of knowledge and culture.

After speaking at the inauguration of the annual Turin Book Fair, the journalist, anthropologist and award-winning writer Amitav Ghosh will arrive in Padua on May 23, s part of the Padua Freedom Lecture series, Ghosh presents his lecture: “Can the Non-human Speak? Other beings in Myth, Literature and Ethnography.”

On May 20, the American economist and essayist Joseph Eugene Stiglitz is welcomed to Padua to speak on behalf of Neoliberalism, the Individual and Society, and in anticipation of his conversation with the University of Padua professor, Telmo Pievani on May 21 at the Turin International Book Fair. During their conversation, Stiglitz reflects on how to rethink the fundamental principles of the economy and globalization. The conversation takes a deep dive into the recent Three Global Traumas: Trump, the Pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine (6:15 pm, Sala Azzurra, Pavilion 3).

The theme of identity in the context of belonging and the exchange of different worlds and cultures, two collaborative events are held in Turin by welcoming Tahar Ben Jelloun (Friday, May 20 at 3:30 pm, Sala Azzurra) and Jokha Alharthi (Sunday, May 22 at 3:15 pm, Sala Blu) with introductions from the University of Padua professor Carlo Fumian