Claudia Zanella
On 9 December 2025, Open AANT hosted Christian Brogna and Claudia Zanella for the presentation of Awake.
Moderated by AANT’s Scientific Director Gianna Angelini, the event opened a dialogue between neuroscience, writing, and reflection on new technologies. Brogna, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon, described the experience of awake surgery, in which the patient remains conscious during particularly complex brain operations. Zanella, a writer and actress, helped give the book a narrative dimension capable of weaving together science, autobiography, and imagination.
The book offers a journey into the human brain and into the subtle line that defines personal identity. During the event, students were able to follow a conversation that went beyond the clinical dimension and touched on memory, creativity, emotion, and human connection.
This intersection between medical expertise and narrative sensitivity made the meeting especially close to the interdisciplinary vocation of Open AANT. The presentation showed how the theme of technology cannot be separated from the question of what makes each individual unique. In this sense, Awake offered a reflection on human potential in relation to machines, without giving up the complexity of lived experience.
It was an event in which science, art, and identity found a shared ground for listening and discussion.
