Ferrandina hosts cultural festival opening with space science theme

The 2026 edition of the cultural festival “La Panchina dei libri” is set to open on September 10, 2026, in Ferrandina, Italy. The inaugural event will take place in Piazzetta Rita Levi Montalcini.

The evening will feature the book “La Luna respira. Dialoghi a Monti con Giovanni De Maria,” written by journalist Emilio Salierno. The work explores the scientific and human journey of Professor Giovanni De Maria, an internationally recognized figure in space research and emeritus professor of Physical Chemistry at Sapienza University of Rome.

De Maria’s career includes significant work in the United States during the Cold War alongside Nobel laureates. He notably worked with NASA, utilizing lunar rock fragments from the Apollo missions to study the composition of the primordial nebula. His research contributed to the understanding that the Moon contains resources essential for long-term human habitation.