The Italian Cultural Institute in Miami continues its series of events dedicated to Italian scientists working in Florida and across the United States. Thanks to a collaboration with the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, the next event, scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Institute’s location in Coral Gables, will feature Professor Antonella Zanobetti and Professor Francesca Dominici, two internationally renowned Italian scientists specializing in the relationship between the environment, climate change, and health.
The conference, titled “Environmental Exposure and Extreme Weather Events: The Impact on Public Health,” will focus on the latest scientific evidence and the new perspectives offered by Artificial Intelligence.
With more than 25 years of experience in environmental health and biostatistics and over 250 scientific publications, Professor Antonella Zanobetti, faculty member at Rutgers University – Center for Climate, Health and Healthcare, has been recognized multiple times as a “Highly Cited Researcher” by Clarivate Analytics and has been included among the “Top Italian Scientists in Biomedical Sciences.” Her research focuses on the effects of air pollution, extreme temperatures, and adverse weather events, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and children’s health.
In her presentation, Professor Zanobetti will discuss the latest scientific evidence on the relationship between environmental exposures and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing in particular on the risk of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and Parkinson’s disease. She will also examine the potential protective effects of green and blue spaces, as well as the role of research in developing prevention strategies and more effective urban and climate policies.
Professor Francesca Dominici, Director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative, data scientist, and internationally renowned public health expert, will explore the role of Artificial Intelligence in adapting to extreme weather events.
Named to the TIME100 Health 2024, the list of the world’s most influential figures in health, and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the International Society of Mathematical Statistics, Professor Dominici ranks among the top 1% of the most cited scholars in her field, with more than 300 scientific publications. Her research has contributed to the international debate on climate change, pollution, and health, also influencing public policy.
In her presentation, she will introduce a new model developed by her research group to predict the health effects of extreme weather events. The model integrates health, demographic, climate, and air pollution data, making it possible to develop potential scenarios for assessing future interventions and strategies for adapting to climate change.
The presentation will also address the dual nature of AI: on the one hand, its enormous potential for scientific research, public health, and the fight against climate change; on the other, the growing energy consumption of the data centers that power these technologies and the resulting environmental impact.
Through the two complementary perspectives of the professors, the event will offer an opportunity to explore the challenges posed by air pollution and climate change, as well as the opportunities provided by scientific research and technological innovation to develop effective prevention and adaptation strategies.
To register, please email iicmiami.segreteria@esteri.it