Coordinatore, CTE Square e Professore Ordinario Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo
Schedule
Program
Speaker
Workshop
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
10.30
11.00
Opening
Opening remarks
Andrea Biancani, Mayor of Pesaro
Francesca Frenquellucci, Councillor for the Municipality of Pesaro
Luca Rea, Responsabile TLC, Fondazione Ugo Bordoni
Thalita Malagò, CEO, IIDEA
Arana Shapiro, Chief Operating and Programs Officer, Games for Change
Giorgia Boldrini, Head of Culture Department, Municipality of Bologna
Alessandro Bogliolo, Scientific Coordinator CTE Square and Full Professor University of Urbino Carlo Bo
11.00
11.30
Wellbeing
Keynote
The Power of Play
Presentation of the new report “The Power of Play”, presented by The ESA (Entertainment Software Association), highlighting the benefits associated with video game use.
Aubrey Quinn, Senior Vice President, ESA – Entertainment Software Association
Nicholas Elles, Vice President Communications and EU Politics, Video Games Europe
11.30
12.30
Wellbeing
Panel
The panel analyses the contribution of video games to contemporary well-being. It highlights their value as tools for healing, inclusion, and personal growth, and as vehicles for empathy and awareness.
Lars Lundqvist, Founder, FCV Sverige
Francesco Bocci, Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Video Game Therapy
Matteo Lana, CEO, Tiny Bull Studios
Lara Oliveti, CEO & Partner, Melazeta
14.00
14.30
Sustainability
Keynote
Why the UN is Helping Game Studios Play for the Planet
Playing for the Planet is a UNEP facilitated Alliance of games industry organisations committed to making a positive environmental impact. Discover how its members have harnessed their influence to take bold climate action, and come away inspired and equipped with an invitation to join their efforts.
Sam Barratt, Chief of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit, United Nations Environment Programme
14.30
15.30
Sustainability
Panel
The panel explores the intersection between video games and environmental sustainability, examining everything from the design and production processes to the narratives and imagined futures. Through case studies and discussions, the panel reflects on how the industry can adopt more responsible and regenerative creation and impact models.
Marléne Tamlin, Head of Sustainability, Swedish Games Industry
Vincenzo Santalucia, Founder & Game Director, Whitesock
Giuseppe Morabito, Lead Developer & 3D Artist, ACGames
Marco Orani, Business Development Specialist, United Nations WFP Private Sector Partnerships Division
15.45
16.15
Culture
Keynote
Games as Unique Cultural Experience
The presentation provides an in-depth exploration of how video games represent cultural artifacts. Through a litany of examples, he offers evidence of how games are unique cultural media, providing interactive means for telling distinct stories, inspiring players, developing community, and experiencing ideas.
Lindsay Grace, Professor at University of Miami, Game Designer, Artist & Author
16.15
17.15
Culture
Panel
The panel explore how video games reflect and influence cultures, identities, and social narratives. They will also highlight the potential of video games as a driver for artistic expression, heritage protection, and social transformation. It will also consider conscious design practices and the role of games in fostering community and promoting shared values.
Karolina Niewęgłowska, Director of Player Experience & Safety, CDProjekt Red
Claudia Molinari, Creative Director & Creative Producer, We Are Müesli
Cristian Della Chiara, General Director, Rossini Opera Festival Foundation
Francesca Neri, Head of innovation and complex projects area, National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities
17.15
17.45
Human Rights
Fireside chat
Video games for human rights
This discussion explores how video games can raise awareness of human rights issues and promote empathy, stimulating reflection and action.
Stefano Cecere, Social Game Designer & Educator, Video Games Without Borders
Florent Maurin, Game & Narrative Designer, The Pixel Hunt
18.00
18.30
Awards
The award is aimed at highlighting Italian video games that have had a social, cultural or educational impact. Two statuettes will be awarded at the ceremony, one for the ‘Best in Impact’ category and one for the ‘Best in Learning’ category.
18.30
19.30
Awareness
Open debate
Families and video games
Guida Senza Patente, Family Influencer
Manuela Cantoia, Professor of Applied Cognitive Psychology and Motivation
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
Moderator
Alessandro Bogliolo, Scientific Coordinator CTE Square and Full Professor University of Urbino Carlo Bo
10.00
10.10
Opening
Opening Remarks
Camilla Murgia, Councillor for the Municipality of Pesaro
Thalita Malagò, CEO, IIDEA
10.10
10.30
Education
Keynote
A serious game. The pop philosophy of video games
The 21st century is the ‘ludic century’: video games and immersive, interactive spaces influence identity and communities, redefining our cultural experience. Pop-Philosophy encourages us to move beyond the apocalyptic perspective that demonizes them, and to recognize their ethical, aesthetic, and educational complexity. Video games can be interactive works of art that stimulate critical thinking, reflection and action, and can become tools for knowledge, education and cultural transformation.
Lucrezia Ercoli, philosopher
10.30
11.00
Education
Focus
EU Code Week 2025
European Programming Week is a movement that encourages students of all ages to get involved in coding, with the aim of breaking down barriers to digital skills. It will be promoted from the event stage. Educators, students and technology enthusiasts will take part in a gaming experience and be invited to contribute to the initiative by submitting their own projects.
Alessandro Bogliolo, Coordinator, CTE Square and Professor, University of Urbino Carlo Bo
11.00
11.30
Education
Focus
G4C Student Challenge
Introducing the flagship program of G4C Learn: a game design competition which invites young people to create video games that are inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Arana Shapiro, Chief Operating and Programs Officer, Games for Change
11.30
12.30
Education
Panel
Il potenziale dell’uso dei videogiochi in classe per migliorare l’insegnamento e l’apprendimento
Andrea Benassi, Technologist and expert in immersive education, INDIRE
Marco Vigelini, CEO Maker Camp, Official Minecraft Partner e Minecraft Education Partner
Emanuele Acerbis, Co-founder & CEO, NOVO Esports
Costanza Turrini, Executive Manager, Officina Futuro Fondazione W-Group e Ideatrice di Girls Code It Better
Andrea Morichetta, Associate Professor at the University of Camerino
Journalist, Il Messaggero
Andrea Andrei
Technologist and expert in immersive teaching, INDIRE
Andrea Benassi
Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Camerino
Andrea Morichetta
Chief Operating and Programs Officer, Games for Change
Arana Shapiro
Senior Vice President, ESA - Entertainment Software Association
Aubrey Quinn
Councillor for the Municipality of Pesaro
Camilla Murgia
Creative Director & Creative Producer, We Are Müesli
Claudia Molinari
Executive Manager, Officina Futuro Fondazione W-Group, Ideator of Girls Code It Better
Costanza Turrini
General Director, Fondazione Rossini Opera Festival
Cristian Della Chiara
Co-Founder & CEO, NOVO Esports
Emanuele Acerbis
Head of strategic and innovative partnerships, United Nations WFP Private Sector Partnerships Division
Federico Naccarato
Game & Narrative Designer, The Pixel Hunt
Florent Maurin
Councillor for the Municipality of Pesaro
Francesca Frenquellucci
Head of Innovation and Complex Projects, National School of Cultural Heritage and Activities
Francesca Neri
Psychologist and psychotherapist
Francesco Bocci
Head of the Culture Department, Municipality of Bologna
Giorgia Boldrini
Lead Developer & 3D Artist, ACGames
Giuseppe Morabito
Family Influencer
Guida Senza Patente
Director of Player Experience & Safety, CDProjekt Red
Karolina Niewęgłowska
CEO & Partner, Melazeta
Lara Oliveti
Founder, FVC Sverige
Lars Lundqvist
Professor, University of Miami & Game Designer, Artist and Author
Lindsay Grace
Head of the TLC Area, Fondazione Ugo Bordoni
Luca Rea
Philosopher
Lucrezia Ercoli
Professor of Applied Cognitive Psychology and Motivation
Manuela Cantoia
Business Development Specialist, United Nations WFP Private Sector Partnerships Division
Marco Orani
CEO Maker Camp, Official Minecraft Partner & Minecraft Education Partner
Marco Vigelini
Head of Sustainability, Swedish Games Industry
Marléne Tamlin
CEO, Tiny Bull Studios
Matteo Lana
Vice President Communications & EU Politics, Video Games Europe
Nicholas Elles
Chief of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit, United Nations Environment Programme
Sam Barratt
Social Game Designer & Educator, Video Games Without Borders
Stefano Cecere
CEO, IIDEA
Thalita Malagò
Founder & Game Director, Whitesock
Vincenzo Santalucia
On 11 October, Maker Camp will hold a series of workshops dedicated to primary and secondary school teachers and students as part of The Power of Play day. Using popular titles such as Minecraft and Roblox, participants will discover how video games can be used as educational tools to stimulate creativity, collaboration, and digital skills.
From visual block programming in Minecraft to development with Roblox Studio, workshops address current issues such as sustainability, digital citizenship, inclusion, and civic education.
This is an opportunity to enjoy unique learning experiences and explore virtual worlds that have been transformed into spaces for growth, discussion and active participation.
Primary School, Secondary School First Grade
Minecraft
Minecraft
This is an experience that introduces children and young people to STEM subjects and computational logic through Minecraft. Students learn to solve problems, develop their creativity, and learn to collaborate, discovering how video gaming can be a powerful tool for learning and inclusion.
Elementary school: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Secondary school first grade: 11:00 to 12:00 p.m.
Secondary School First and Second Grade
Roblox
ROBLOX
This is a path that brings students closer to game design and programming within a comprehensive development environment. With Roblox, you can explore coding in a hands-on and challenging way. You will learn to create interactive worlds and design digital experiences in teams, just like in a real development studio.
Secondary school first grade: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Secondary school second grade: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.