About Sapienza University of Rome

Andrea Vitaletti serves as Associate Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, where he has built an impressive career since earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2002. His academic journey includes research visits to prestigious institutions like ETHZ and AT&T Research Labs. His research portfolio includes over 60 published papers focusing on algorithms and protocols for wireless networks, IoT, and distributed data management. As founder of successful tech ventures including WLAB (sold in 2016) and WSENSE (left in 2019), he demonstrates expertise in technology commercialization. Currently co-founder of GIUSTA, he continues to bridge academic research with practical applications. His leadership extends to coordinating major EU projects, including the FET OPEN project PLEASED, while managing a research group at the Wireless Sensor Networks lab at DIAG. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares his expertise in applying wireless sensor networks to cultural heritage preservation. His teaching encompasses networking, data management, and IoT topics in both Engineering and Product Design programs.

Claudio Sardoni serves as Honorary Professor of Economics at Sapienza University of Rome, where he has established himself as a leading authority in macroeconomic theory and financial economics. His research focuses on monetary economics, banking systems, and public finance, with significant contributions to understanding the relationship between financial markets and macroeconomic performance. His scholarly work includes the influential book "Banks and Finance in Modern Macroeconomics: A Historical Perspective" and numerous publications on economic recession, effective demand, and monetary policy. Through his Coursera course "Macroeconomic Financial Accounts Course 2," he shares his expertise in financial accounting and macroeconomic analysis. His teaching approach combines theoretical frameworks with practical applications, helping students understand complex economic relationships and financial systems. His work has been widely cited in academic literature, with over 1,200 citations reflecting his significant impact on economic thought and policy analysis.

Daniele Fano brings over two decades of expertise in Macroeconomic Financial Accounts, combining academic excellence with practical policy experience. As a distinguished economist at Sapienza University of Rome, he has made significant contributions to understanding financial accounts within national economic systems. His scholarly work includes co-authoring and co-editing the OECD Handbook "Understanding Financial Accounts" with Peter Van de Ven, which has become a fundamental resource in the field. His teaching experience includes leading graduate courses at Rome Tor Vergata University, where he authored "Financial Accounts in the System of National Accounts and in the Current Economy: An Introduction." His expertise extends beyond academia through his active participation in the OECD Working Party on Financial Statistics, contributing to policy discussions and methodological developments. Currently, his research interests encompass active labor market policies and retirement planning, demonstrating his commitment to practical applications of economic theory in social policy

Dr. Davide Nadali serves as Associate Professor in Near Eastern Archaeology at Sapienza University of Rome, where he has made significant contributions to understanding ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Since earning his Ph.D. in 2006 focusing on Neo-Assyrian bas-reliefs, he has led numerous archaeological expeditions and research projects. His work spans from Syria's Ebla, where he has been involved since 1998, to southern Iraq's Tell Zurghul (ancient Nigin) where he co-directs excavations since 2014. His research interests encompass ancient warfare, Assyrian art and architecture, and the interpretation of ancient images in Mesopotamian and Syrian contexts. As Principal Investigator of "Time through Colours," a nationally funded project analyzing painted artifacts, he demonstrates his commitment to innovative archaeological research methods. His expertise extends to early urban development, particularly in the Early Dynastic Period of southern Mesopotamia, while his recent work includes the study of water management in ancient Near Eastern societies. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares insights from his extensive fieldwork and research experience

A dedicated archaeologist and PhD candidate specializing in open-source approaches to Cultural Heritage documentation and visualization. Currently serving as a Fellowship Researcher at CNR-ITABC's Virtual Heritage Lab in Rome, focusing on innovative 3D survey methodologies and archaeological risk management. Expertise spans terrestrial and underwater archaeological documentation using computer vision, drone photogrammetry, and integrated 3D survey techniques. Proven experience in multiple archaeological expeditions across Rome, Italy, and Greece, responsible for comprehensive documentation including traditional hand drawing, total station surveys, photogrammetry, laser scanning, and DGPS implementation. Teaching contribution includes Open Source 3D modeling (Blender) in the UNESCO IFICLU Open Techne Master program. Current research focuses on developing AR solutions for mobile cultural heritage visualization, emphasizing source transparency, metadata enrichment, and innovative visualization strategies. Committed to advancing open-source methodologies in archaeological documentation and heritage preservation through the integration of 3D-GIS applications and computer vision technologies.

Dr. Giuseppe De Arcangelis serves as Professor of International Economics at Sapienza University of Rome since 2005, bringing extensive experience in economic research and policy analysis. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1996 with research on managed exchange rates, he has built a distinguished career spanning academia and policy institutions. His professional journey includes significant roles at the Bank of Italy, consultancy work for the European Central Bank, and the Bank for International Settlements. His research focuses on international trade, migration economics, and macroeconomic policy, with notable contributions to understanding illegal migration, remittance behavior, and fiscal policy in OECD countries. Through his Coursera courses "Macroeconomic Financial Accounts" and "Macroeconomic Financial Accounts Course 2," he shares insights gained from his extensive experience in international economics and econometrics. His work has been published in prestigious journals, with significant contributions to migration studies, international trade theory, and monetary policy analysis

Dr. Lorenzo Nigro serves as Professor of Near Eastern and Phoenician Punic Archaeology at Sapienza University of Rome, bringing over three decades of field experience across the Mediterranean and Near East. Since beginning his career at Ebla, Syria in 1989, he has led numerous significant archaeological expeditions, including the Sapienza University mission to Motya in Sicily and projects across Palestine and Jordan. His achievements include the discovery of the Sacred Area of the Kothon at Motya and the successful inscription of Tell es-Sultan/ancient Jericho in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. As Director of the Museum of the Ancient Near East, Egypt and the Mediterranean at Sapienza University, he oversees crucial cultural heritage preservation initiatives. His research spans pre-classical societies, from architecture to metallurgy, with particular focus on contextual archaeology and cultural synchronization. Through his Coursera course "At the Origins of the Mediterranean Civilization," he shares insights from his extensive fieldwork and research. His work includes developing the Palestine Archaeological Databank and Information System, demonstrating his commitment to preserving threatened archaeological heritage through digital documentation.

Dr. Paolo Matthiae stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Near Eastern archaeology, serving as Emeritus Professor at Sapienza University of Rome. His groundbreaking discovery and excavation of Ebla, Syria, which he directed for 47 seasons (1964-2010), revolutionized our understanding of third-millennium BCE Syria. His academic excellence is recognized through fellowships in prestigious institutions including the Accademia dei Lincei, Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and the Royal Swedish Academy. His leadership roles include serving as Dean of Humanities (2001-2004) and University Vice-President (2005-2008) at Sapienza, while also chairing the Scientific Committee of the International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East since 1998. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares insights from his extensive archaeological experience. His scholarly contributions include 18 books and over 230 articles, with seminal works like "Ebla: An Empire Rediscovered" (1978) and "Gli Archivi Reali di Ebla" (2010). His achievements earned him the Knight of Great Cross of Italian Republic and honorary doctorates from Madrid and Copenhagen Universities

Dr. Paola Buzi serves as Full Professor of Egyptology and Coptic Studies at Sapienza University of Rome, where she has established herself as a leading authority in Coptic literature and archaeology. Her academic journey began with her graduation from La Sapienza in 1995, followed by a Ph.D. in Egyptology in 2002 focusing on Coptic literature. As Principal Investigator of the ERC project "Tracking Papyrus and Parchment Paths: An Archaeological Atlas of Coptic Literature," she leads groundbreaking research in digital humanities and manuscript studies. Her work spans archaeological expeditions, including co-directing the mission in Bakchias (Fayyum) and serving as deputy-director at Manqabad (Assyut). She holds significant positions in international academic organizations, including the International Association of Coptic Studies board membership. Her research combines historical, literary, and codicological approaches with archaeological fieldwork, particularly in manuscript studies and cultural heritage preservation. Through her work with the Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen and various international collaborations, she has significantly advanced the field of Coptic studies while contributing to the preservation and understanding of Egyptian cultural heritage.

Dr. Paolo Carafa serves as Professor of Classical Archaeology at Sapienza University of Rome, where he has established himself as a leading authority in Roman archaeology and urban development. His expertise focuses on the archaeology and topography of ancient Rome, particularly the Palatine Hill and its surrounding areas. Through his Coursera course "The Changing Landscape of Ancient Rome: Archaeology and History of the Palatine Hill," he shares insights from decades of research into Rome's urban evolution. His work combines traditional archaeological methods with innovative digital technologies to reconstruct ancient Roman landscapes and architectural developments. His research has contributed significantly to understanding the transformation of Rome's urban fabric from its earliest settlements through the imperial period. As a member of several international archaeological projects, he has helped advance our understanding of Roman urbanism and architectural history while training new generations of archaeologists in field methods and theoretical approaches to urban archaeology.