X-Ray imaging in art and medecine. Italian and Australian expert meet in Trieste (Press review)

Tuesday, May 15 marks the beginning of the two-day Italian-Australian meeting organized by Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. dedicated to X-ray technology and its applications in the artistic, cultural, and life sciences fields.

This event, which aims to further strengthen the close scientific cooperation ties between Italy and Australia, will begin with welcoming remarks by the Mayor of Trieste Roberto Cosolini. They will be followed, during the opening session, by remarks from the President of Sincrotrone Trieste Carlo Rizzuto and the Honorary Consul of Australia in Venice, Massimo Colomban.

Elettra is renowned in the international scientific community for its work on medical imaging techniques, and particularly for the synchrotron light mammography technique, which was developed for the first time ever in Trieste. Australian experts, on the other hand, have made major contributions to digital technologies for X-ray image analysis. The same analytical methods can profitably be applied to other fields, such as analyzing paintings and works of art and protecting the precious plate-glass windows that adorn ancient cathedrals.In archaeology and paleontology, they can be used to analyze ancient finds and shed light on life in the distant past. They can even help experienced veterinary surgeons to study the micro-structure of feathers, or biologists working on the fight against malaria.

“In spite of their geographic distance – explains Kevin Prince, an Australian physicist who has worked at Elettra for years and is one of the workshop’s organizers – Italy and Australia have a surprising amount in common, much of it in the scientific field. Italian is the second most-spoken language in Australia. Both countries have a synchrotron light source and exchanges and collaboration between scientists working in the two countries’ respective research infrastructures is truly lively and constantly growing. Today, we are glad to be taking another step in this direction, with a high-level scientific meeting supported by both of our countries”.

 
 

Last Updated on Thursday, 07 June 2012 16:34