Realizzato da
Fortunati Giuseppe Vice-Presidente EGO-CREANET
English version
A Networking Association for Interactive Internet Collaboration
EGO-CreaNET-USA
CALORE
EGO-CreaNET has approved a new international association in the United States of America.
This section will be organized by Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner, Ph.D., Psychology Faculty of the Department of Education at the University of New Haven. Its goal is to realize the collaborative vision of the EGO-CreaNET, a scientific consortium originate by Dr. Paolo Manzelli and Dr. Giuseppe Fortunati of the Educational Research Laboratory of the University of Florence, Italy.
The goal is to encourage interested colleagues from the United States of America as well as other English-speaking countries to come together in an interactive and creative way by means of the Internet. In working together through collaborative research and interaction, the goal of this project is to be able to contribute to the evolvement and enrichment of humankind throughout the world by sharing intellectual properties.
This site will cooperate fully with the goals and aspirations of Ego-CREA-Net, Italy, to stimulate cooperation among Universities, schools, businesses, and other professional organizations.
Those interested in joining the committee, now forming for EGO-CreaNET USA should contact Dr. Mautner at:
Mautner@scsud.ctstateu.edu for further information.The first initiative of EGO-CreaNET-USA is a virtual journal where Italian-Americans can unite with Italians from all parts of the world to exchange ideas, invite collaborative research and employment projects, and further the development of knowledge, particularly in the areas of psychology and education. I would like to thank you in advance for any and all proposals and comments you would like to add to our journal, "CALORE", either in Italian or English.
CALORE: Editorial On-line Magazine for intellectual exchange.
Important entities are joining the globalization of communications, and developing a network of contact and information. Our proposal is to create an Internet Magazine specifically for the general public, or for non-specialists, to be able to offer you knowledge of recent psychology and educational research. We will look to expand and develop a global creativity, in cooperation with those involved with EgoCreaNET of Florence, Italy. I would like to hereby activate and maintain this section of EGO-CreaNET from the United States of America, inviting all interested parties to participate in the exchange of information and ideas.
OBJECTIVES
The title CALORE was inspired by a text generated at the University of Florence, Italy, from the Laboratory of Educational Research (Calore, Colore, Percezione, a cura di Emiliano Ricci & Patrizia Papini, 1997). In the chapter "Sul calore e la temperatura," Ricci discusses the perspective of American physicist Benjamin Thomson, on the phenomenon of "calore" or heat. Thomson noted that when a body or mass is heated, its atoms vibrate with increasing intensity, thus augmenting their synergistic energy. Similarly, when minds join forces, the "atoms" of intellectual stimulation form an entity of creativity in unison that has a deeper multidimensionality than one would find in solitude. This is the spirit of EGO-CreaNET USA.
The theme of Calore, Colore, Percezione (1997) revolves around the concept of alchemy, which is one of the fundamental experiences of humankind, and very easily compared to the characteristics of experimental science, be it medial or chemical. Alchemy was practiced from the later half of the first millenium before Christ, borne from very ancient culture.
In the West, Alchemy was rediscovered in Europe during medieval times. Man had at his disposition only the heat of fire to purify earthy objects, with the help of the essential principles of natural transmutations.
In order to explain the four salient phases of a transformation obtained through heating with fire, the alchemists utilized terms that refer the colors observed during the resultant reaction. The four phases are as follows:
The EGO-CreaNET 1998 Prize for Creativity through the Internet
Written by Dr. Paolo Manzelli, translation by Dr. Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner
The Telematic Network Association for the global expansione of EGO-CreaNET observers of creativity has been founded by several researchers from the Laboratory of Education Research at the University of Florence, Italy, presided over by Dr. Paolo Manzelli, director of LRE (the Learning Research Laboratory). For further information please use the following addresses:
(E-mail: lre@chim1.unifi.it)
http://www.chi1.unifi.it/group/educaton
http://www.see.it/icn/egopremio.html
PREMIO CAPIRE 1998 New York
: With the goal of an intervention designed to develop a process of transformation from the science of "information" into that of the science of "man", it was deemed important (at the meeting of Troina) to plan for a third study seminar (for May/June of '98) to be organized by LRE/EGO-CreaNET, in collaboration with the Oasis Institute of SS Maria and the "Provincia di Enna" and TELECOM-ITALIA on the theme of: "Creative development of interactive communication: Trans-European cultural and scientific roots on the world wide web" (Creativita' e Sviluppo della communicazione interattiva: le radiciculturali europee nelle reti telematiche internazionali)
The Study Seminar of LRE/EGOCreaNet '98 will deal mainly with the following topics:
a. The Metamorphasis of the Society of Information into a Society of Creative Knowledge
b. Inter-cultural Distance Telecommunications Collaborations (dealing with problems of the handicapped, of telemedicine, and also problems of innovation in the areas of Economy, Education, Science, Environment and
Sustainable Development.
c. Mediterranean Culture, International Relations, Journalism and Electronic Editing, Data communications Services, Multimedia trans-european "privacy" and the rights of Intellectual Propriety.
The trans-European seminar EGO-CreaNet-LRE/OASI '98 will take place in two locations: in New York City, USA, and in the City of Oasis of Troina, Sicily. In NY /USA we will organize a parallel session (* see the following information) of the EGO-CreaNET seminary organized for the V edition of the INTERNATIONSL PRIZE "CAPIRE" FOR A CREATIVE FUTURE: The CREATIVITY ON LINE AWARD.
The two initiatives will be connected to each other via
"Teleconference" with the scope of realizing that dimension of world-wide collaboration, which renders an efficacious and creative, broad and qualified development of cultural and scientific resources, through the utilization of an interactive communications network.
Preceding Editions of "CAPIRE" International Prize:
I Edition CAPIRE Prize Firenze 1990 -Thema: Creativity & Science; Journalism
II Edition CAPIRE Prize Madrid 1992- Thema: Creativity &Brain
III Edition CAPIRE Prize Moscow 1994- Thema : Creativity &Education
IV Edition CAPIRE Prize KOS Island Greece 1996 : Thema: "Hyppocrates 2000" -Creativity & Culture
V Edition CAPIRE Prize New York USA May 1998: Thema: Creativity on Line
The " CAPIRE 1998" international Prize, will be a challenge to stimulate "creative and positive thinking on line" on the World Wide Web, and is sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TELECOM-Italia.
The International EGO-CreaNET/LRE committee of V° International Edition
of CAPIRE PRIZE on the Thema "CREATIVITY ON LINE" is composed by:
Senatore Michele Lauria - Department of Communication - Italy
Elio Galvagno - President of Provincia di Enna
Dario Fargioni TELECOM-ITALIA
Maria Lina Marcucci V.President Tuscany Region Italy
Martin Stiglio Istituto Italiano di Cultura di NY -USA
Giancarlo Masini - Fondatore Assoc. Giornalisti Scientifici Italiani
Raeleen D'Agostino Mautner/ University New Haven, USA.
Paolo Manzelli Director LRE- University of Firenze Italy
Giuseppe Fortunati V.President -EGO-CreaNET -Terni -Italy
Adelio Schieroni Gen.Secretary -EGO-CreaNET- Milano -Italy
Patrizia Antonini -ANSA- Firenze
Nominations CAPIRE-98 Prize received until 15/11/97 Padre Luigi Ferlauto - Oasi di Troina - Sicilia Italy ANSA -Rome - ( Contact person - President Dr. Boris Biancheri , or -Dr. Luigi Vianello - V.Director )
Andrea Bartoli, Associate Director, The Italian Accademy -Columbia University
George Bugliarello, Chancellor, Polytechnic University, Brooklyn,> gbugliar@darwin.poly.edu
Dom Serafini, "Video Age International - The TV Executive" Magazine, NYC & Los Angeles,
Domenico Vassallo, (Roi tv)- Manager of Ethnic Am. Broadc. Comp.New> Jersey, USA.
Antonio Arcidiacono, Dir. New -Media Technology-Eutelsat- Parigi
Federico Faggin President of Synaptic -Corp. -USA
More informations can be requested from: the President of EGO-CreaNet/LRE Telmatic Association
c/o University of Florence; tel :+39/55/332549 ; fax +39/55/354845
e.mail: LRE@chim1.unifi.it
home page : http://www.chim1.unifi.it/group/education
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BRAIN - INFORMATION - LEARNING: mental health and cognition.
By : Dr. Paolo Manzelli - LRE- University of Firenze ( LRE@chim1.unifi.it)
Translation: Dr. Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner
Abstract:
The brain’s visual imaging process involves the recognition of perceptual data based on information about the intensity and frequency of light. We hold that seeing is a consequence of a complex elaborative information-processing of the brain that involves the recall of fundamental genetic
Archetypal forms and a recognition process based on recalling comparable mnemonics based on life-experiences.
Following this approach of conceptualizing vision as a learning process, we understand the necessity that the brain comes to train itself through its neuronal integrations, to rapidly categorize sensory information; giving, as a result of cerebral elaborations of the visual cortex…the images that we see
To better understand this conceptual organization of visual perception, we must remember that Newton’s explanation of ocular vision is not correct; not even from a contemporary scientific point of view. This is so particularly because light is not composed of "rays" that are able to design any reverse configuration on the retina that the external world reflects onto it.
Unfortunately, we must note, despite the advancements of neurological science regarding brain functioning, and physics regarding the interaction of light; that the traditional teachings are handed down and persist in schools today, in almost all of the world---without criticism or reflection of any kind. This pertains to the old and antiquated Newtonian model regarding the interpretation of visual perception, which holds that the non-creative eye passively and instantaneously describes reverse images of the external world.
The Laboratory of Educational Research of the University of Florence believes that this persistence of traditional teachings regarding the obsolete Newtonian interpretation of visual perception, especially imposed in a world of information in which virtual reality has come to have major influence on objective realilty---tends to stifle and even discourage a student’s ability to observe. Beyond that it can also give rise to mental health problems in youth, as a consequence of their cognitive inability to understand the distinction between "virtual" and "objective" reality.
HUGO SCHIFF INTERNATIONAL "Store House" : Florence, Italy.
Preparatory Project Notes: Notations and reflections concerning the proposal of the Laboratory of Educational Research of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florence.
Written by Dr. Paolo Manzelli
Translation Dr. Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner
Among the range of activities programmed by the Laboratory of Educational Research of the department of Chemistry at the University of Florence (initals LRE), is the project "Hugo Schiff International Storehouse ".
The plan will become finalized with the restructuring of the "Great Hall",of the Chemistry department at the University of Florence. In essence,this will serve as an international seat for the the "History of Chemistry".
The H. Schiff Store House, according to our projections,will become a structural multimedial opportunity, designed for the educational use of
telematic communications in the World Wide Web, particularly aimed at communicating the History of Chemical Science and Technology.
Thus, the Hugo Schiff Great Hall , rather than being abbandoned following the transfer of the Chemical Institute to the Sixth Campus in the Florentine perifery, will become a cultural and scientific seat, capable of defining itself as a place of international reference for the study and
research of multiple historical-cultural relations that link the city of Florence to the history of Chemistry, even prior to the traditions of alchemy-- and on a world level.
The Store House, named after Hugo Schiff (1834-1915), the famous chemist who founded the Chemical Institutes of Florence, will thus become a place of historical-scientific research, with a strong educative valence,assuming the likes of a "Virtual Museum and International Multimedial
Archive", with such various uses such as telematic distance education, that will help realize innovative didactics and bibliographies, adapted to go along with the cognitive and historical scientific aspects of chemistry,in the contemporary world.
LRE has initiated the promotion of the Hugo Schiff Store House project, in order to begin documenting the works of H. Schiff. Our research was begun
in 1984, the year in which we initiated a historical-graphic investigation of the scientific activities of the Schiff brothers Hugo (chemist) and Maurice(naturalist), who both lived in Florence for years, and other than
realizing the Convention for the 150th anniversary of H. Schiff's birthday (October 25, '84), in collaboration with the University of Florence and with the Italian Chemical Society, the town council and province of Florence, and the Tuscany Region.
Following that, we proposed publicizing the idea of founding a Hugo Schiff Storehouse, within the ambience of the Week of Scientific Culture (May 8,1992) a convention, in which we organized "Chemistry Day, '92" in Florence.
This was designed as a day of study geared toward shedding light on the necessity of improving the study of
Chemistry and the study of the History of Chemistry; as well as publicly acknowledging the contributions cultural heritage in the chemical sciences. These represent for all citizens, a badge of noteable importance that serves to increase understanding of both contemorary developments
And material production; that impacts the science and technology of the times, as well as society in general.
After this, our project on the theme: Cultural Heritage of Chemistry in Florence, was financed by CNR in "92 and '93 with the modest stipend of about $16,000. Such financing, nevertheless, permitted LRE to gain major
cultural attention regarding the necessity of augmenting the processes of motivation and cognitive maturation of the people, regarding scientific creativity in Chemistry. Through the upgrading of instructors, and the innovations of science, we have sought to encourage an integration of
scientific concepts with a more common and well-known mentality, particularly in Florence, where the mind-set is much more diffused, and tends to value more readily the communicative rather than the artistic cultural heritage.
The delay in realizing the Sixth University Campus, has slowed down our activity in the areas of cognitive research and disclosure. This area of LRE's work has represented the primary necessity of extending the fruition of "Cultural Heritage"to that of science, brought forth by creativity in chemistry. Hence, one can imagine the economic return necessary to sustain the operative
Expenditures in the restoration and conservation of the Hugo Schiff Great Hall, and in its transformation into the International Store house, from our plans for
cultural and educational development.
Recently, nearing the transfer of the Chemistry Department to the perifery of the location of Sesto, we recondidered the heart of the problem. For years already under consideration, we are in this phase, looking to
develope a joint venture with the Chemical Heritage Foundation of ACS/USA (see: http:\\www.chemheritage.org ), with the goal of gradually developing a close collaboration between Europe and the USA on the Hugo Schiff Store
House International project.
CHF/ACS has shown sensitivity and interest in this idea. They have invited, Dr. Paolo Manzelli, the coordinator of the Laboratory of Educational Research at the University of Florence, to Philadelphia, Pa.,
as well as contributed to the funding of his trip. The purpose will be to detail the criteria of an eventual collaboration on the project, that is forseen to unfold at the convention of the History of Chemistry, to be
held in the year 2,000, the year of the Jubilee, for which we have already gained the approval of the Commission for Cultural Events of the Town Council of Florence.
PSYCHOLOGY/EDUCATION SECTION
Dr. Mautner welcomes contributions from colleages and associates of EGO-CreaNET who wish to share their work and research in the English Language.
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPLANATIONS OF BODY IMAGE DISTURBANCE
Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner, Ph.D.
Clinical and non-clinical maladies associated with body image disturbance (BID) are of interest to researchers around the world. Most people will not be able to attain their society’s physical appearance ideal, and this experience of failure often manifests itself in negative self-concept, lowered self-esteem, incessant dieting or eating disordered behaviors, and diminished effectiveness in social interactions. Thus researchers in the U.S. have increased their efforts to investigate this problem. Although cross-cultural comparisons have been attempted, there has never been a systematic effort to develop a robust model that could be used in the search for universals or differences across similar cultural samples.
The purpose of this study was to compare BID phenomena across several Western cultural samples, using an extant multidimensional BID model devised in the U.S. (Stormer & Thompson, 1996). Specifically, the relationships between BID and teasing history, age of pubertal onset, societal pressures to be thin, and appearance comparison, were examined in a cross-cultural design, in order to confirm a framework for further investigations in this area.
Data were obtained from approximately 300 female undergraduate psychology students from universities in the U.S., Italy, and England. Participants
completed several BID measures, as well as measures on the four predictors. Body mass levels and self- esteem, two known correlates of BID, were treated as covariates, so that the four main predictors could be focused on. Data were analyzed using first standard, then hierarchical regression procedures, to determine if the relationships among predictor and criterion variables were the same for all three groups.
This investigation essentially found no differences in the relationships among BID and its correlates for six of the seven criterion measures. Only one of the measures, the Figure Rating Scale (FRS) distinguished across groups, but with a small effect size. These results suggest that levels of BID are not significantly different for college females in Italy, U.S., and England. Perhaps a lack of significant cultural differences, or the similarity of characteristics of university students from similar SES, would explain these results.