Last Tuesday, 30 June, Palazzo Metternich, home to the Embassy of Italy in Vienna, hosted the scientific seminar “Einstein Telescope: Exploring the Dark Universe from Underground”, delivered by Michele Punturo, Research Director at the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), former coordinator of the international Einstein Telescope collaboration and the ETIC NRRP project.
During his presentation, Punturo outlined the fundamental physics behind gravitational waves and their potential impact on our understanding of the universe. He discussed the observation of gravitational waves – predicted by Einstein and first detected in 2015 – as well as the detection techniques employed by the Einstein Telescope project. He also addressed the challenges involved in selecting the site for the underground interferometer, providing an update on the candidacy of the Sos Enattos site in Sardinia, which is strongly supported by the Italian Government and the Regional Government of Sardinia. The seminar concluded with an overview of the project’s next milestones. The Einstein Telescope has long been included in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap, highlighting its strategic importance among Europe’s future research infrastructures.
Held as part of the 34th Bonaudi–Chiavassa International School on Particle Detectors, the event concluded with a lively question-and-answer session between the speaker and the audience. Around 80 participants attended, including the 40 international students enrolled in the School.
Featured image credit: Embassy of Italy in Vienna.