New Research Center: SERTO (Semiotic Research in Torino)
We are pleased to inform you of the establishment of a new centre for semiotics at the University of Turin.
In June 2026, SERTO (Semiotic Research in Torino) was established as the University of Turin’s new research centre entirely devoted to semiotics. The term “serto” refers to a garland, a wreath of foliage, a commemorative collection of poetry or, more generally, a circular interlacing. Its semantic power lies in its ability to evoke both the concrete nature of plants and cultural abstraction – something fragile yet capable of signifying recognition, consecration, memory and orderly composition.
The Research Centre, based within the Department of Philosophy and Educational Sciences, has been established as an evolution and specialisation of a broader Interdepartmental Centre for Research on Communication (CIRCe), with the aim of creating a space for the development and sharing of Turin-based semiotics. The Management Committee comprises Remo
Gramigna, Massimo Leone, Gabriele Marino, Jenny Ponzo (Director), Antonio Santangelo and Simona Stano (Deputy Director).
For the 2026/2027 academic year, the Centre will carry out the following activities:
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
● TITLE: Methods and Professions of the Text: Rethinking the Role of Semiotics
● AIM: An opportunity for research and the worlds of professional practice, technology and culture to meet and engage in dialogue
● WHERE AND WHEN: 26 May 2027, at the University of Turin
● CONTACTS: Jenny Ponzo and Simona Stano (scientific coordinators): jenny.ponzo@unito.it; simona.stano@unito.it
MEETINGS ON MEANING
●. TITLE: Attested Meaning: On the Methods of Semiotics
● OBJECTIVE: annual series of lectures
● WHERE AND WHEN: first session on 13 November 2026, at 3.00 pm, at the University of Turin (Aula Gallino, Palazzo Nuovo) and via Webex (the link will be provided in the event poster)
● CONTACTS: Remo Gramigna, Gabriele Marino and Antonio Santangelo (scientific coordinators): remo.gramigna@unito.it; gabriele.marino@unito.it; antonio.santangelo@unito.it
SEMIOTICS SEMINARS
● TITLE: Testing Methods
● AIM: PhD seminar on the reading and analysis of semiotic sources
● WHERE AND WHEN: first session in February 2027, at the University of Turin and via Webex (https://bit.ly/seminari-semiotica-2027)
● CONTACT: Simona Stano (scientific coordinator): simona.stano@unito.it
PEER-REVIEW SEMINARS
● TITLE: Peer-review doctoral seminars
● AIM: a doctoral seminar on ongoing research, where participants can keep up to date with the latest trends in semiotic research and authors can receive useful feedback on their work in progress.
● WHERE AND WHEN: first meeting on 28 September 2026, from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, at the University of Turin (Meeting Room 1) and via Webex (https://unito.webex.com/meet/remo.gramigna)
● CONTACT: Remo Gramigna (scientific coordinator): remo.gramigna@unito.it
STUDY DAY: ‘URGENT SEMIOTICS’
● TITLE: Repairing the Future: Imagining Technologies Beyond Energy-Intensity (provisional title)
● AIM: The Urgent Semiotics study-day series provides a forum for interdisciplinary discussion of some of the most pressing challenges facing the contemporary world, bringing together scholars and experts from a range of academic fields. This year, the meeting seeks to critically examine the energy-intensive and extractive paradigms that shape contemporary technological, economic and social imaginaries.
● WHERE AND WHEN: the meeting is scheduled for March 2026, at the University of Turin and via Webex (https://unito.webex.com/meet/cristina.voto)
● CONTACTS: Cristina Voto (scientific coordinator) and Alessandra Richetto: cristina.voto@unito.it; alessandra.richetto@unito.it
Download the PDF here