Institute for Scientific Methodology

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Educational activities

The ISEM (Institute for Scientific Methodology) starts out as a place for critical thinking and education on the role of science in culture and society. Based in Palermo, Italy, the institute conducts educational, research and cultural activities.

The institute -- a consortium among the CNR, the City of Bagheria, the University of Palermo and the Sicily section of Confederation of Italy Industry's -- is led by research chemist Mario Pagliaro and by theoretical physicist Ignazio Licata.

Its aim -- summarized in its slogan "Bringing science back into culture" -- is to act as a leading international educational and research center whose distinctive competence is its approach to science, teaching and research which emphasizes the consequences -- for management, education, public communication and much else --  of bringing science back into culture. 

Education

Entitled to a giant philosopher of science, the Master "Paul K. Feyerabend" of the Institute for Scientific Methodology addresses the role of science in contemporary society and culture and is aimed to managers, philosophers, communicators, psychologists, scientists and other knowledge workers.

Its overall objective is to transfer to attendees a powerful systemic approach to the knowledge works capable to provide them with new conceptual -- and practical -- competences that emerge from reconsidering the science's role in culture and society.

The Master lasts six months (January throuhg June). It is conducted weekly in the outstanding Villa dei Principi di Cattolica in in Bagheria (near Palermo) by professors Licata and Pagliaro (main teachers). Prestigeous scientists and philosophers from the advisory board and from relevant scientific and philosophical schools worldwide will also teach at the Master as visiting professors.