Social Research Prize to Veronica Witte

Social Research Prize, fifth edition

Friday, May 29, 2026, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM,
Auditorium of the University of Italian Switzerland,
Via Buffi 13, Lugano

Ciao Table, in collaboration with
the’University of Italian Switzerland e con
L’Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Southern Switzerland
and with the support of
City of Lugano

awards the prize to

Veronica Witte, Associate Scientist at the University of Leipzig and Group Leader in the Department of Neurology at the Max Planck Institute.

The recognition awarded to Veronica and her Institute will be represented by Noise, sculpture created by Peter Campagnoli and will be delivered by Maria Elena Rudolf Ruiz de Olmedo, Global Ambassador for Culture, Human Connections & Creative Diplomacy

The video preview by Pietro Campagnoli will follow. The hardest part (Unreleased, 59 seconds)

Ciao Table, in this prestigious setting, will launch its project “The week of greeting those close to you”, aimed at promoting social relationships between acquaintances, but also between people who meet by chance.

On the topic of initiatives aimed at fostering social relationships as important determinants of health and well-being, we will then have online testimonies from authoritative associations from Canada and the United States:
Pete Bombaci, founder/CEO of Genwell, Canada
Christian Langkamp, Community, Germany
Risa Wilkerson, Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connections, United States

A Round Table will follow, attended by Sabrina Antorini Massa, Riccardo Blumer, Sara Fumagalli.
Will lead Carla Norghauer.

PROGRAM

5:30 p.m. Official remarks: Raul Ghisletta, City Councilmember of Lugano; Piera Serra, President of Ciao Table.

17:40 Introduction to the Social Research Prize: Alain Kaelin-Lang, Director of the Institute for Clinical Neuroscience and Professor at the University of Italian Switzerland.

5:50 PM Presentation of the Social Research Prize award: "Noise" sculpture by Pietro Campagnoli
Commentary by Maria Elena Rudolf. Video curated by the author.

6:00 PM Master lecture by Veronica Witte: How social relationships change the brain: new discoveries.

6:45 PM Round table: initiatives on how to facilitate social exchanges. Participants: Sabrina Antorini Massa, Riccardo Blumer, and Sara Fumagalli.
Online contributions from: Pete Bombaci, founder/CEO of Genwell, Canada; Christian Langkamp, GemEinsankeit, Germany; Risa Wilkerson, GILC, United States.

7:30 PM Casual drinks

Contact for more information: WhatsApp messages +41 79 913 68 04    info@ciaotable.org
At the end of the ceremony, the copyright-free photo service will be posted in the Gallery:

To register, click here: form.ciaotable.org