Since 2024, Professor Silvia Santini has been a member of CORE, comprising 15 experts from academia, business, politics, administration and science. "CORE members are also chosen to represent different subject areas," explains Professor Santini, "in my case, I cover the area of Information and Communication Technology. Specifically, I bring to the Commission my experience in smart energy research, i.e. the use of digital technologies for energy optimisation, especially in buildings and private homes." Professor Santini has conducted numerous studies on smart energy and, in 2017, organised an important annual conference co-financed by the Federal Office of Energy at USI. "Among the studies I have led, I want to highlight one that focuses on the use of sensors. These sensors range from those found in mobile phones to those in wearable devices, such as smartwatches, smart rings, and earphones, among others. The goal of this research is to understand human behaviour and leverage this information to improve the services available to people. For instance, sensor data provides insights into which user in a household is using specific devices. This information is valuable for calculating energy consumption patterns and enabling us to propose targeted interventions aimed at reducing electricity consumption."
Unlike the projects financed by the National Research Fund, which are mainly aimed at the academic world, CORE also looks at industry, considering its immediate and long-term needs (while not forgetting the university world, in fact, as Professor Santini recalls, "an observer from the National Fund is always present at our meetings as well’).
The energy theme connects to a discussion on sustainability; one of CORE’s primary objectives is focused on renewable energy: "There is a strong emphasis from researchers to promote the rapid integration of sustainable energy sources into the global energy system. This aims to enhance the country’s energy independence as much as possible," explained Prof. Santini. "To achieve this, the role of the population is crucial. To give a concrete example, it is important to emphasise that to maximise the benefits of solar panels installed on rooftops, households should aim to use their appliances primarily during the day when solar energy is most abundant." Switzerland has a distinct advantage in renewable energy due to its topography, which enables significant exploitation of both hydropower and solar energy. However, the challenges surrounding this issue extend beyond research and include geopolitical factors as well. "There are currently no satisfactory framework agreements addressing key issues between the EU and Switzerland. As a result, Switzerland is perceived as somewhat disconnected from its neighbouring states. This situation also puts the Confederation at potential risk, particularly in the event of an energy shortage caused by a very cold winter or a sudden shift in the geopolitical landscape. In this context, the CORE has limited ability to influence these matters, as they are primarily political in nature," commented the USI professor.
In conclusion, Prof. Santini provided a reflection on gender equality in the Commission and in the academic and scientific world in Canton Ticino. "The representation of women in the Federal Commission for Energy Research, while not a majority, is noteworthy. There are several female colleagues from diverse fields, and I welcome this progress, even though there is still room for improvement. In university research-especially in my field-gender inequalities persist in Ticino. Unfortunately, we are still far from achieving equal representation, although the situation is gradually improving." The professor found it encouraging that throughout her career at USI, she has primarily supervised female PhD students. This was not a result of her personal preference but rather because these students chose to apply to work in her research group. "I sincerely hope that these female researchers can find suitable professional and social environments that enable them to balance their careers and personal lives, as should be the case for anyone who wishes to do so in a modern society."
The complete interview with Professor Silvia Santini, edited by Valeria Camia and published in "Ticino Scienza", is available at the following.
