{"id":8373,"date":"2026-11-02T13:49:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T12:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centrostudiubi.it\/?p=8373"},"modified":"2026-11-02T13:49:58","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T12:49:58","slug":"drest-2026-figures-of-the-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centrostudiubi.it\/en\/news\/drest-2026-figures-of-the-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Figures of the End: the DREST 2026 Annual Seminar"},"content":{"rendered":"

The DREST 2026 Annual Seminar<\/strong> will take place on 4\u20136 November 2026<\/strong> at the Department of Education and Humanities of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The venue is Palazzo Baroni, viale Timavo 93, Reggio Emilia, Italy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Entitled Le figure della fine<\/em> (\u201cFigures of the End\u201d), the fourth DREST Annual Seminar explores representations of the end, prophecy and eschatology across religious traditions and contemporary debates. The programme includes lectures on medieval Christianity, Islam, South Asian religions and narratives surrounding artificial intelligence. The final day will focus on understanding cultural and religious difference.<\/p>\n

The lectures are free of charge, and remote attendance is also possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kalki and apocalyptic narratives of artificial intelligence<\/h2>\n

On 5 November, John Newman<\/strong> of New College of Florida will deliver the lecture Kalki. Agent of the Apocalypse Across South Asian Religions?<\/em>, introduced and chaired by Giacomella Orofino<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Later that day, Robert M. Geraci<\/strong> of Knox College will speak on Revealing the AI Apocalypse: Eschatological Dimensions of AI and AI Narratives<\/em>, introduced and chaired by Massimo Leone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Lecture programme<\/h2>\n

The sessions will take place in Room 3.1, Palazzo Baroni<\/strong>. The schedule below lists the academic talks; the full programme also includes discussions, breaks and activities for the doctoral community.<\/p>\n

All times are local to Italy. Lecture titles are given in their original language.<\/p>\n

Wednesday, 4 November<\/h3>\n

10:00\u201310:30 \u2014 Institutional welcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n

10:30\u201311:30 \u2014 Marco Rainini<\/strong>, Universit\u00e0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan
\nMappe della fine del mondo. Le Figure di Gioacchino da Fiore<\/em>
\nIntroduced and chaired by Federico Ruozzi.<\/p>\n

14:30\u201315:30 \u2014 Anna Canton<\/strong>, University of Florence
\nAl-Dajj\u0101l sulla soglia della fine: liminalit\u00e0 e crisi dell\u2019ordine spazio-temporale nell\u2019escatologia islamica<\/em>
\nSession organised by DREST.<\/p>\n

16:30\u201317:30 \u2014 Francis Messner<\/strong>, Universit\u00e9 de Strasbourg
\nLe r\u00f4le de l\u2019\u00c9tat en France dans l\u2019organisation de l\u2019Islam<\/em>
\nIntroduced and chaired by Alessandro Ferrari.<\/p>\n

Thursday, 5 November<\/h3>\n

09:30\u201310:30 \u2014 Alessandra Bartolomei Romagnoli<\/strong>, Pontifical Gregorian University
\nProfetismo femminile ed escatologia (sec. XII\u2013XV)<\/em>
\nChaired by DREST doctoral students.<\/p>\n

14:00\u201315:00 \u2014 John Newman<\/strong>, New College of Florida
\nKalki. Agent of the Apocalypse Across South Asian Religions?<\/em>
\nIntroduced and chaired by Giacomella Orofino.<\/p>\n

16:00\u201317:00 \u2014 Robert M. Geraci<\/strong>, Knox College, United States
\nRevealing the AI Apocalypse: Eschatological Dimensions of AI and AI Narratives<\/em>
\nIntroduced and chaired by Massimo Leone.<\/p>\n

Friday, 6 November<\/h3>\n

The final day will host the DESU Department of Excellence seminar \u201cL\u2019analfabetismo nella comprensione della differenza culturale e religiosa\u201d<\/strong>, addressing illiteracy in the understanding of cultural and religious difference.<\/p>\n

09:45\u201310:00 \u2014 Institutional welcome by Annamaria Contini<\/strong>, Director of DESU and head of the Department of Excellence\u2019s 2023\u20132027 project on \u201cAnalfabetismi ad alto costo sociale\u201d.<\/p>\n

10:00\u201312:00 \u2014 Talks and discussion:<\/strong><\/p>\n