Programme scientifique > Conférences Plénières

Titre de la keynote: "Using robots as scientific tools to decipher animal locomotion"

Résumé : The ability to efficiently move in complex environments is a fundamental property both for animals and for robots, and the problem of locomotion and movement control is an area in which neuroscience, biomechanics, and robotics can fruitfully interact. In this talk, I will present how biorobots and numerical models can be used to explore the interplay of the four main components underlying animal locomotion, namely central pattern generators (CPGs), reflexes, descending modulation, and the musculoskeletal system. Going from lamprey to human locomotion, I will present a series of models that tend to show that the respective roles of these components might have changed during evolution with a dominant role of CPGs in lamprey and salamander locomotion, and a more important role for sensory feedback and descending modulation in human locomotion. I will also present how deep reinforcement learning can be used to explore questions related to supraspinal learning and planning that takes into account spinal cord dynamics.  If time allows, I might also present a project showing how robotics can provide scientific tools for paleontology.

Biography:  Auke Ijspeert is a professor at EPFL (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland), IEEE Fellow, and head of the Biorobotics Laboratory. He has a B.Sc./M.Sc. in physics from the EPFL (1995), and a PhD in artificial intelligence from the University of Edinburgh (1999). His research interests are at the intersection between robotics and computational neuroscience. He is interested in using numerical simulations and robots to gain a better understanding of animal locomotion and movement control, and in using inspiration from biology to design novel types of robots and locomotion controllers (see for instance Ijspeert et al, Science, Vol. 315, 2007 and Ijspeert, Science Vol. 346, 2014). He is also interested in assisting persons with limited mobility using exoskeletons and assistive furniture. With his colleagues, he has received paper awards at ICRA2002, CLAWAR2005, IEEE Humanoids 2007, IEEE ROMAN 2014, CLAWAR 2015, SAB 2018, CLAWAR 2019, and ICRA2024. He is associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. He is also a member of the Board of Reviewing Editors of Science magazine

Titre de la keynote:  « Biomécanique par le clinicien et le biomécanicien ».

Biography: Dr. Simona Celi is the Director of the Bioengineering Unit at Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio since 2024. In 2010, she founded the BioCardioLab of the Bioengineering Unit, and she is the Director of this research lab 2015. She is a Mechanical Engineer and received her PhD in 2008 from the University of Pisa. She performed her postdoc in biomechanics of the cardiovascular system at several research institutes, including Yale University, the Italian National Research Council, and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. She has participated in several national and international research projects, also as a Principal Investigator. She is an adjunct professor in the Department of Information Engineering at the University of Pisa and a lecturer at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, for several Master’s courses. Her main research focuses on the correlation between in-vivo, ex-vivo, and in-vitro data in the field of cardiovascular diseases from both structural and fluid dynamics perspectives. In 2023, she was recognized as one of the top 10 women in research by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is author of several papers.

Dr. Dorela Haxhiademi is a cardiac anaesthesiologist and intensive care physician. From 2022 she is the Head of Adult Intensive Care of Ospedale del Cuore, Fondazione Toscana “Gabriele Monasterio”.
She graduated from University of Tirana, Albania, pursued her post graduate training in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the University of Pisa, Italy. She holds Master’s degree in “Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, and Related Anaesthesia” from Scuola Superiore di Sant’Anna, Pisa, in Haemostasis and Thrombosis from University of Florence, in Antibiotic Stewardship from Cattolica University Rome and in Neonatology from La Sapienza University of Rome and diploma in ECMO and short term respiratory and circulatory support from La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, France.
She is the author of several publications and book chapters on the intra- and perioperative management of adult and paediatric cardiac and vascular surgery critical patients.

Titre de la keynote: "Global and Local Narratives on How Sports Biomechanics Develop: Trends in the Past and Future"

Biography:  Hiroyuki (Hiro) Nunome is currently a Professor of Sports Biomechanics at Fukuoka University, the President of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS), a Fellow of ISBS, a Former International Steering Member of Science & Football, a Former President of the Japanese Society of Science & Football and a Board Member of Japanese Society of Biomechanics (Liaison) and an Associate Editor of “Sports Biomechanics”. Hiro is well-known as a pioneer of biomechanics for football (soccer) specific actions and materials, particularly for kicking actions, with many advanced publications in leading journals. Hiro is also well-known as a very open-minded, cooperative and innovative scholar. Recently, Hiro hosted the 29th Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics 2023 and led its success.