Prof. Alfio Quarteroni
Politecnico di Milano & EPFL Lausanne
Bridging Fundamental Science and Artificial Intelligence
via Scientific Machine Learning
Thursday, November 6th, 2025 - 13:15
Room 1C150 Torre Archimede
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Recent advances in artificial intelligence have delivered impressive results across a wide range of applications. However, significant concerns remain regarding accuracy and the opacity of AI models—often criticized as "black boxes." Scientific Machine Learning (SciML) offers a compelling paradigm by combining data-driven methods with models grounded in physical laws, thereby bridging AI and traditional scientific approaches. In this presentation, I will explore the mathematical foundations of machine learning, discussing core algorithms, their theoretical properties, and inherent limitations. I will then turn to Scientific Machine Learning, showing how physical constraints and data can be effectively integrated to improve the reliability and performance of numerical solvers. As a central application, I will present the simulation of human heart function.
Short Bio
Professor Alfio Quarteroni is a prominent figure in the field of applied mathematics and scientific computing. Professor Emeritus at Politecnico di Milano and EPFL, he has founded and directed prestigious research centers such as MOX and MATHICSE, and is co-founder and President of MOXOFF, a spin-off from Politecnico di Milano. A member of numerous international scientific academies, Quarteroni is the author of 26 books, more than 500 scientific articles, and has given over 300 international conferences.
Among his major international recognitions, alongside two ERC Advanced Grants and two ERC Proof of Concept grants, we mention the following awards:
- Euler Medal 2021-22 by ECCOMAS
- Lagrange Prize 2020-23 by ICIAM
- Blaise Pascal Medal in Mathematics 2024 by European Academy of Sciences
- Ritz-Galerkin Medal 2021-24 by ECCOMAS
His research spans various fields of applied mathematics, with applications ranging from computational fluid dynamics to cardiovascular modeling. He has contributed to the preliminary design of the Solar Impulse solar airplane and to the performance optimization of the Alinghi yacht, winner of two America's Cup.
Recently, he is famous worldwide for the groundbreaking iHEART project, which is a digital twin of a real human heart, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. It uniquely integrates electromechanics, haemodynamics, and cardiac perfusion, enabling unprecedented biophysical accuracy in simulating heart function and diseases, particularly coronary artery disease. This innovative tool is being applied in collaborations with several hospitals to improve cardiac treatments and surgical procedures.
Quarteroni has supervised about 60 PhD students and his work has had a significant impact in both academic and applied fields.
For further details, please refer to the official website.