The Principal Goals
of my Teaching and Outreach Activities
I am committed to preparing the next generations to address the Global Challenges of the 21st century, which involve Complex Systems, such as all living organisms, natural ecosystems, urban environments, human societies, the global economy, the climate, and the geology of our planet.
My Teaching
My teaching integrates Physical Chemistry with Complexity Science. In my courses and lectures, I introduce the foundations of Complexity Science grounded in my background in Physical Chemistry, and I discuss the properties of Complex Systems through the frameworks of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, nonlinear dynamics, natural computing, and systems thinking, using an interdisciplinary approach. I am convinced that it is urgent to promote interdisciplinary courses on Complex Systems.
My Courses
Me delivering lectures online at the time of Covid19 (March 2020)
My Biotechnology students in 2019
My former visiting student Naishka Caldero and me
(Summer 2016)
Title: “Investigation into Complex Systems” within the “Advanced Physical Chemistry” course for graduate students in Chemical Sciences at the University of Perugia. Since the 2010/2011 Academic Year.
Title:“Biological Complex Systems” within the “Advanced Techniques” course for graduate students in Industrial and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Perugia. Since the 2018/2019 Academic Year.
Title: “Systemic Approach to Sustainability” for undergraduate students in “Methodologies for Product and Process” at the University of Perugia (Italy). Since the 2025/2026 Academic Year
Courses on Complex Systems delivered to Ph.D. students in Chemistry and Biotechnology in 2019, 2023, and 2025.
In the Academic Year 2010/2011, I taught “Photobiology” to graduate students of Applied Biomolecular Sciences.
In the Academic Year 2009/2010, I taught “Investigation of Fast and Ultrafast Chemical Processes” to graduate students in Chemical Sciences.
For two years (AY 2008/2009 – 2009/2010), I taught “Photochemistry and Photobiology” to graduate students in Biomedical Molecular Sciences.
In the 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 Academic Years, I carried out an integrative teaching activity for the Physical Chemistry Laboratory to undergraduate students in Chemistry. I shadowed students executing experiments regarding chemical kinetics and thermodynamics and I taught them how to write a report of the experimental results.
Activity as Supervisor
Since the 2008/2009 Academic Year, I have been supervisor of 21 bachelor’s theses, 11 master’s theses and one PhD’s thesis in the field of Physical Chemistry.
- Supervisor of the ACS IREU student Naishka E. Caldero Rodríguez, coming from the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus, who has worked on the implementation of an artificial gland, from the 31st of May up to the 5th of August 2016.
- Supervisor of the ACS IREU student Amanda Rightler, coming from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA), who has worked on the implementation of Biologically Inspired Photochromic Fuzzy Logic Systems to extend human vision to UV, from the 28th of May up to the 7th of August 2015.
Lecture given in January 2016
My Chemistry students in 2019
My Chemistry students in 2017
My former visiting student Amanda Rightler and me
(Summer 2015)
- Supervisor of the research activity carried out by the student Kenta Hayashi, from Ritsumeikan University (Japan), who has worked on the analysis of chaotic time series, from the 1st of October up to the 20th of December 2014.
Erasmus teaching activities
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Department of the University of Malta (Malta), in February 2024.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Department of the Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III (France), in September 2019.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Faculty of the University of Bielefeld (Germany), in October 2023.
My former visiting student Kenta Hayashi and me
(December 2014)
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Department of the Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III (France), in September 2018.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Department of the Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III (France), in September 2017.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Department of the Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III (France), in September 2016.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Chemistry Department of the Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III (France), in September 2015.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Department of Computer Science, University College of London (UK), in September 2014.
- Visiting Professor (Erasmus Teaching Program) at the Department of Computer Science, University College of London (UK), in September 2013.
Outreach
Activity of Public Engagement
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A public outreach seminar entitled “The World Is Complex: Let’s Talk About It,” presented at the Accademia delle Volte of Perugia at the invitation of Prof. Ferdinando Costantino, on April 8, 2026.
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Invited presentation at the webinar “Buddhism and Complexity in Dialogue,” organized by the Complexity Institute, on March 12, 2026.
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Invited seminar entitled ‘The World Is Complex: Let’s Talk About It’, presented for MEIC (Ecclesial Movement for Cultural Commitment) at the conference hall of the Istituto Suore di Gesù Redentore in Perugia, on 26 February 2026.”
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Participation in the Round Table entitled ‘Where can one find answers to the great existential questions of every individual?’ held at the library of the Church of St. Philip Neri in Perugia on 22 February 2026.
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Invited seminar entitled ‘The World Is Complex: Let’s Talk About It’, presented as part of the initiative ‘Dialogues at S. Pietro’, organized by the University of Perugia at the Church of S. Pietro. 10 February 2026.
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Presentation of my book ‘The World Is Complex: Let’s Talk About It’ at the bookstore "Le Volte" in Perugia, on the 23rd of January 2026.
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Publication of the book entitled “The World Is Complex: Let’s Talk About It”, Morlacchi Editor, Perugia (Italy), September 2025. This book favours the dissemination of complexity science.
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Seminar titled “The wonderful journey of humanity in discovering the secrets of nature: from the investigation of simple systems to complex ones” delivered to High School Teachers within the PLS program (the year 2023/2024) at the Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology Department of the University of Perugia on the 22nd of September 2025.
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Seminar entitled “The Complexity of the XXI Century Challenges. How to face it?” presented online on the 16th of May 2025 to the high school students on the occasion of the orientation event “UNIPG Orienta Express 2025”.
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Seminar entitled “How to face the Complexity of the XXI Century Challenges?” presented to the high school students during the Open Day 2025 (the 9th of May 2025) at the Barton Park in Perugia.
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Invited lecture titled “The Complexity of the XXI century Challenges. How to face it?” delivered to High School Teachers within the PLS program (the year 2023/2024) at the Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology Department of the University of Perugia on the 11th of September 2024.
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Invited seminar titled "The Complexity of the XXI Century Challenges. How to face it?” delivered at the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Perugia (25 February 2024).
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Head of the Editorial Board of the Interdivisional Group of Photochemistry (GIdF) of the Italian Chemical Society, starting from June 2023.
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Invited lecture titled “Complexity Science to prepare next generations to tackle the global challenges of the XXI century” held in hybrid form for school teachers. This event was organized by the “I Lincei per la Scuola” Foundation at the Mathematics and Informatics Department of the Perugia University” on the 25th of February 2022.
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Interview titled “Chaos and Chance” by Dr. Gabriele Pastori and published in the journal “Chiaroscuro” 2021, 60, 58-59.
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Seminar titled “Complexity Science in Chemistry” delivered online on the 2nd of October 2021 to the attendees to the “School of Complexity Management” organized by the Complexity Institute.
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Radiophonic interview on the European Strategic Partnership Erasmus+ project titled “CoSy Thinking” carried out by Radiophonica Perugia for Sharper 2021, the 24th September 2021.
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Interview by Dr. A. Bracci of the National Ecobiopsychology Association and published in the magazine “La Rete della Vita” the 23rd June 2021 and made available online
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Seminar titled “Complexity Science to prepare the new generations for Sustainable Development” delivered online on the 31st of May 2021 for the event titled “DESIGN OUR SCHOOL: HOW TO INHABIT COMPLEXITY” organized by the Social Cooperative DENSA.
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Lecture titled “The Complexity Science to tackle the XXI Century Challenges” for the orientation of the High School Students, delivered online the 17th of December 2020.
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Since December 2020, creation and maintenance of the peronal YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pierluigigentili
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Lecture titled “The Complexity Science to tackle the XXI Century Challenges” delivered online the 27th of November 2020 for the “European Researchers’ Night” (Sharper 2020).
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TV Interview on the project “CoSy Thinking” funded by the European Commission and broadcast by TEF Channel (Local TV in Umbria) the 24th of November 2020.
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Interview carried out by the financial advisor Dr. F. Monge and published in two issues of the magazine “Investors’ L’evoluzione della Specie”. (I) “ Investors’ L’evoluzione della Specie. 2019, 3, 14-18. (II) Investors’ L’evoluzione della Specie. 2019, 4, 26-30.
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Lecture titled “Chromogenic Dyes" delivered to the students and teachers of a class of the Technical Institute for Social Activities “Giordano Bruno” on February the 26th 2019.
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Since March 2018, creation and maintenance of the personal website: https://pierluigigentili.com
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Lecture titled “Photochromic Dyes” delivered to the students and teachers of a class of the Technical Institute for Social Activities “Giordano Bruno” on February the 24th 2017 and on January the 13th 2016.
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Experimental demonstration (hands-on experiment) titled “Effects of colours with materials” presented the 25th of September 2015 at the “European Researchers’ Night” (Sharper 2015).
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TV Interview about my research on Chemical AI broadcast by TEF Channel (Local TV in Umbria) within the program “Speciale Università” the 9th of January 2014.
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Educational paper titled “Biological Photoreceptors. The Sun and life on the planet Earth” published by the journal “La Chimica nella Scuola” in 2006; Vol. 1; Pages: 41-49.
