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Let’s talk about you: what is your background, what do you teach, and what are your research interests?
I consider myself a true Ca' Foscari native, having studied here at Ca' Foscari from my Bachelor's Degree to my PhD. I have always been interested in Computer Vision, with particular attention to photogrammetry and three-dimensional reconstruction. I have the privilege of holding a master's degree course on these topics, where I try to convey the same passion that has accompanied me in these years of study and research.
I am actively working with colleagues at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) Marine science institute to develop new techniques for 3D reconstruction of sea waves. Our technology is currently state-of-the-art in the field and is used by many research institutions around the world. I am also a founding member of a Ca' Foscari spin-off called DigitalViews.

What is the aspect of your research you are most passionate about?
I like the fact that I can 'see' the result of algorithms I develop. For instance, if I study and implement a new 3D reconstruction technique, I can see the result as a three-dimensional model that can be computer edited. This has always fascinated me, because the data I get are not just numbers but have a visual representation in terms of images, videos or 3D surfaces.

Have you always known that this was going to be your path?
Figuring out the right direction is not always easy and the right choices often require a certain amount of luck. I have always been interested in informatics since I was a child, but initially from an engineering/application side. I was introduced to the world of research by my dissertation supervisor (who later became my PhD supervisor) who made me realise how exciting it was to study problems and develop solutions on cutting-edge topics in science.

What do teaching and researching mean to you?
Researching means setting myself increasingly ambitious goals every day and contributing, even in my own small way, to human progress. I really enjoy teaching and hope to pass on the same passion to the next generation. When I teach, I always try to provide food for thought and practical examples of what I am teaching. If I wanted to summarise what teaching means to me, I would say "inspiring students to experiment and understand why things happen".

Can you offer any advice to researchers in the early stages of their career?
I would recommend patience and perseverance. The world of research today is very competitive, but at the same time full of opportunities. If you work with perseverance and always maintain the right ethics, results will come little by little... and then the satisfaction is really great.