Encouraging participation in the development of energy infrastructure

The development of energy infrastructure in Italy and Europe often encounters resistance from local communities. These protests are sometimes interpreted as selfish or intransigent and labeled as cases of “Not In My Backyard.” However, the data show a different reality: citizens' concerns are often more complex, well-founded, and open to dialogue than is commonly believed.

Promoting this dialogue and increasing community participation is the objective of the research project that has been awarded €1.1 million under the FIS 2024-2025 Call for Proposals. The project, proposed by Folco Panizza, a researcher at the IMT School in the multidisciplinary scientific area of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Philosophy, aims to gain a deeper understanding of how public opinion is formed and how it is perceived.

By integrating psychology, sociology, behavioral economics, and using innovative tools such as experiments and field interventions, the project aims to develop guidelines to reduce polarization, encourage constructive debate, and promote participatory policies based on scientific evidence. The goal: more engaged communities, more effective decision-making processes, lower costs a more sustainable infrastructure development.