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But there is also another very important aspect which to our ends is decisive. Over and above more properly technological development, the third mission also regards the social dimension and what may be called the cognitive heritage of a nation. It seems to me that today’s Workshop and the intentions at the heart of the Summer School and the projects set forth are absolutely significant on this subject.
In order to be widespread, scientific research needs a “human capital” to apply to. This human capital is not trained at top level Universities and advanced research centres but is developed through the spreading of culture: not everyone has to long for Nobel prizes, but a solid and widespread cultural and intellectual substratum is fundamental, and without it the knowledge society could not exist.
Side by side with the traditional objectives of high training and scientific research, a new and fundamental objective for Universities is dialogue with society.
As well as technological transference, another method of interaction between University and society is what is defined by ANVUR (National Agency of Scientific Assessment) as: “third cultural and social mission” and concerns the production of public property that increases the general level of wellbeing in society, having cultural content, such as: events and cultural heritage, management of museum centres, archaeological digs, scientific divulgation; social content: public health, activities benefiting the community, technical/professional consultancy; educational content: adult education, lifelong learning, ongoing training; and development of civic awareness: debates and public controversies, scientific expertise.
In this perspective the contribution of the heritage of humanistic knowledge and research turns out to be indispensable.
Society needs humanistic culture. In a world becoming increasingly larger and more complex, it is fundamental to maintain access to that knowledge which feeds freedom of thought and word, independent judgement and the force of imagination as preconditions for a mature and responsible humanity. On this subject, as a fitting example of what I am saying, I refer you to a recent book by Martha Nussbaum, Not for profit: why democracy needs the humanities. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.)