Vatican Observatory Lectures on Quantum Gravity 2026

The quantization of space and time as GR dynamical variables  is an unresolved problem. Therefore known quantization methods generate technical problems like perturbative non-renormalizability of the theory.  

The lectures will explore fundamental approaches, including:

• canonical quantum gravity,
• the problem of time,
• amplitudes and effective field theory in quantum gravity,
• covariant quantum gravity.

The goal is to confront and contrast these methods, fostering the exchange of ideas necessary to resolve outstanding issues in the field.

The interdisciplinary program consists of FOUR courses for a total of 24 hours and it is oriented to PhD students, postdocs and early career researchers, both in mathematics and in physics. Interaction with and among professors will also be encouraged.

Lecturers:

• Sergio Cacciatori (Università dell’Insubria): "Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity"
• Claus Kiefer (University of Cologne): "Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time"
• Pierpaolo Mastrolia (Università di Padova): "Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT"
• Roberto Percacci (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati): "Covariant Quantum Gravity"