Vatican Observatory Lectures on Quantum Gravity 2026

22 Jun 2026, 08:00 → 26 Jun 2026, 15:00 Europe/Vatican

Gabriele Gionti, S.J. (Specola Vaticana), Matteo Galaverni (Vatican Observatory)

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 compare 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"

Locandina Scuola Gravity (29.7 x 21 cm).pdf

Monday 22 June

08:30 → 09:00 Registration

09:00 → 10:00 Welcome talk + tour of the facility

10:00 → 10:30 Coffe break

10:30 → 11:30 Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time 1

Speaker: Claus Kiefer

11:30 → 12:30 Covariant Quantum Gravity 1

Speaker: Roberto Percacci

12:30 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 15:30 Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity 1

Speaker: Sergio Cacciatori

15:30 → 16:30 Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time 2

Speaker: Claus Kiefer

16:30 → 17:00 Coffe break

17:00 → 18:00 Covariant Quantum Gravity 2

Speaker: Roberto Percacci

18:00 → 18:30 Discussion

Tuesday 23 June

09:00 → 10:00 Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time 3

Speaker: Claus Kiefer

10:00 → 11:00 Covariant Quantum Gravity 3

Speaker: Roberto Percacci

11:00 → 11:30 Coffe break

11:30 → 12:30 Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity 2

Speaker: Sergio Cacciatori

12:30 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 15:30 Covariant Quantum Gravity 4

Speaker: Roberto Percacci

15:30 → 16:30 Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT 1

Speaker: Pierpaolo Mastrolia

16:30 → 17:00 Coffe break

17:00 → 18:00 Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity 3

Speaker: Sergio Cacciatori

18:00 → 18:30 Discussion

Wednesday 24 June

09:00 → 10:00 Covariant Quantum Gravity 5

Speaker: Roberto Percacci

10:00 → 11:00 Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT 2

Speaker: Pierpaolo Mastrolia

11:00 → 11:30 Coffe break

11:30 → 12:30 Covariant Quantum Gravity 6

Speaker: Roberto Percacci

12:30 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 15:30 Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time 4

Speaker: Claus Kiefer

15:30 → 19:00 Tour of the Vatican Observatoy musem and historic telescopes

Thursday 25 June

09:00 → 10:00 Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time 5

Speaker: Claus Kiefer

10:00 → 11:00 Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT 3

Speaker: Pierpaolo Mastrolia

11:00 → 11:30 Coffe break

11:30 → 12:30 Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity 4

Speaker: Sergio Cacciatori

12:30 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 15:30 Canonical Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Time 6

Speaker: Claus Kiefer

15:30 → 16:30 Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT 4

Speaker: Pierpaolo Mastrolia

16:30 → 17:00 Coffe break

17:00 → 18:00 Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity 5

Speaker: Sergio Cacciatori

18:00 → 18:30 Discussion

20:00 → 22:00 Social Dinner

Friday 26 June

09:00 → 10:00 Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT 5

Speaker: Pierpaolo Mastrolia

10:00 → 11:00 Foundational Aspects of Quantum Gravity 6

Speaker: Sergio Cacciatori

11:00 → 11:30 Coffe break

11:30 → 12:30 Modern Methods for Quantum Fields and Gravity: Amplitudes, Integrals, and EFT 6

Speaker: Pierpaolo Mastrolia

12:30 → 13:00 Discussion

13:00 → 15:00 Lunch