The REN Award 2026 is awarded to Professor Catia Giaconi for her extraordinary and sustained contribution to educational research, special pedagogy, and inclusive education.
Over the past year, Professor Giaconi has distinguished herself in the national and international scientific landscape through the excellence and heuristic impact of her research, dedicated to breaking down barriers to learning and promoting innovative operational models that support diversity, neurodiversity, and the life plans of individuals with disabilities.
Her research activity—characterized by a rigorous combination of theoretical-epistemological reflection, empirical field experimentation, and the conscious application of educational technologies—has marked a fundamental advancement in school and social inclusion processes, providing the scientific community and educators with indispensable conceptual and methodological tools.
A prominent figure in academic and scientific leadership, Professor Giaconi has successfully combined the quality of academic inquiry with a constant dedication to the ethical dimension of education and the transformation of learning environments into genuinely democratic and equitable spaces.
