Alice Chirico

Alice Chirico is a licensed psychologist and researcher at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, where she directs the Experience Lab and the Research Unit in Music Psychology. Her studies investigate complex emotions, creativity, and immersive experiences mediated by technology, with particular attention to experiences of profound wonder and the sublime, explored as resources for promoting health and well-being. She has obtained the National Scientific Qualification for the role of associate professor and has conducted a research period as a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, under the supervision of Martin Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology. Her scientific activity, recognized internationally, includes over 100 scientific publications and numerous participations in international academic conferences. She is the author of the first Italian volume dedicated to "profound wonder" (awe) and the curator of the collection Profonda Meraviglia e Depressione (Jaca Book). Her research has also been disseminated through international media such as The Washington Post, Scientific American, and Psychology Today. She has received several awards, including the international award from the European Alliance of Innovation for the best ideas applied to mental health (2019) and the Excellence Publications Award from the Catholic University (2023).