Author: Maria Bednarska

Kassandra and Alessia Scarso’s Ad Sidera: Once Upon a Sky selected for CineGlobe 2026 at CERN

We are proud to announce that AD SIDERA: Once Upon a Sky, the immersive VR project created in partnership between Kassandra and acclaimed director Alessia Scarso, has been selected for CineGlobe 2026, the international festival hosted at CERN that celebrates the intersection of science, arts, and emerging technologies.

AD SIDERA invites audiences on a 360° journey through humanity’s enduring relationship with the sky, weaving together mythology, history, science, and future visions of our planet. The experience explores how our understanding of the cosmos has evolved across centuries while prompting reflection on one of the most pressing questions of our time: What will become of Earth in 2300?

The selection by CineGlobe represents an important recognition of the project’s ambition to bridge scientific knowledge and creative storytelling. By combining immersive technologies with narratives inspired by climate futures and human curiosity, AD SIDERA seeks to engage audiences in new ways of imagining our collective future.

We are honored to be part of a festival that brings together researchers, artists, filmmakers, and innovators from around the world, fostering dialogue between disciplines and expanding the boundaries of science communication.

Kassandra to speak at URWAN final event on Democratic Water Landscapes in Brussels

ANCI Lazio is pleased to coordinate the URWAN Final Event in Brussels, hosted at the Lazio Region Office, bringing together European institutions, cities, and project partners to discuss the future of water-sensitive and inclusive urban development.

Under the title “Democratic Water Landscapes: Co-creating Inclusive Green Spaces with Water at the Core”, the event will present the key results of the URWAN project and explore how Nature-based Solutions can support more resilient, participatory, and sustainable cities.

Kassandra will take part in the event as a speaker, contributing to the discussion on innovative approaches for urban resilience, inclusive green spaces, and the role of water-centred strategies in shaping more sustainable cities.

The event represents an important opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration among European partners, and reflect on how cities can better integrate water, nature, and community participation into future urban development.

UNESCO in the UK National Commission publishes report on The Kassandra Project’s Vindolanda pilot study

We are pleased to share the publication of the UNESCO in the UK National Commission report on The Kassandra Project – Vindolanda Pilot Study.

The pilot study explored how digital twins, environmental monitoring, and resilience assessment frameworks can support the long-term preservation and management of underground archaeology and heritage landscapes facing increasing climatic and environmental pressures.

Carried out at Vindolanda, one of the world’s most significant archaeological landscapes, the project provided an important opportunity to test and develop new approaches to predictive modelling, resilience assessment, and heritage management. The work demonstrates how innovative digital tools can help heritage organisations better understand future risks, support evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable archaeological sites.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Matt Rabagliati, Dr Andrew Birley, and everyone at The Vindolanda Trust for their collaboration, support, and vision throughout the project.

The report can be accessed here: https://unesco.org.uk/resources/the-kassandra-project-vindolanda-pilot-study?fbclid=IwY2xjawSOHOxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBvMThPdXlGUmQ5THdEdlNXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHghycnecrVImJqIujLkhFkNhYS0ziq_ISL-0wz6neMEa1atPkPuevxSdd27x_aem_58y89bXYian5x8t3NsOXjw

Kassandra’s AI work at Vindolanda featured on Channel 4 News

Kassandra’s work at Vindolanda has received significant recognition, featured on Channel 4 News alongside UNESCO UK and The Vindolanda Trust. The coverage highlights the importance of using artificial intelligence to help protect and preserve 2,000-year-old heritage.

This recognition reflects the innovative and meaningful role that AI can play in safeguarding cultural heritage. By supporting the preservation of sites like Vindolanda, this work points to a future where technology helps protect our shared past for generations to come.

You can find the video here: https://www.channel4.com/news/how-ai-is-helping-save-2000-year-old-roman-relics-in-northern-england?fbclid=IwY2xjawRK3gdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9jVNjVIskkqpy_kpvfcxgGyUMRQXQu7Z3mII1GzrgsFSSJjx_QWT79JD62g_aem_fyXDnftLecttkkIno_3Q7Q

AD SIDERA: A 360° VR journey through humanity’s eternal dialogue with the sky

A new immersive experience is set to transport audiences across time and space. AD SIDERA. Once Upon a Sky (VR 360 Edition), co-created with Kassandra, invites participants on an extraordinary journey through humanity’s enduring relationship with the cosmos.

For millennia, people have looked toward the heavens in search of meaning, guidance, and inspiration. Ancient myths, celestial observations, scientific discoveries, and visions of the future have all emerged from our fascination with the sky. AD SIDERA brings these elements together in a unique 360° virtual reality experience that blends history, mythology, and science into a compelling narrative.

Through immersive storytelling and cutting-edge VR technology, visitors will explore how different civilizations interpreted the stars, how scientific understanding transformed our view of the Universe, and how today’s choices may shape the future of our planet.

At the heart of the experience lies a thought-provoking question: What will become of Earth in 2300? By connecting our shared past with possible futures, AD SIDERA encourages audiences to reflect on humanity’s place in the cosmos and our responsibility toward the generations to come.

Driving urban resilience forward: Kassandra supports Ptuj, Sarajevo and Ferla within URWAN.

Kassandra recently presented its ongoing work to the URWAN partners, highlighting the tailored support provided to Ptuj, Sarajevo and Ferla in strengthening urban resilience.

From climate risk mapping to the evaluation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), we are translating complex data into structured decision-support pathways adapted to each city’s specific context. Our approach connects hazard assessment, impact analysis and economic evaluation, enabling local authorities to compare adaptation options and identify the most effective strategies.

Different geographies bring different vulnerabilities — from flood risk to heat stress — but the objective is shared: building measurable, financially sound and long-term urban resilience.

Kassandra contributes to the 3rd URWAN Living Lab in Malta

Kassandra joined the 3rd URWAN Living Lab in Malta alongside the partner cities of Sarajevo, Ptuj, and Ferla to advance urban resilience strategies.

The focus was on strengthening the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into local planning. Kassandra shared its decision-support methodology to help translate climate strategies into measurable, evidence-based action and supported the validation of key URWAN tools, including the Catalogue of concrete solutions and case studies.

A further step toward turning climate ambition into practical, resilient outcomes for cities.

From rebuilding to resilience: our article in the press on how cities must rethink planning in the age of climate change

It is no longer time to rebuild “as it was, where it was.”

Climate change has drastically reduced our margin for error and, given the growing impact it is already having—and will continue to have—on Sicily, it is now essential for mayors and public administrators to fundamentally rethink how territories are planned and redesigned. Tools like Kassandra make it possible to assess scenarios in advance and to measure, before building, the resilience of our cities to the impacts of climate change.

Delaying these decisions today means shifting higher costs and heavier consequences onto the entire community tomorrow.

We’re protecting our shared past from climate change — Kassandra on ITV News!

Watch here:

Kassandra’s work to protect cultural heritage from climate change has been featured on ITV News, highlighting an innovative partnership at the Roman site of Vindolanda.

In collaboration with the Vindolanda Trust, Kassandra is applying artificial intelligence, predictive analysis, and advanced digital tools to address growing climate risks threatening Roman artefacts and archaeological sites. By transforming complex environmental and climate data into actionable insights, the project supports smarter, evidence-based conservation decisions.

Developed in close cooperation with UNESCO UK, this work contributes to the protection of World Heritage Sites at a time when climate change is becoming an increasingly urgent and tangible challenge for cultural heritage worldwide.

The ITV News report showcases how technology, scientific research, and heritage expertise can come together to safeguard our shared past—ensuring that irreplaceable sites like Vindolanda can be preserved for future generations.

Shaping the future of urban regeneration: we will be there at URWAN’s Final Living Lab!

URWAN is approaching a key milestone with its 3rd and final Living Lab, taking place in Malta from 11 to 13 February 2026 at the Waterfront Hotel in Sliema.

Focused on the uptake and mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), the event will bring together partners, local authorities and experts to co-create practical tools for urban regeneration and sustainable water management across the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Kassandra Project will be there, contributing to interactive sessions, real case studies – including a Green Rooftop site visit – and collaborative discussions aimed at refining the URWAN Enabler Pack and ensuring long-term impact beyond the project’s lifetime.