Founded in 1961 by Franco Brambilla, the IARD institute in Milan is a non-profit organisation that undertakes sociological research and related professional training in Italy. The Institute pays attention to changes in attitudes and behaviours in particular of youth, considering both structural and individual aspects and conditions. The IARD Institute also deals with broader thematic areas, with emphasis on social, educational and cultural policies, thereby providing support for practitioners engaged in these fields. Understanding of social research constitutes the main element of the training activities, which involve young researchers and graduate students. The IARD institute operates through a skilled research team, an internal and stable administrative staff, and an established group of collaborators and trainers. Furthermore IARD has at its disposal its own network of interviewers, guaranteeing accuracy in collecting data, privacy and high levels of reliability and validity.

Contact Details 

Address:

The IARD Institute

Istituto lard Franco Brambilla. Cooperativa di ricerca a r.l.

Via Olmetto, 9

I-20123 Milano

ITALY

Tel.:

+ 39 0272 08383

Fax.:

+ 39 0286 5255    (digit missing ?)

E-mail:

carlo.buzzi@istitutoiard.it; carlo.buzzi@soc.unitn.it

Web-page:

www.istitutoiard.it

About Carlo Buzzi

From the IARD Institute

Carlo Buzzi has since 2001 been Professor at Department of Sociology and Social Research at the University of Trento in Italy. He teaches sociology, interview methodology and market analysis, as well as generation and age differentials. He is member of the Board of Directors and of the Scientific Committee of the Iard Institute of Milan, as well as  Chairman of the Scientific Committee of IPRASE del Trentino. Carl Buzzi is a member of the Advisory Board of the journal Mittelforum and of the Scientific Committee of the journal Lavoro Sociale).

 In his publications, Carlo Buzzi has in recent years focused on youth and the conditions of youth in contemporary Italy.

About Maria Luisa Bianco,

individual partner

Maria Luisa Bianco is full professor of Sociology and Dean of the Faculty of Political Science at the University of “Piemonte Orientale”, Italy. In the past ten years, her research is based on the epistemological approach and the theoretical model, with a focus on the theme of the reproduction of social inequalities in terms of class, employment and gender. The epistemological approach, which can be defined as weak methodological individualism, is on the one hand based on intentional social action and, on the other, on the concept of generative mechanism. The theoretical model gives a central role to stable networks of interaction as a social locus for the production of culture and include key-concepts such social capital and trust. It is in this field that Maria Luisa Bianco has had the scientific responsibility of Italian inter-university research funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Research.

 She has most recently published on the various aspects of social capital, social inequalities in Italy and on the effect of the reform of university entry exams upon academic careers and gender dynamics.