Michele Pancera studied mathematics at the University of Ferrara in Italy. Before fully committing to education and technology, he cultivated a range of hands-on interests, including professional woodworking and beekeeping. The core of his career has been in the classroom: he spent several years teaching mathematics and physics in international schools, developing a strong focus on accessible explanations and student-centred learning.
Alongside teaching, Michele created extensive STACK-based assessment materials for the University of Trieste, contributing to the modernisation of their Analisi I courses. He later began developing an AI-powered tool to support STACK authoring, aiming to simplify and scale high-quality mathematical assessment.
He has participated in mathematics outreach projects, including a residential math camp in Tanzania, and enjoys chess, board games, and narrative-driven video games.
Michele is now primarily involved in IDEMS International’s work on the Open App Builder ecosystem and AI, with occasional contributions to IDEMS’ podcasting projects.
Why do you choose to work at IDEMS?
I chose to work at IDEMS because it allows me to connect mathematics with real social impact — something I’ve always wanted to do with my skills. IDEMS has the ambition and vision to tackle big challenges in education, and the team combines technical excellence with genuine commitment. I’ve felt at home from the very beginning, and it’s the kind of environment where meaningful work is both possible and encouraged.
What role do you think tech can/should/could play in social impact?
Technology can play a powerful role in social impact, but only as an enabler. It can expand reach, lower costs, and make good ideas scale far beyond what any single team could do. Still, it works best with humans firmly in the loop: judgment, context, and care never come from the tool itself. For me, tech is never the solution — it’s a way to empower people, amplify what already works, and create the conditions for impact to grow sustainably.
Where is Home?
Home is Ferrara, a small Renaissance city in northern Italy with quiet streets, long bike paths, and a distinctive sense of place. Italy is a place I value for how much it offers in a small territory: mountains, strong local cultures, great food, a lot of history, and stunning sea.