The Trieste Next Festival was established in 2012 with the aim of tackling the most urgent and innovative issues in today's scientific and cultural scene: from food to energy and from water consumption to the increasingly complex relationship between human beings and technology.

The event aims to foster dialogue between the world of research and the world of business and provide a space for constructive debate between academic disciplines by promoting knowledge dissemination initiatives which seek to develop conscious citizenship and a more sustainable future.

Since its inception, the Festival has been promoted by the University of Trieste, the Municipality of Trieste and the company Post editori and sees the participation of all the research bodies of the Trieste City of Knowledge Protocol

Since its inception, the Festival has been promoted by the University of Trieste, the Municipality of Trieste and the editing company Post editori, and features all the research bodies within the Trieste City of Knowledge network. More specifically, the University of Trieste selects the best proposals put forward by teaching and research staff each year and these proposals come together into a dense programme of conferences, exhibition spaces, interactive workshops and activities for schools, involving dozens of personalities from the world of national and international research. A considerable number of students also take part in the event and the University provides relevant training for the event.

Since 2022, the University has also offered a section of the programme in English and, thanks to the Academy Italia and International Academy projects, brings around 400 researchers and students from all over Europe to Trieste every year.

Public participation in Trieste Next grows each year, with tens of thousands of visitors involved both in the outreach activities in the marquees in Piazza Unità d'Italia and in other spaces in the city centre, taking part in talks, conferences, exhibitions, shows, workshops and initiatives for schools.

Rose Libri Musica Vino (Roses Books Music Wine), now in its 13th edition, is a cultural event promoted by the social cooperative Agricola Monte San Pantaleone in collaboration with the University of Trieste to enhance the San Giovanni Park. The initiative is held annually every Friday throughout May in the park's large rose garden, during the peak blooming period of its thousands of roses.

Since its inception, the event has offered a varied programme of activities that revolve around a new theme each year, which are articulated in various ways across the various encounters in the four sections of the event: roses, books, music, wine. Elements of the event include talks, book presentations, walks around the San Giovanni Park, wine tastings and in-depth discussions on wine, workshops for children, concerts and university lectures in the rose garden from lecturers, researchers and personalities from the artistic and cultural scene.

The European Researchers' Night is an event that is held every year on the last Friday of September in hundreds of Italian cities and is attended by thousands of researchers and institutions. The initiative is promoted by the European Commission and involves all the institutions and research centres in the city which discuss the passion, discoveries and challenges of researchers through exhibitions, shows, workshops, demonstrations, concerts, scientific games, activities for schools, conferences and hundreds of other initiatives aimed at the public.

SHARPER – SHAring Researchers' Passion for Enhanced Roadmaps is the name of one of the Italian projects supported by the European Commission behind the European Researchers' Night.

The participation of the University of Trieste and the research and higher education institutions adhering to the Trieste City of Knowledge Network is coordinated at a local level by the Science Museum Immaginario Scientifico, which hosts the European Researcher’s Night outreach activities at Warehouse 26 in Trieste's Old Port, in schools and in other city venues.

At a national level, the SHARPER project is coordinated by the science communication company Psiquadro, in collaboration with a consortium comprising the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), five Italian universities (the Marche Polytechnic University, the University of Cagliari, the University of Catania, the University of Palermo, the University of Perugia), the Science Museum Immaginario Scientifico and the Observa – Science in Society association, with over 170 institutions, cultural partners and research bodies involved.

FameLab is an international science communication talent show. The contestants, young researchers, must be able to talk about a scientific topic in three minutes in a clear and engaging way for an audience of non-experts, without the aid of projections, graphics or videos. Participants have only a few seconds and a couple of words to demonstrate their communicative talent, convince the jury and convey their fascination for research.

The initiative, conceived by the Cheltenham Festival, was promoted by the British Council in over 30 countries worldwide until 2021. From 2022 the competition is organised in Italy by Psiquadro in collaboration with the Cheltenham Science Festival.

The local round is organised by Immaginario Scientifico, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)and the Municipality of Trieste, with the remit of the Trieste City of Knowledge network..

FameLab Italia holds local rounds in several Italian cities before reaching the national final, which concludes the SHARPER marathon - European Researchers' Night every year. The winner of FameLab Italia then participates in the FameLab International final (held in Cheltenham in autumn) together with other competitors from all over the world.

In 2024, gECO was born, the University of Trieste’s first ever podcast. The podcast, which has been available on the online streaming platform Spotify since 1st May, features conversations with ecology experts, engaging listeners with current environmental issues.

gECO aims to provide accurate information to encourage action that, starting at an individual level, can positively impact society as a whole. This is why, throughout the episodes, the podcast includes thematic segments with practical examples that provide useful suggestions for reducing individual environmental impact.

The project has its origins in the Master's degree in Ecology and Sustainability of Global Changes at the University of Trieste and is entirely produced by students, under the scientific supervision of faculty members from the Department of Life Sciences. It is part of the integrative training activities offered to students which help them develop soft skills and communication skills useful in the world of work.

The gECO podcasts are released bi-weekly, with each episode lasting approximately 30 minutes. All episodes are available at the following link.

Contacts:
Instagram
gecopodcast@gmail.com.