A new composite material, based on the interaction between cerium oxide and carbon nanostructures, has been developed in a study coordinated by the University of Trieste and the University of Bologna and published in Advanced Functional Materials. The material has demonstrated the ability to convert CO₂ electrochemically with high energy efficiency, while using a significantly reduced amount of catalytically active components.

Carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas and a direct driver of global warming, is at the centre of international research efforts towards a net-zero economy. Electrocatalysis is one of the most promising strategies for transforming CO₂ into products useful to industry, while also contributing to the decarbonisation of production processes.

As Michele Melchionna, Professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Trieste, who co-authored the study with Giovanni Valenti of the University of Bologna, explains ‘The catalytic conversion of CO₂ is one of the most interesting and relevant challenges in the current scientific landscape and must be integrated into sustainable processes such as photocatalysis or electrocatalysis. This requires the development of rather complex catalytic materials, since the efficiency of CO₂ chemical conversion critically depends on a precise balance of the catalyst’s properties. For this reason, a highly effective strategy is to exploit the appropriate interfacing of multiple phases, as in our project.’

Paolo Fornasiero, Professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at UniTS and co-author of the study together with UniTS researcher Miriam Marchi, highlights another key aspect of the work: ‘In a politically unstable context, where the extraction and distribution of strategic chemical elements are heavily dependent on geopolitics, it becomes increasingly important to maximise catalytic efficiency and material stability, thereby reducing the quantities needed to achieve performance that is industrially acceptable.’

The study also involved research groups from the University of Padua and the San Sebastián CIC biomaGUNE research centre and was carried out with the support of several projects, including the European H2020 Decade project and the Italian PRIN-PNRR ECHO-EF and PRIDE projects. 

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The University of Trieste is one of five of research institutions participating in the INSIDE oceanographic mission (Unravelling the lithosphere-asthenosphere system of the Tyrrhenian back arc basin through geological, petrological and geophysical data, integration and geodynamic modelling), a campaign coordinated by the national research centre (CNR) that brings together an international team aboard the research vessel, the Gaia Blu. The campaign aim is to improve knowledge of the Tyrrhenian seabed and the underlying geological structures. 

Some of the most important activities include the measurement of terrestrial heat flow and the application of advanced seismic imaging techniques. The latter of which allows researchers to obtain high-resolution images of the bathymetry and seabed, making it possible to identify active faults, recent sedimentary deposits and ongoing deformations. Heat flow measurements, on the other hand, mean the heat rising from the Earth's mantle towards the seabed can be quantified. This is a decisive parameter for assessing the thermal state and tectonic activity of the basin.

The new data acquired is unprecedented in its accuracy and will offer new insights into the thermodynamics of the Tyrrhenian region and its relationship with seismic and volcanic phenomena.

On board the Gaia Blu are Prof. Magdala Tesauro, professor of Solid Earth Geophysics, and research assistant Dr Racine Abigail Basant, both from the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences. The Trieste group contributes to the choice of data acquisition points, data collection and laboratory analysis. 

'The interpretation of these results,’ emphasises Prof. Tesauro, 'will allow us to estimate the physical properties of the crust and upper mantle of the Tyrrhenian basin, achieving one of the main objectives of the project.’

The INSIDE mission is coordinated by Dr Maria Filomena Loreto of the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR-ISMAR) and involves the participation of UniTS, the Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Genoa (DISTAV), the Rome2 INGV section on 'Geomagnetism, Aeronomy and Environmental Geophysics', and the Université de la Sorbonne (UPMC, Paris).

Results were presented in Trieste from the cross-border clinical research project X-BRAIN.net - Network for cross-border cooperation aimed at the rehabilitation of stroke patients with innovative technologies, funded by the Interreg Italy-Slovenia Programme with a total budget of €750,000.

Coordinated by the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences at the University of Trieste, the project involved the participation of the Science and Research Centre Koper (ZRS Koper), the Neurological Clinic of ASUGI’s Cattinara Hospital and the Neurology Unit of Izola General Hospital.

The aim of the project is to make stroke rehabilitation more effective, a crucial challenge for today's healthcare system, by activating a targeted protocol in the very first days, enhanced by the use of innovative technologies. ‘The multimodal approach,’ explains project coordinator Professor Gianni Biolo of the University of Trieste, ‘combines nutritional integration, cognitive training through virtual reality and prehabilitation activities to ensure the maintenance of muscle mass and strength and to modulate the reorganisation processes within the central nervous system that are typical of immobility, promoting a more rapid recovery at the end of the period of inactivity.’

The experimental phase was conducted on healthy volunteers, with an average age of 68, who had to stay in bed for ten days. ‘From a nutritional point of view,’ continues Biolo, ‘we intervened by increasing protein intake from 0.8 to 1.4 grams per kilogram of body weight per day and introducing a daily intake of 3.5 grams of the amino acid leucine, in order to ensure the maintenance of muscle mass.’

‘Through immersive and multisensory environments,’ explains Dr Luka Šlosar of the Science and Research Centre Koper, ‘the volunteers underwent mental training that preserved the flow of neuromuscular information and modulated the reorganisation processes within the central nervous system. In this way, it was possible to promote the maintenance of muscle strength and accelerate recovery times.’

‘Strokes are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide,’ emphasises Professor Paolo Manganotti, director of the Neurological Clinic at Cattinara Hospital, ‘with consequences that profoundly affect daily life. Intervening in the first few days with targeted rehabilitation programmes is essential for recovering compromised functions and improving quality of life. Thanks to the project, we were able to set up an active room entirely dedicated to the acute phase, equipped with virtual reality devices that allow for safe, stimulating and personalised exercises. The immersive and interactive aspect increases patient motivation and consistency, which are decisive factors in a successful recovery.’

A portable, inexpensive sensor capable of detecting the presence of chemical pollutants (PFAS) in water in just a few minutes. This is the result of a study coordinated by Marcello Berto of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMoRe), in collaboration with Pierangelo Metrangolo of the Polytechnic University of Milan (PoliMi) and Lucia Pasquato of the University of Trieste (UniTS). The research has just been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials and is part of the PRIN-Nifty project funded by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR).

PFAS, poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances, are chemical compounds used in numerous consumer products, from non-stick pans to waterproof fabrics. Resistant to degradation, they accumulate in living tissues and spread into the environment – water, soil and air – even over long distances, making them one of the most insidious pollutants for health today.

The sensor developed by the three universities responds to this need: it is based on an organic electrolyte modulation transistor, capable of distinguishing different types of PFAS thanks to a special molecular coating designed by the UniTS research group.

'The heart of the sensor,' explains Lucia Pasquato, professor of organic chemistry at the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 'is a gold electrode coated with a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) consisting of two types of molecules. Our group has been working on these coatings for over 15 years, particularly those containing fluorinated molecules, and we have developed the expertise to design them in such a way as to make them stable, reproducible and effective. In this case, the aim was to create a SAM that would bring the water to be analysed into contact with the electrode and at the same time be able to interact with PFAS. To do this, we combined two components: fluorinated thiols, which promote the recognition of contaminants thanks to fluorine-fluorine interactions, and hydrophilic thiols, which improve the wettability of the surface. This combination, together with the expertise of the UniMoRe and PoliMi groups, has resulted in a portable, inexpensive and high-performance sensor.’ 

The full article on Advanced Functional Materials

The EAES Research Grant has been awarded to Professor Silvia Palmisano, Associate Professor of General Surgery at the University of Trieste, and her team, for the project Teaching Rectal Surgery through Artificial Intelligence Navigation – TRAIN Study. This is an international recognition conferred by the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES).

The study, which involves an international network of experts, aims to enhance training in rectal surgery through the integration of artificial intelligence–based navigation systems.

Founded in 1990, the EAES is one of the leading international organizations in the field of endoscopic surgery and related interventional techniques, engaged in promoting training, research, and development activities, as well as organizing high-level scientific congresses.

The grant, worth a total of €30,000 and awarded annually to two or three carefully selected projects, supports clinical and translational research activities to promote safe and high-quality minimally invasive surgery.

For Professor Palmisano, who also serves as Medical Director of the Complex Structure of Surgical Clinic at the Giuliano Isontina University Health Authority (ASUGI), the award of the grant “highlights the value of teamwork and international collaboration.”

The Department of Life Sciences (DSV) at the University of Trieste is a partner in a project that uses cutting-edge technology to reconstruct the environmental evolution of the Venice lagoon through the analysis of historical and contemporary macroalgae. 

Coordinated by Professor Stefano Loppi of the University of Siena in an Italian first, the initiative involves use of a new high-precision X-ray instrument, recently acquired with NRRP funds by the University of Siena. The instrument allows metal content in samples to be detected without damaging them.

The University of Trieste working group is made up of Professors Annalisa Falace (Environmental and Applied Botany) and Stefano Martellos (Systematic Botany), with the collaboration of PhD students Alessandra Metalli and Linda Seggi (PhD programme in Environment and Life). 

The UniTS team's activity focuses on three main areas: collecting the macroalgae currently present in the lagoon (already carried out in June), providing specialist expertise in algae taxonomy and biology, and scientifically enhancing particularly historical museum collections.

The study will focus on over 200 algae samples dating back to the 1930s, kept in the Vatova-Schiffner algae collection at the Natural History Museum of Venice under the care of Raffaella Trabucco, which will be compared with current specimens collected by the Trieste research group.

‘This is the first time in Italy that this technology has been applied to herbarium samples of macroalgae,’ emphasises Professor Stefano Martellos. ‘The analyses are completely non-invasive and allow unique and irreplaceable museum collections to be preserved, expanding their research potential.’

‘Macroalgae are excellent bioindicators,’ adds Martellos, ‘and analysing their chemical composition over a period of almost a century allows us to accurately reconstruct the impact of human activity on the lagoon ecosystem, providing valuable data for more informed environmental management.’

‘The potential is enormous,’ comments Professor Loppi, project coordinator. ‘We can rewrite the environmental history of these areas, making a scientific heritage that has been little explored until now accessible to the public.’

The project will be completed by the end of the year and the results will be presented at two important international scientific events: the 9th International Plant Science Conference and the 3rd Conference of the International Association for Biomonitoring of Environmental Pollution.

The project Compassionate Leadership – CompAct has been officially launched. Promoted and funded by the Veneto Region, it is part of a strategic intervention plan aimed at addressing the increasingly alarming rise in unplanned resignations. The project seeks to adapt the compassionate leadership model to the Italian healthcare context, proposing a leadership style capable of recognizing workplace distress, understanding its causes, and intervening to foster a more sustainable work organization — one that is centered on the idea of “caring for those who care.”

The University of Trieste is a key scientific partner in the adaptation and validation phase of the international model to the Italian context, alongside the Universities of Milan, Padua, and Verona. Representing UniTS are Prof. Sara Cervai (Work and Organizational Psychology) and Prof. Gabriele Blasutig (Organizational Sociology), both from the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

The project addresses the challenges posed by the so-called “Great Resignation” and the growing unease among healthcare workers, by promoting an approach based on mutual care, relational responsibility, and organizational wellbeing.

Developed with the scientific contributions of Michael West (King’s Fund UK), compassionate leadership is a model already successfully tested in several European countries, particularly in the United Kingdom. It has proven effective in improving workplace climate, reducing burnout, and increasing satisfaction among both healthcare professionals and patients — especially in emotionally demanding environments like healthcare settings.

“At the international level, results are promising,” said Prof. Sara Cervai. “We need to understand how this model can work in the Italian context, within a public healthcare system where people are experiencing alarming levels of distress. We are aware of the impact that leadership roles can have on staff wellbeing, and we aim to support both leaders and collaborators in regaining motivation and wellbeing in their professional practice, through a scientific approach.”

CompAct is a two-year action-research project, with field trials conducted in two Venetian Local Health Units (ULSS 3 Serenissima and ULSS 4 Veneto Orientale), involving both top and middle management in three operational units (internal medicine, emergency services, and primary care).

Within this framework, the University of Trieste is responsible for the cultural adaptation of the model, through translation, reworking, and comparison with existing best practices, in close dialogue with the professionals involved. The following stages will include implementation within healthcare organizations, scientific validation, and dissemination of results.
“There are many cultural and linguistic challenges ahead,” Cervai explained, “starting with the very meaning of the word compassionate, which in Italian must be understood as empathy and support, not as pity or sentimentality.”

The other academic partners will be in charge of quantitative validation (Prof. Paolo Gubitta, University of Padua), qualitative validation (Prof. Elisa Ambrosi, University of Verona), and dissemination (Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan). The Veneto Region will oversee both the coordination and the implementation within the participating healthcare organizations.

The project’s kick-off meeting was held in Venice, at the Scuola Grande di San Marco Evangelista, in the presence of the Regional Minister of Health and the General Director for Health of the Veneto Region, the General Directors of the two participating ULSS units, and university representatives.

This initiative is part of the strategic actions outlined in Resolution No. 960/2024 of the Veneto Region to tackle the retention crisis in the public healthcare sector and stands as a virtuous example of collaboration between institutions, academia, and the healthcare system.

Promoting innovation, digital and green transition, and cooperation among Italian and Croatian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the blue economy sectors: this is the goal of the LEAP TO BLUE – Unleash the potential for joint transition in the blue economy project, funded by the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 Programme and officially launched with the kick-off meeting held at the University of Zadar.

The University of Trieste is a scientific partner in the project through the Department of Economic, Business, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (DEAMS), with a team coordinated by Professor Rubina Romanello and composed of faculty members, research fellows, and technical-administrative staff: Guido Bortoluzzi, Alberto Dreassi, Chiara Marinelli, Antonio Eusebio Fiori, and Piero Gabrielli. The project, led by the University of Zadar, is expected to last three years, with a total budget of over six million euros, of which nearly one million is allocated to UniTS.

LEAP TO BLUE addresses shared challenges faced by the coastal regions of Italy and Croatia, including the adoption of advanced technologies, the development of digital and environmental skills, access to international markets, and the reduction of territorial disparities. The difficulties many SMEs encounter on the path toward green and digital transition—together with the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation—require integrated responses and a cross-border vision.

The project aims to engage over 150 small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting them in adopting sustainable and innovative practices, creating new jobs, and expanding into new markets. To achieve these goals, LEAP TO BLUE will promote training and mentoring activities, facilitate business collaborations through networking events, and implement a voucher scheme through two calls, allowing SMEs to access specialized services for innovation, growth, and internationalization.

The University of Trieste is actively involved in all phases of the project and will play a key role in two Work Packages. In WP2 – Cross-Border Partnerships and Service Launch for Blue Economy Transformation, UniTS will take part in workshops aimed at promoting the project’s opportunities to service providers and SMEs in both Italy and Croatia, including hosting one of the events in Trieste. In WP3 – Sustainability model for upskilling and reskilling to enable competitive and sustainable cross-border blue economy, UniTS will contribute to the development of a monitoring system for skill and human capital development, a strategic element for ensuring sustainable and long-lasting growth of the blue economy in the Adriatic context.

During the inaugural press conference in Zadar, Professor Romanello stated that the University of Trieste is particularly pleased to play an active role in an initiative aimed at strengthening the blue economy ecosystem in the Adriatic basin through collaboration among academia, businesses, and institutions. The project, she emphasized, represents a concrete opportunity to support SMEs in adopting more sustainable and digital business models, while creating new synergies on both sides of the Adriatic.

LEAP TO BLUE involves six main partners: in addition to the University of Trieste and the University of Zadar, participants include the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, ARTI Puglia, and Unioncamere Veneto. The initiative is also supported by numerous Italian and Croatian institutions, including HAMAG-BICRO, the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, Unioncamere Italy, and ART-ER Emilia-Romagna.

Seven student-athletes from the University of Trieste will represent Italy at the upcoming FISU World University Games, scheduled from 16th to 27th July in the German region of Rhine-Ruhr. 

The top international competition dedicated to university sports, heir to the historic Universiade, will see one of the largest Italian contingents ever, with 219 athletes from 57 universities competing in 15 disciplines.

UniTS will contribute with Ilaria Corazza (Political and Administrative Sciences), already a gold and silver medallist in Chengdu in 2023, who will compete in single scull (solo rowing), while Tommaso Vianello (Strategy, Consultancy and Business Logistics) will take to the water in the mixed quadruple sculls (mixed rowing). The national water polo women’s team will be counting on the goals scored by Pallanuoto Trieste's members Giorgia Klatowski (Law), Emma De March (Science and Technology for the Environment and Nature) and Guya Zizza (Psychology). In compound archery, Elisa Bazzichetto (Biology) and Antonio Brunello (Naval Engineering) will take to the platform.

The competitions will take place in six cities, including Bochum, Duisburg and Essen, with Italy determined to prove its leading role in world university sport after finishing fourth in the medal table at the previous edition.

For many students, participation in the World University Games represents the pinnacle of a route that combines academic commitment and sporting ambition, against the backdrop of a veritable university Olympics. 

The University of Trieste, which strongly supports the dual careers of its student-athletes by providing support that allow them to balance the demands of both competitive sport and university education, is preparing to enthusiastically follow the adventures of the ‘magnificent 7’ at the upcoming World University Games.

A new international study, coordinated by Francesca Malfatti, Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste, has revealed how black carbon can significantly influence microbial communities in the marine environment, with important implications for the global carbon cycle and the functioning of ocean ecosystems. The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, involved a team of researchers from the Oceanography Department of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), Elettra and several French and Austrian research institutions.

Black carbon, the focus of the study, is a residue resulting from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood, biomass or biofuels. It makes up a significant fraction of atmospheric particulate matter and can reach the ocean through rain, wind or river runoff. Due to its ability to absorb heat, it also contributes to global warming.

Through experiments carried out in the Ligurian and Adriatic Seas, the researchers simulated high concentrations of black carbon (24 mg per litre) to observe how marine microbial communities reacted to its presence. The results showed that black carbon can stimulate the growth of heterotrophic prokaryotic microorganisms, which feed on organic matter in the water, and increase the production of organic carbon, making it available to other marine organisms.

However, the same experiments showed a decrease in enzymatic activity, which normally promotes the degradation of organic matter, and a reduced presence of viruses. This suggests that black carbon alters the microbial balance, creating environmental micro-niches in which microorganisms with specific metabolic functions proliferate.

These results help to better understand the functioning of the so-called ‘microbial carbon pump’ (MCP), a mechanism that transforms organic matter into more stable forms, capable of remaining in the ocean for long periods and thus contributing to carbon storage. Studying the role of black carbon, especially that of anthropogenic origin, is therefore essential for improving climate change models and developing effective mitigation strategies.