From 3 to 6 September 2025, as part of GO!2025 – European Capital of Culture, Gorizia will host the 120th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society and the 11th International Plant Science Conference “Overcoming Barriers in Plant Science and Beyond.” The event, promoted by the Italian Botanical Society with the scientific collaboration of the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, and the Botanical Garden of Ljubljana, will bring together around 300 participants from Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and the United States, with a significant presence of young researchers.

The congress focuses on the theme of borders (biogeographical, disciplinary, and cultural) and their inevitable overcoming. Historically a crossroads and point of conflict between two worlds (Mediterranean and Central European), two states (Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire first, Italy and Yugoslavia later), and three major cultures (Italian, Germanic, Slavic), Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia have always been a privileged re-immigration route for animal and plant species from the Balkans after the retreat of the glaciers, a transit area for peoples, and still today a gateway for migrants arriving from increasingly distant countries.

The scientific program includes plenary sessions, thematic symposia, and presentations on biogeography, forest ecology, botanical collections, plant physiology, and biodiversity management, with particular attention to the effects of climate change and the spread of invasive alien species. Activities will take place at the Auditorium della Cultura Friulana (Via Roma 23) and the Multipurpose Centre of the University of Udine (Via Santa Chiara 1).

The Organizing Committee is chaired by Mauro Tretiach, Deputy Rector and Full Professor of General Botany at the Department of Life Sciences, with the collaboration of Stefano Martellos, Associate Professor of Systematic Botany.

Alongside the scientific activities, the congress will also feature outreach events open to the public, a guided tour of the city of Gorizia, and an excursion to the Karst, promoting dialogue between the scientific community, institutions, and citizens.

The full program is available at: https://dryades.units.it/go2025/programme.html