The University of Trieste has inaugurated the new ‘Antonio Longinelli’ Stable Isotope Laboratory, dedicated to the analysis of stable isotopes and their applications in environmental, geological and interdisciplinary research. Located in the basement of Building ‘O’ at the San Giovanni Campus, Via Weiss 6, the laboratory falls under the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences (MIGe) and is coordinated by Professor Stefano Covelli, with Daniele Karlicek as the technical lead.

The new scientific facility is equipped with a next-generation Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IR MS), an instrument that enables the analysis of stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in solid, liquid and gaseous samples. The acquisition of the equipment was made possible thanks to a special funding call issued by the university in 2022 for the purchase of scientific instruments, with a total allocation of 4 million euros. The proposal was the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration involving academic staff from the MIGe, DSV and DSCF departments.  

Stable isotopes – atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons and therefore in mass – are invaluable tools for studying a wide range of natural phenomena. In Earth Sciences, for instance, stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon are used to reconstruct past temperatures and climate changes by analysing rocks, sediments and ice. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes help to investigate the origin and movement of surface and groundwater, providing key insights into the water cycle and interactions between water and soil. Isotopes are also used to identify sources of pollution and to monitor the degradation processes of pollutants. In Environmental Sciences, the analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes allows for a deeper understanding of ecosystem functioning, nutrient sources and plant growth mechanisms. In archaeology, the study of isotopes in human and animal remains provides information about diet, mobility and ancient cultural contexts. Isotopes also play a key role in verifying the origin and authenticity of food products such as wine and extra virgin olive oil, helping to detect fraud, adulteration and counterfeiting.

The laboratory is named in memory of Professor Antonio Longinelli, a pioneer of isotopic geochemistry in Italy and Full Professor at the University of Trieste from 1983 to 1998. A leading figure in the international scientific community, Longinelli established isotopic geochemistry laboratories in Pisa, Palermo, Trieste and Parma. His extensive body of research covered fields ranging from palaeoclimatology to hydrogeology, from oceanography to environmental science and biomedicine. A member of the European Academy and the Lyncean Academy, he is remembered not only for the value of his scientific contributions, but also for his charismatic personality and enduring influence on the scientific community.