On August 10, Pio Nodari passed away. He was a former Full Professor of Economic and Political Geography and Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Trieste from 2000 to 2003.

The Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics "Bruno de Finetti" (DEAMS) remembers him for his academic work, carried out with great passion and dedication, and for his political commitment, which made him a leading figure in the civic and political life of Trieste.

Professor Nodari’s teaching activity was primarily dedicated to undergraduate and doctoral degree courses within the Faculty of Economics.

His scientific production focused mainly on the study of migration phenomena, but also addressed a wide range of themes and disciplines, such as territorial planning, sustainable economic and tourism development, economic and political dynamics in the north-eastern border area of Italy and the Balkans, political-economic territorial organization processes of the European Union, and the study and development of cartography and Geographic Information Systems applied to economic decision-making and territorial planning. In this context, it is worth recalling his promotion of the interdepartmental centre of excellence in telegeomatics “GeoNetLab.”

For many years, he led the working group of the Association of Italian Academic Geographers (A.Ge.I.) on foreign immigration to Italy, effectively coordinating the national inter-university research on the subject, benefiting over the years from PRIN funding—reserved for projects of significant national interest—and from CNR grants.

He was an tireless promoter of initiatives aimed at enhancing research activities, with particular attention to involving and supporting young emerging scholars. In this spirit, in addition to creating the Laboratory of Economic and Political Geography—still active at DEAMS—he was among the founders of the “Ezio Vanoni” Centre for Economic and Political Studies in Trieste and the “Giorgio Valussi” Centre for Tourism Studies in Gorizia.

He was a mentor to more than one generation of students, many of whom have gone on to hold academic positions at the University of Trieste and other universities.

Pio Nodari was also the organizer of many national and international seminars, meetings and conferences, including the Italian–Romanian Colloquia, and numerous events held as part of Interreg Italy–Slovenia projects.

His commitment and the esteem he enjoyed within the Italian academic geography community are also evidenced by the fact that he served for many years as an elected member of the A.Ge.I. Governing Council.

Those who worked with him remember him with respect, affection and gratitude.