On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the University of Trieste renews its commitment to promoting equal opportunities, supporting women’s careers, including in STEM fields, and continuously monitoring gender dynamics as a key tool for shaping inclusive and informed university policies.

Further insight is provided by the data presented in the AlmaLaurea Gender Report 2026. The survey confirms the high participation and strong academic performance of UniTS female students, while also highlighting structural differences in the transition to the labour market, particularly in terms of pay.

More women among 2024 graduates

In 2024, the University awarded degrees to 3,226 students (1,842 bachelor’s degrees, 979 master’s degrees and 405 single-cycle master’s degrees). Women account for 58.7% of the total, with a particularly strong presence in single-cycle master’s programmes (65.7%).

Women graduates show strong academic performance overall: 62.1% complete their studies on time (compared with 56.2% of men), and 69% have undertaken a curricular internship — nearly 15 percentage points higher than their male peers.

The report also shows that choosing the same field of study as a parent is less common among women, suggesting greater independence in the choice of field. 

Employment Five Years After Graduation: High Rates, Pay Gap Remains

The survey of master’s graduates from 2019, interviewed five years after graduation, shows high employment rates: 92.5% for women and 93.6% for men.

However, differences remain in job characteristics and earnings. Women report an average net monthly salary of €1,904, compared with €2,097 for men. Women are also more likely to work in the public sector (44.7% compared with 38.1%), while men are more likely to hold permanent contracts or be self-employed.

STEM Fields: Female Participation Growing, Disparities Persist 

In STEM programmes, traditionally characterised by lower female participation, women account for 38.7% of 2024 graduates.

Five years after graduation, the employment rate stands at 90.8% for women and 93% for men. A pay gap is also observed in this area: women report an average net monthly salary of €2,118 compared with €2,207 for men. Permanent contracts are more common among men, while women are more likely to hold fixed-term contracts.

Stefano Parolai, Director of the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences at University of Trieste, has been appointed by the Seismological Society of America (SSA) as the new Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA), one of the most authoritative international journals in seismology.

Parolai will begin his term in summer 2026, succeeding geophysicist P. Martin Mai. Founded in 1911, BSSA publishes approximately 175 scientific articles each year on earthquakes, seismic risk, and Earth sciences.

“BSSA is perhaps the most historically significant journal in the field of seismology,” Parolai commented. “I am honored to take on this role and to help ensure that it remains a reference point for the international scientific community.”

Parolai’s research focuses on seismic hazard and risk, the development of methodologies for assessing site effects, and seismic signal analysis, with particular attention to early warning systems.

Among the goals of his new mandate are strengthening the quality of the peer-review process, expanding the journal’s author base, and engaging the next generation of researchers within the international seismology community.

Formula 1 drivers develop highly specific physiological adaptations closely linked to the demands of ultra-high-intensity driving. Accelerations of up to 3–4 g, mechanical loads on the neck, constrained postures, thermal stress, and limited recovery periods shape the driver’s body in a unique way. This is the key finding of an international review conducted by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the University of Roehampton (London), with the direct involvement of three Formula 1 performance coaches working at the highest levels, including the trainers of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

The study, aimed at addressing the lack of specific scientific knowledge on drivers’ physiology, was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the leading peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of sports medicine and science.

Formula 1 drivers, the authors explain, are not necessarily “outliers” in general parameters such as height, body mass, or aerobic capacity compared with other professional athletes. However, highly specific adaptations emerge, first and foremost the development of neck strength, which is essential to counter the high multidirectional forces acting on the head—and helmet—during cornering, braking, and acceleration, and to preserve visual stability, driving precision, and reaction time, all decisive factors for both performance and safety. In addition to neck strength, researchers identified other specific adaptations: the ability to withstand repeated and asymmetrical loads—including those affecting the lower limbs, especially during braking—adaptations of the trunk muscles, shoulder girdle, and deep stabilizers, as well as the heart’s capacity to manage peaks in heart rate.

Alex Buoite Stella, co-author of the study and lecturer in Physiology at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste, explains:
“The Formula One championship is one of the most fascinating and globally visible sports, but it is also among those that impose some of the most complex physiological demands on the athlete’s body. Accelerations, braking forces, thermal stress, constrained postures, and limited recovery accumulate throughout the season. With this work, we aimed to systematically understand how the driver’s body responds and adapts to these demands, combining scientific research with the direct experience of coaches working in Formula 1.”

The study also highlights the growing impact of environmental and logistical factors in modern Formula 1. With twenty-four races across twenty-one countries, intercontinental travel, and events held in extreme climatic conditions, thermal stress and recovery management become central elements. Researchers from the University of Trieste, together with several students from the Racing Team UniTS—the university’s Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team participating in the international university engineering design competition—analyzed the environmental conditions of all races in the most recent championship, estimating their potential thermal impact on drivers. Recent episodes, such as the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, have shown how extreme heat can pose a real risk not only to performance but also to drivers’ health.

In this context, strategies such as heat acclimatization, pre-race cooling, and targeted hydration management are increasingly widespread, but—according to the authors—many practices are still guided more by experience than by data collected directly during races.

Structured interviews with performance coaches made it possible to describe how physiological demands translate into highly personalized training programs, tailored to the type of circuit, the characteristics of the driver, and the expected environmental conditions.

“By combining clinical and research expertise with the experience gained daily in the paddock, we were able to build the most up-to-date picture currently available of the physiological profile of a Formula 1 driver. Our work not only identifies areas where further research is needed but also proposes practical strategies to optimize performance while protecting athletes’ health,” Buoite Stella adds.

The authors and coaches point to the need for increasingly specific studies for Formula 1, conducted as close as possible to real racing conditions, capable of measuring parameters such as heart rate, body temperature, oxygen consumption, and lactate levels. Such research could also help clarify possible long-term health effects, particularly regarding the lumbar spine and exposure to vibrations from the cars.

Kim Keedle, a Formula 1 performance coach involved in the study, concludes:
“Since regulations prohibit the use of monitoring devices inside the car, we rely on data collected outside the vehicle, which entails certain limitations. For instance, it would be interesting to compare heart rate responses while driving on different circuits and under varying conditions. Compared with other sports, heart rate measurement may seem relatively simple, but it would represent a major step forward and would allow us to quantify the physiological demands more precisely and prepare drivers accordingly.”

***

Full study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
The physiological and health demands of Formula One motor racing: a comprehensive review with driver performance coach insight
Christopher James Tyler¹, Luke Felton¹, Andrea Ferrari², Kim Keedle³, Rupert Manwaring⁴, Alex Buoite Stella⁵

1. School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, SW15 4JD
2. Motorsport Performance Coach, Italy
3. Motorsport Performance Coach, Australia
4. Motorsport Performance Coach, United Kingdom
5. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

As part of DEH ALMA (Advanced Learning Multimedia Alliance for Inclusive Academic Innovation), funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) through the Digital Education Hubs initiative, the University of Trieste has launched a new video production laboratory dedicated to digital teaching and developed its first four MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), which will become part of the national ALMA catalogue. 

MOOCs are free and flexible online courses designed to broaden access to higher education and complement traditional teaching through innovative digital tools. They fit within the framework of micro-credentials, short academic certifications that recognise specific skills gained through targeted courses.

UniTS MOOCs are available on the Federica Web Learning platform of the University of Naples Federico II, which is responsible for the operational management and coordination of the ALMA network. The catalogue can be accessed via the project website .

“With the launch of the new Laboratory and the first four MOOCs, our university strengthens its commitment to high-quality digital teaching capable of integrating technological innovation, inclusion and international outlook, contributing to the transformation of the Italian higher education system within the framework of the PNRR’s strategic investments,” emphasises Rector Donata Vianelli.

The University of Trieste’s first four MOOCs

The courses developed by the University cover different disciplinary areas, adopting an interdisciplinary approach and addressing a non-specialist audience.

Data Science and Statistics
Led by Luca Bortolussi, Adriano Peron, Alejandro Rodriguez Garcia, Alessandro Fabris and Teresa Scantamburlo, the course provides an introductory interdisciplinary overview of digital data. It addresses key issues related to the nature, collection, organisation, analysis and visualisation of data, with particular attention to ethics, personal data protection and current regulations (GDPR). The aim is to provide conceptual and practical tools to understand and use data correctly, consciously and responsibly.

Philosophy
The course delivered by Professor Giovanni Grandi introduces different interpretations of “doing justice”, examining commutative justice, distributive justice, retributive justice and the paradigm of restorative justice. Conflict resolution practices related to restorative justice are explored, with particular reference to the criminal justice context.

Physics
Created by Professor Pierre Thibault, the course provides a comprehensive overview of X-ray computed tomography (CT). It covers the historical development of the technique and its main applications in medicine, research and industry, introducing the fundamental principles governing X-ray interaction with matter, including attenuation and beam hardening. The course describes different CT system configurations (medical CT, micro-CT and synchrotron-based systems) and presents the mathematical foundations of image formation through the Radon transform. The course explains both analytical reconstruction methods, such as filtered back projection, and iterative approaches. It concludes by presenting techniques for interpreting and visualising volumetric data.

Health and Medicine, Anthropology, Translation
The course delivered by Federico Berton, Roberta Altin, Giuseppe Grimaldi and Caterina Falbo addresses contemporary migration, with particular attention to healthcare management in contexts characterised by linguistic, cultural and religious diversity. The programme highlights the importance of adequate training for healthcare professionals, enabling them to interact appropriately with interpreters and patients while promoting effective and culturally aware communication.

The DEH ALMA lab: Technology and Broadcast-Level Quality

The new studio is a multifunctional space designed to be rapidly reconfigured according to production needs: a MOOC recording set, video-podcast studio, photo studio setup and platform for live webinars.

The facility is equipped with 4K PTZ cameras, multicamera control systems, professional lighting and broadcast-level audio systems. Thanks to a dedicated 10 Gbps network and an advanced storage system, the laboratory streamlines the workflow from recording to post-production.

Si è spento in questi giorni Romano Isler, stimato docente dell’Università di Trieste, autore di numerosi lavori scientifici, per molti anni alla guida del CUS Trieste in qualità di Presidente e figura centrale dello sport universitario nazionale dove ha ricoperto anche il ruolo di vicepresidente del CUSI.

Nato a Trieste nel 1941, Isler si è formato presso il Ginnasio Dante Alighieri e ha conseguito la laurea in Matematica nel 1965 con il massimo dei voti. Entrato in ruolo nel 1967 come assistente di Analisi matematica, ha svolto un’intensa attività didattica nei corsi di laurea di Ingegneria, Chimica ed Economia, contribuendo alla crescita di generazioni di studenti.

Dopo aver vinto i concorsi a professore associato e straordinario, è divenuto professore ordinario nel 1993, ricoprendo stabilmente la cattedra di Matematica generale. Accanto all’impegno didattico, ha svolto un’attività di ricerca di respiro internazionale: dapprima in topologia generale, poi nell’ambito della teoria delle decisioni e delle funzioni di utilità, in collaborazione con studiosi italiani e stranieri.

Isler ha inoltre dedicato energie e competenze alla vita istituzionale dell’Ateneo, ricoprendo ruoli di grande responsabilità: è stato Presidente dell’Opera Universitaria di Trieste (1979–1988) nonché componente del Comitato per lo Sport Universitario dell'ateneo, distinguendosi per l’attenzione costante al diritto allo studio e al benessere degli studenti.

La comunità universitaria ricorda in lui un docente rigoroso e appassionato, un ricercatore curioso e generoso, un collega stimato per equilibrio e disponibilità. Alla famiglia e a tutti coloro che gli sono stati vicini giungano le più sentite condoglianze dell’Ateneo.

È stato firmato nella Sala Cammarata del Rettorato il protocollo d’intesa tra l’Università di Trieste e la Croce Rossa Italiana – Comitato Regionale del Friuli Venezia Giulia ODV, alla presenza della Magnifica Rettrice, Donata Vianelli, e della Presidente regionale CRI, Ariella Testa. 

L’accordo, di durata triennale, avvia una collaborazione strutturata che mette a sistema competenze, esperienze e reti delle due istituzioni per sviluppare iniziative comuni su formazione, disseminazione, ricerca e progettualità innovative, con un’attenzione specifica al coinvolgimento della comunità studentesca e del volontariato. 

L’intesa definisce un quadro condiviso di lavoro orientato allo scambio di know-how e alla costruzione di attività di interesse comune: le parti intendono collaborare nella realizzazione di momenti formativi e di disseminazione, anche attraverso la partecipazione di docenti ed esperti alle iniziative promosse dall’Ateneo o dalla CRI, e nell’organizzazione di convegni, incontri e dibattiti accompagnati da azioni di comunicazione concordate per la promozione e la diffusione dei contenuti. 

Il protocollo prevede inoltre la promozione di studi, ricerche e pubblicazioni su temi condivisi e la creazione di partnership per la partecipazione a progetti europei e nazionali. 

Un elemento qualificante riguarda la possibilità di coinvolgere studenti e studentesse UniTS nelle attività di volontariato della Croce Rossa Italiana, con l’eventuale riconoscimento di crediti formativi extracurriculari fino a un massimo di 3, oltre alla facilitazione di percorsi di tirocinio curriculare o extracurriculare collegati alle iniziative sviluppate nell’ambito della collaborazione. 

«La collaborazione tra l’Ateneo e la Croce Rossa Italiana - spiega la prof.ssa Vanessa Nicolin, delegata al Benessere studentesco e inclusione di UniTS - rappresenta un elemento di rilevanza strategica nel rafforzamento dei rapporti con il territorio e nella promozione della tutela della salute pubblica. Tale sinergia consente di integrare il patrimonio scientifico, formativo e metodologico dell’Ateneo con l’esperienza operativa e la capillarità territoriale della Croce Rossa, generando un modello di collaborazione che si configura come uno strumento di governance territoriale integrata».

«Questa iniziativa nasce anche dall’entusiasmo e dalla capacità propositiva di alcuni nostri giovani volontari, che sono anche studenti universitari – sottolinea Ariella Testa, Presidente regionale della Croce Rossa Italiana FVG –. Sono stati loro a portare all’attenzione della Croce Rossa e dell’Ateneo idee concrete, poi sviluppate insieme fino a tradursi in un accordo operativo. Ora siamo pronti a lavorare fianco a fianco per far conoscere sempre di più, dentro e fuori l’Università, i principi e le attività della Croce Rossa. I giovani, in questo percorso, hanno un ruolo decisivo: sono parte attiva del presente e una risorsa fondamentale per il futuro».

In occasione della Giornata internazionale delle malattie rare 2026, che si celebra il 28 febbraio, l’Università di Trieste, rinnova l’attenzione verso un ambito di ricerca in cui la dimensione scientifica si intreccia in modo diretto con i bisogni delle persone e delle famiglie. Le patologie rare – spesso complesse da riconoscere e da trattare – richiedono percorsi diagnostici più rapidi, terapie mirate e una presa in carico sempre più personalizzata: obiettivi che richiedono competenze diverse, dal laboratorio alla clinica, dalla genetica ai dati, fino allo sviluppo di nuovi modelli sperimentali.

In questo contesto, UniTS contribuisce con gruppi e progetti che lavorano per migliorare la comprensione dei meccanismi di malattia, affinare gli strumenti diagnostici e costruire soluzioni con un impatto concreto sulla qualità della vita. Un esempio arriva dall’area delle malattie epatiche rare, dove la ricerca si concentra in particolare sulle patologie colestatiche. L’Ateneo partecipa allo studio multicentrico nazionale dedicato alla ricerca di mutazioni associate alla Colestasi Intraepatica Familiare Progressiva (PFIC) in pazienti adulti con colangite sclerosante dei piccoli dotti, integrando dati clinici, biochimici, radiologici e istologici con analisi genetiche dell’esoma (con attenzione a geni come ABCB4). L’obiettivo è duplice: riconoscere forme genetiche dell’adulto che possono rimanere a lungo non identificate e contribuire a ridefinire l’inquadramento diagnostico delle colestasi criptogenetiche attraverso correlazioni genotipo–fenotipo.

Accanto a questo filone, è attiva la collaborazione con la Struttura Complessa di Genetica Medica dell’IRCCS Burlo Garofolo per identificare nuove varianti patogenetiche nelle colestasi geneticamente determinate in età adulta. La ricerca include anche lo sviluppo di modelli cellulari utili a studiare la funzione delle varianti individuate e, più in generale, l’identificazione di nuovi geni responsabili delle PFIC, un gruppo di malattie rare prevalentemente pediatriche su cui UniTS e Burlo lavorano in stretta sinergia.

Contributi scientifici: prof.ssa Lory Crocè (Gastroenterologia, Università di Trieste); dott. Adamo Pio D’Adamo (Genetica medica, Università di Trieste e IRCCS Burlo Garofolo).

Preparations are already underway for Trieste Next – the Festival of Scientific Research, whose 15th edition is set to take place from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September 2026.

The 2026 edition of the Festival – promoted again this year by the Municipality of Trieste, the University of Trieste, Gruppo NEM Nord Est Multimedia, ilNordest, Il Piccolo, co-promoted by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia with Area Science Park, OGS-National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, SISSA-International School for Advanced Studies, will be entitled “The shape of thought. Interactions between brains and intelligences”.

“Since its first edition, Trieste Next has addressed some of the most pressing themes in scientific and cultural debate”, the organisers state. “The 15th edition, titled ‘The Shape of Thought’, invites reflection on what it means to think in today’s world, where brains, intelligences and systems interact in increasingly complex ways. The festival explores intelligence in its many forms – natural, artificial, emotional, social and collective – and examines how digital technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming cognitive processes and learning environments. The programme explores systems of thought as interconnected networks of bodies, machines, languages, cultures and institutions, as well as the responsibilities that arise when designing the future of intelligence, with contributions from guests working across STEM, the humanities and the social sciences.”

Following the success of the 2025 edition, the organisers reaffirm their aim to continue fostering dialogue on science and innovation in Trieste, further expanding the programme through meetings, talks and debates that will bring the city to life over the three-day festival and will, as always, also be available via live streaming. As in the past two editions, Trieste Next will retain its international outlook, complementing the extensive Italian-language programme with events held in English and collaborations with leading international scientific partners. “Once again this year, we look forward to welcoming researchers from across Europe, who will join the hundreds of PhD and undergraduate students travelling from all over Italy to Trieste each year to take part in the Festival,” the organisers add.

The “Trieste Next Award – Science Book of the Year”, dedicated to leading figures in science communication, will also be presented for the fourth consecutive year. Last year’s prize was awarded to Martina Ardizzi for "L’algoritmo bipede. L’avvincente storia di come mente, corpo e tecnologia evolvono insieme" (Egea).

From 25th to 27th September, the programme will feature three days of conferences, seminars and workshops, with more than 100 events and 300 speakers, as well as exhibition spaces in Piazza Unità d’Italia and activities for schools. 

TRIESTE NEXT

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Transform4Europe alliance, of which UniTS is a member, has issued the following statement:

Four years ago, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine, gravely and deliberately violating international law. Among the countless acts of aggression and suffering caused, one case that stands out is the forced displacement of Mariupol State University (MSU), one of the main partners of the Transform4Europe alliance. Our friends and colleagues at MSU continue to demonstrate, at great personal sacrifice and under constant threat, remarkable resilience, strength and courage in upholding European values and our shared vision for Europe's transformation.

“Standing with MSU means standing with the principles that define Europe itself,” stresses Dominik Brodowski, Acting Secretary General of the Transform4Europe alliance and Ambassador of Mariupol State University. “Transform4Europe remains firmly committed to supporting our partners at Mariupol State University.”

A delegation from Panama was welcomed at UniTS by Prof. Erik Vesselli, Rector's Delegate for Technology Transfer and Research Partners. The delegation represents the Panamanian scientific system and has come to visit the Trieste System institutions. It consisted of Prof. José Fábrega, President of the Panamanian Association for the Advancement of Science (Asociacion panamena para el avance de la ciencia - APANAC), Director at theTechnological University of Panama and professor of Hydraulic and Hydrotechnical Engineering, Environment and Environmental Technology, Prof. Mairim Solís from the The Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies (GMI), professor of Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Stem Cells Applied to Regenerative Medicine and Health, Prof. Miguel Ángel Esbrí from the University of Panama, professor of Civil and International Law, and Prof. Luisa Morales, also from the University of Panama, professor of Mathematics.

The aim of the meeting was to define an operational plan to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation between the University of Trieste and the University of Panama, with which a six-year agreement was signed in 2024 for the organisation of academic and educational activities, specialised training courses and research programmes of mutual interest.

One of the key points discussed during the visit concerned doctoral courses. The University of Trieste is willing to offer Panamanian students access to its PhD programmes through the funding of scholarships on specific shared topics, in relation to the spectrum of scientific expertise available at the university.

The visit confirms UniTS's international vocation and strengthens its position as a scientific and educational hub capable of attracting and developing strategic collaborations at a global level.