The virtual exhibition Italy in Antarctica is now online, created to mark the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XLVI) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP XXVI), hosted in Milan for the 2025 edition.

The exhibition explores Italy’s scientific presence in Antarctica, highlighting operational infrastructure, the governance model of the National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA), and Italy’s strategic role in international cooperation on the continent.

Among the contributors to the project is the National Museum of Antarctica, which has exhibition sites at the Universities of Trieste, Genoa and Siena. The Museum serves as a national hub for the promotion and dissemination of scientific knowledge about Antarctica.

The initiative provides a valuable opportunity to share the findings of research conducted in the White Continent, with a particular focus on:

• environmental protection and management of ASPAs (Antarctic Specially Protected Areas)
• studies on the Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea
• research on ecosystems and climate change
• pollutant monitoring
• results from Antarctic ice core drilling

The exhibition is accessible via direct link or by scanning the attached QR code. 

The University of Trieste is strengthening its commitment to research and training in the fight against primary liver cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In collaboration with Italian Liver Foundation (FIF), the Italian League for the Fight Against Cancer – Provincial Association of Trieste (LILT), and the local healthcare service ASUGI, the University is set to establish a shared operational protocol for the creation of themed working groups.

The agreement was announced during a multidisciplinary seminar held at FIF’s headquarters in Trieste, as part of an initiative dedicated to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The event brought together researchers, clinicians and students with the aim of promoting an integrated approach to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Professor Saveria Lory Crocè, Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Trieste and Director of the Departmental University Clinic of Liver Diseases, highlighted the importance of technological innovation in tackling liver cancer:
"In today’s diagnostic and clinical landscape, there is a lack of standardised biomarkers and clinical indicators for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. New tools based on artificial intelligence will undoubtedly play a key role, a major area of research at our university.”

"Throughout the day," added Claudio Tiribelli, Scientific Director of the Italian Liver Foundation, “the focus was placed on the importance of primary and secondary prevention, early diagnosis, and multidisciplinary care of patients, as well as the need to invest in education and scientific outreach to raise public awareness about chronic liver diseases. The meeting ended with a clear message: only by pooling expertise, resources and vision can we improve the prevention and treatment of liver cancer, for the benefit of both patients and the wider community.”

The operational protocol between UniTS, FIF, LILT and ASUGI marks a significant step forward in establishing a structured collaboration, based on joint scientific research projects, academic training and public health initiatives that serve both the region and the scientific community.

Health, local communities, prevention, and public awareness are the key themes of Health Between Land and Sea, a new public engagement and social responsibility project launched by the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSM) at the University of Trieste, starting on Saturday, June 21.

The initiative features a program of educational, sports, and experiential activities held in everyday settings such as the coastline, the sea, and the Karst Plateau. It aims to strengthen the connection between health, the local environment, and physical activity, while building a network of institutions, sports associations, and scientific organizations committed to promoting good prevention practices.

The project is funded through the University’s Public and Social Engagement Call – part of its Third Mission activities – which annually supports initiatives developed by departments to foster cultural growth, social development, public well-being, and quality of life.

"Beyond teaching and research," said Luigi Murena, Director of DSM, "the University must promote knowledge and culture. The event on Saturday, June 21 aligns perfectly with this goal. The program focuses on the theme of safety, conveyed and demonstrated in its many forms. Together with numerous partners, we have designed an engaging and stimulating program for the entire community."

The project, presented in the City Council Hall, is organized in partnership with the Municipality of Trieste—Departments for Urban Policy and for Sports and Public Property—and in collaboration with ASUGI (Local Health Authority), ICGEB, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Pallanuoto Trieste Samer&Co. Shipping, Trieste Campus, Triestina Nuoto Samer&Co. Shipping, and Band of Rescue – FIN Salvamento.

"With this first event," added Alex Buoite Stella, DSM delegate for public engagement, "we aim to meet citizens where they spend their leisure time. Our goal is to promote awareness of the benefits of community-based prevention and, at the same time, highlight the safety measures needed to manage and reduce risks—specifically those related to swimming and seaside activities. Information and prevention will be the key themes of the day."

One of the most popular summer gathering spots in Trieste, Barcola’s Pine Grove, will host the day’s activities, which begin in the morning. After the opening of the information stand and official greetings, attendees can join a physical warm-up session led by the Trieste Campus team. Young athletes from Triestina Nuoto will then dive into the sea for a live open-water swimming demonstration, followed by a canine rescue demonstration by Band of Rescue – FIN Salvamento. In the afternoon, players from Pallanuoto Trieste will hold a water polo training session. The day will conclude at 6 p.m. with a public talk focusing on the benefits and risks associated with sun exposure, swimming, and water rescue, featuring contributions from professors, doctors, and safety experts.

Upcoming events in the Health Between Land and Sea project include two community hikes, scheduled for September 2025 during the European Mobility Week, and March 2026, offering citizens the chance to discover the diverse trails and natural richness of the Trieste Karst.

The DNA of a freshwater jellyfish of non-native origin, specifically Asian (Craspedacusta sowerbii), has been detected in the underground waters of the Timavo River inside the Luftloch cave, recently discovered by the Adriatic Speleological Society.

This significant scientific discovery is the result of collaboration between the University of Trieste, the Adriatic Speleological Society (SAS), and the Trieste Civic Museum of Natural History.

The sampling and analyses were carried out by the research group coordinated by Chiara Manfrin of the Department of Life Sciences at UniTS, as part of a project aimed at monitoring biodiversity in subterranean environments through the use of environmental DNA (eDNA). This innovative technique makes it possible to detect genetic traces left by organisms in their habitat, allowing the identification of species that are not easily observed.

‘This method allows us, by filtering water, to detect genetic traces left by organisms in the surrounding environment, thus enabling the identification of species that are difficult to observe directly,’ explains Manfrin. ‘The results revealed the presence of Craspedacusta sowerbii DNA, a non-native species originating in China, harmless to humans but whose effects on Karst ecosystems are under study.’

The discovery follows on from previous observations of the jellyfish in the Slovenian section of the Reka-Timavo since 2016, conducted by the Trieste Civic Museum of Natural History and published in a scientific note by Nicola Bressi and Andrea Colla. The genetic confirmation obtained now further strengthens the hypothesis of the species’ presence in the underground waters of the Karst.

From 5th to 8th June 2025, the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Trieste will take part, together with Italian and Slovenian partners, in GOin4SAFETY, a large-scale cross-border exercise focused on environmental emergency management and disaster prevention. The event will take place across Gorizia, Nova Gorica and Šempeter-Vrtojba.

The initiative is part of the IN4SAFETY project, funded by the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Programme, and aims to strengthen joint response capacities in neighbouring areas across national borders. Through its Department of Engineering and Architecture, the University of Trieste contributes with research, education and technology transfer activities, particularly in the areas of environmental data georeferencing and the identification of target groups involved.

GOin4SAFETY will bring together over 500 participants from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Slovenia, Croatia and Germany, including civil protection personnel, security forces, organised volunteer groups and local authorities, who will operate in complex scenarios such as earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, hazardous materials incidents and climate change-related impacts.

The programme also includes training sessions for municipal staff, volunteers, students and members of the public, as well as a command post exercise simulating large-scale emergency situations.

GOin4SAFETY offers a tangible example of European cooperation at the local level, and promotes a shared culture of prevention, risk management and territorial safety. The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Ajdovščina and involves, among others, the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, the Metropolitan City of Venice, the International Institute of Sociology of Gorizia, the Nova Gorica Fire and Rescue Service and the University of Trieste.

For further information: 
Interreg Italia - Slovenija Site International
Institute of Sociology of Gorizia Site

The University of Trieste took part in the presentation of the new Manifesto for Public Engagement, promoted by APEnet – the Italian Network of Universities and Research Bodies for Public Engagement.

The Manifesto, the result of a collaborative and open process involving the network’s 57 members – universities, research institutions, polytechnics and high schools across Italy – updates the Association’s identity and, for the first time, outlines a shared direction.

It calls for:

• the integration of Public Engagement into the strategic plans of universities and research institutions;
• recognition of its value in career pathways and research evaluation systems;
• the promotion of a culture of participation and collaboration among all stakeholders;
• support for lifelong learning, open science, and the active involvement of new generations.

The document sets out a crucial vision for strengthening alliances between research and civil society, with the aim of bridging the gap between science and the public.

Inspired by the latest European recommendations on the social role of research, the Manifesto underlines the urgent need to enhance the public value of knowledge by promoting processes of listening, dialogue, collaboration and co-creation as key elements for generating cultural, social and economic impact.

“The APEnet Manifesto,” explained Giulia Carluccio, outgoing President of APEnet and Vice-Rector of the University of Turin, “is a key step in accelerating a paradigm shift within the research institutions of our country. Universities and research bodies are committed to producing and enhancing knowledge through listening, dialogue and collaboration in order to address current and future challenges together with society.”

New APEnet Board of Directors

Alongside the presentation of the Manifesto, APEnet elected its new board of directors, who will lead the Association for the next three years.

The board includes:

• Irene Baldriga (University of Rome La Sapienza)
• Pier Andrea Serra (University of Sassari)
• Giorgio Chiarelli (Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics - INFN)
• Elisa Ascani (University of Florence)
• Elisabetta Bani (University of Bergamo)
• Andrea Attanasio (University of Calabria)
• Valentina Lomi (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
• Alessandro Zennaro (University of Turin)
• Monica Guerra (University of Milan Bicocca)

Pier Andrea Serra has been appointed President and will be supported by two Vice-Presidents: Irene Baldriga and Elisabetta Bani.

What is APEnet?

APEnet – the Italian Network of Universities and Research Bodies for Public Engagement – has been active since 2018 and was formally established as an Association in 2022 to consolidate and give visibility to the role of Public Engagement in Italy.

Public Engagement is a set of values and institutional actions undertaken by universities and research institutions to foster social, cultural and economic development in collaboration with all societal actors. It is a dynamic process of interaction aimed at progressively closing the gap between research and society, addressing new challenges that take local identities into account and recognising the contribution of all those involved, thereby amplifying the impact of their work.

APEnet serves as a space for dialogue, research and development of tools and actions, sharing and strengthening the knowledge and skills needed to drive the cultural transformation that sees universities and research bodies as key actors in promoting the country’s inclusive growth through listening, dialogue and collaboration with society.

Ensuring public funding for providing home care to older adults with limited self-sufficiency could prove not only to be a welfare measure, but also an effective strategy for improving seniors’ mental health, reducing psychiatric care costs, and easing the burden on families.

This is the conclusion of an international study published in the prestigious journal Health Economics, led by Ludovico Carrino, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Trieste, in collaboration with Erica Reinhard of King’s College London and Mauricio Avendano of the University of Lausanne.

The study, among the first in the scientific community to empirically examine the socio-economic impact of public home care for older adults, analysed data from four European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain), and highlighted the many potential benefits of publicly supported Long-Term Care (LTC) programmes.

The findings show that access to home care services:

• reduces the risk of clinical depression by 13 percentage points, compared to an observed average of 28% in the study population;
• lowers the risk of loneliness by 6.7%;
• improves perceived quality of life by 14%.

Ludovico Carrino, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Trieste, commented: ‘In addition to the health benefits for individuals, the study highlights the potential economic impact of such measures. Late-life depression has high healthcare costs: studies conducted over the past decades show an annual extra cost of $3,225 per person aged 65–74 in the UK, while in Germany the figure is $2,840 annually for those over 75. Reducing the incidence of mental health disorders through an efficient home care system therefore means not only improving the quality of life for older people, but also decreasing the need for medication, psychiatric care and hospitalisation, with positive effects on the sustainability of national healthcare systems.’

Another key finding of the research relates to the role of informal caregivers. Care provided by family members, such as children or relatives, is often the main source of support, with a significant impact on the work and personal lives of those providing care. Widening access to home care services could relieve caregivers from what is often an all-consuming role, returning human resources to the labour market with potentially positive outcomes for productivity and household income. In Italy, where the development of public Long-Term Care lags behind that of other European countries, the findings of the Health Economics study may offer concrete guidance for shaping public policy and updating welfare strategies. 

‘Legislative initiatives in recent years have sparked reflection on the need to strengthen funding and broaden access to home care services, drawing attention to a highly relevant issue in a country where an ageing population will inevitably lead to a rise in the number of people requiring care,’ concluded Ludovico Carrino.

********************

Full study published in Health Economics
There Is No Place Like Home: The Impact of Public Home‐Based Care on the Mental Health and Well‐Being of Older People

Educate, connect, inspire. With these words, the first edition of the Innovators Community Lab (ICLab) was launched—the renewed program of the University of Trieste that guides students through the discovery of innovation and entrepreneurial culture.

An evolution of the Contamination Lab, which over more than ten editions provided entrepreneurial background to around 300 UniTS students, the ICLab is designed to equip students with tools to develop business projects in emerging sectors.

The program will once again take place in the renovated spaces of the former Military Hospital, now transformed into an environment open to education, co-working, and collaboration between university, industry, and the local community. The 2025 edition kicked off with an official event attended by institutions, companies, and the 29 selected participants from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.

During the event, Salvatore Dore, Head of ICLab and Head of the Technology Transfer and Business Relations Office, also presented the main novelties of the 2025 edition: the recognition of curricular academic credits, individual mentoring programs, training and networking events with entrepreneurs and managers, and a visit to the Marcegaglia Group’s industrial plants, where students will meet the company’s top management. At the end of the program, the five best projects will be awarded scholarships of 5,000 euros each, funded by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The renewed program will also feature an international dimension, which will be presented in the coming weeks.

In his opening remarks, Professor Rodolfo Taccani, Rector’s Delegate for Technology Transfer and Business Relations, reflected on the value of the work done over his six-year term, now nearing its conclusion:
“The Contamination Lab has for years been a living lab of ideas, but also of people. We have seen skills, relationships, and initiatives grow, capable of going beyond the boundaries of the university. This path has accompanied six years of work in which we focused on the connection between education, youth, and business. The future also starts here.”

A central moment of the event was the keynote speech by Gianluca Bisol, President of the winery Bisol 1542. His talk, “Innovating within tradition,” recounted the story of a family business able to combine territorial identity and transformation across generations.

The 29 students selected for the new ICLab training program—18 enrolled in bachelor's degrees, 10 in master's or single-cycle master’s degrees, and 1 in a doctoral program—concluded the meeting with a brief individual presentation, sharing their motivations, goals, and expectations for the journey ahead.

Women account for more than a third of the group. Reflecting the program’s ability to attract diverse skills and interests, this year’s cohort also includes students from humanities programs, such as Philosophy, Psychology, and Law.

With the ICLab, the University of Trieste reinforces and structures its commitment to innovation training, creating real spaces for dialogue between academia and the production system and promoting, within the university path, a vision of business as a tool for growth, connection, and impact.

The 14th edition of Roses, Books, Music, Wine gets underway, the cultural festival organised by the social cooperative Agricola Monte San Pantaleone and the University of Trieste. From 9th May and on each Friday of the month, the rose garden in San Giovanni Park (awarded the Certificate of Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2015) will host meetings, walks, conversations around books, wine tastings, and musical performances.

At the heart of this fourteenth edition, the festival invites reflection on the theme What kind of power?, exploring how to recognise and promote forms of power that differ from those based on oppression, violence, and domination. This reflection is guided by the legacy of Franco Basaglia, who in 1979 observed that real change lies not in winning, but in persuading: The moment we persuade, we win, that is, we bring about a transformation that is difficult to reverse. Nearly fifty years later, this vision continues to inspire the spirit of the festival, which offers a space to nurture the belief that the impossible can become possible, that walls can be dismantled, gates opened, utopias imagined, and even realised, and that the most valuable capital a community holds is its people.

Alongside this vision comes a bitter awareness: new walls are being erected, new forms of exclusion are emerging, rights seem to be in retreat, and collective memories are fading. The power on the rise is not the one evoked by Martin Luther King, the kind that changes reality, but rather a power that subjugates, deceives, bullies, annihilates. And yet, as Italo Calvino reminded us, there is an antidote: To seek and know how to recognise who and what, in the midst of hell, is not hell, and to make it endure, and give it space.

During GO!2025 - European Capital of Culture, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) will present ‘Between skin and heart: the emotions of science in the fight against cancer’, a cycle of five theatre performances scheduled between May and October 2025 in Trieste, Udine, Gorizia and Nova Gorica. The initiative is financed by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

The University of Trieste is also a partner in the project, with participation from Serena Zacchigna, professor of Molecular Biology at UniTS and head of the ICGEB Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory. Together with Prof. Domenico Prattichizzo (University of Siena and IIT Genoa), Zacchigna brings a story which is both scientific and personal to the stage, inspired by an innovative challenge in research: to develop new anti-cancer therapies inspired by the heart, an organ rarely affected by cancer, using wearable robots that mimic a heartbeat.

The project interweaves science, storytelling and theatre to bring the public closer to the world of biomedical research, through an accessible, emotional and engaging language. On stage, researchers retrace each phase of their scientific adventure: hypotheses, obstacles, eureka moments, failures and progress, told in the first person and without the aid of slides. The show will be performed in Italian, with Slovenian subtitles and translation into sign language, making it accessibile to all.

The texts and script are by Alessandra Cotoloni and Sarita Massai, with participation from Davide Costabile, Giuseppe Di Mauro, Maryen Vasanthakumar and Alberto Villani.

Calendar of events

• 10th maggio 2025 at 15:00 – Trieste
  Scienza e Virgola Festival (SISSA) – Miela Theatre
  (event for schools)
• 11th May 2025 at 16:00 – Udine
  Vicino/Lontano Festival – Chiesa di San Francesco
  (with sign-language interpreters)
• 27th September 2025 – Trieste
  Trieste Next – Miela Theatre
  (with sign-language interpreters)
• 24th October 2025 at 18:00 – Nova Gorica
  University of Nova Gorica – Palazzo Lanthieri
  (in Italian with English subtitles)
• 25th October 2025 at 11:00 – Gorizia
  University of Trieste – Gorizia Campus – Main Hall
  (event for schools)