In Trieste, the “neverin” arrives suddenly from the sea, shaking the Gulf with wind and rain and transforming the face of the city within just a few minutes. It is precisely from this distinctive local phenomenon that Neverina was born, the new foiling Moth designed and built by the Audace Sailing Team. A name that evokes the territory and the sea, but also the sudden and dynamic energy of the “neverin”: an image the team wanted to embody in the new boat launched on Wednesday, May 13, at the Yacht Club Adriaco in Trieste.

The project involved more than 70 students from six different departments of the University. During the event, the team presented the main innovations introduced in the new boat, developed according to the principle “Sustainable, Reliable, Commercializable.”

Neverina will now represent UniTS at the SuMoth Challenge 2026, the international university competition dedicated to foiling Moths. The boat will be sailed by Leonardo Centuori, Anastasia Mutti, and Carlotta Rizzardi, three student-athletes who, alongside their competitive sailing careers, actively contribute to the project’s development within the team. Centuori has already helmed Audace’s Moths in the 2024 and 2025 editions of the competition and has competed for years in the Waszp class with national and international results. Mutti won the 2025 Youth World Championship in the 420 class in Turkey. Rizzardi, already part of the Under-21 and development squad of the Italian ILCA National Team, achieved third place at the 2023 Under-21 World Championships in Morocco. Before the SuMoth Challenge, the Audace Sailing Team will take part in the Venice Boat Show, scheduled from May 27 to 31, and will later attend MetsTrade in Amsterdam from November 17 to 19.

The new boat builds on the legacy of projects developed by the team over the years, including Dedalo, Lina, BAI-Lina Rossa, BAI-Flying Lina, and BAI-Flax Bandit, further strengthening its research path on sustainability applied to foiling sailing.

Sustainability remains a central focus of the project. Audace Sailing Team integrates LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment) analysis through the MarineShift360 platform, which enables real-time monitoring of the environmental impact of design and construction choices.

The boat was built using circular and low-impact materials, including recycled PET from plastic bottles, 30% bio-based resins, and natural flax and basalt fibers. In addition, the construction of the deck and hull using a single mold significantly reduced waste production and the overall environmental impact.

The new Moth was refined through CFD and FEM simulations, which made it possible to improve both reliability and performance compared to previous models. The optimization of the foil molds — the appendages that allow the boat to “fly” above the water — also resulted in an estimated saving of more than 3,000 kilograms of CO2 equivalent.

The event opened with remarks by the Vice President of the Yacht Club Adriaco, Giovanni Battista Bellis, followed by speeches from the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza; the Commander of the Port Authority of Trieste, Luciano del Prete; UniTS Vice Rector for Public and Social Engagement, Caterina Falbo; and the scientific coordinator of the Audace Sailing Team, Rodolfo Taccani. The project was presented by Pietro Miani, President of the Audace Sailing Team, and helmswoman Carlotta Rizzardi, who illustrated the innovations and objectives of the new boat.

Gold Sponsors of the project include Intesa Sanpaolo and ESTECO. Main partners also include XMTech, Armare Ropes, and Nord Composites.

“Let’s Change! The Climate Is Changing. Let’s Talk About It” is back — the Public and Social Engagement / Third Mission project of the Department of Engineering and Architecture at the University of Trieste (UniTS). In Trieste too, the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly tangible. Negative impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems, along with extreme weather events such as flooding and heatwaves, are causing ever more significant damage to the territory, infrastructure and public facilities, economic activities, and public health. In this context, sharing scientific knowledge about the ongoing transition and promoting awareness and mobilization initiatives involving public administrations and civil society has become increasingly urgent.

In May 2026, three meetings will take place at the Urban Center as part of the series “Adapting Trieste to Climate Change. Towards a Participatory Agenda of Possible Actions”, conceived as moments of collective discussion aimed at identifying concrete proposals to be presented to local institutions by October 2026.

The spring series of events will conclude on May 22 at Cinema Ariston in Trieste with a free screening — premiered in Trieste — of the film Don’t Let the Sun, presented at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival.

PROGRAMME

Greenery, Soil, Water: Rethinking Urban Spaces and Their Transformations

May 14, 2026, 5:30 PM
Urban Center, Corso Cavour 2/2, Trieste

The Sea Is Rising: How Will We Move Around the City?

May 18, 2026, 5:30 PM
Urban Center, Corso Cavour 2/2, Trieste

Sustainable Energy, Collective Energies: Towards New Communities

May 20, 2026, 5:30 PM
Urban Center, Corso Cavour 2/2, Trieste

Don’t Let the Sun

Switzerland, Italy, 2025, 100 min
Directed by Jacqueline Zünd

Starring Levan Gelbakhiani, Maria Pia Pepe, Agnese Claisse, Karidja Touré, Cecilia Bertozzi.

Original version with Italian subtitles

May 22, 2026, 8:00 PM
Cinema Ariston
Viale Romolo Gessi 14, Trieste

In a future made uninhabitable by extreme heat, people live at night and human relationships have all but disappeared. Jonah works for an agency that provides “emotional substitutes.” His emotional detachment begins to crack when he is hired to act as the father of Nika, a withdrawn and distrustful young girl.

UniTS celebrates World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: on May 8, volunteers from the Trieste Committee will be present in the parking area of the Piazzale Europa Campus from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with an information stand.

The space will offer practical first aid demonstrations, alcohol prevention activities related to safe driving, and awareness initiatives focused on the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.

The campaign “Health Care in Danger / I Am Not a Target,” dedicated to the protection of healthcare and humanitarian personnel in crisis contexts, will also be presented.

The occasion, established to mark the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, founder of the Movement, represents a moment of recognition for the commitment of millions of volunteers and humanitarian workers who, every day, act around the world to prevent and alleviate human suffering, protect human dignity, and support the most vulnerable communities.

Joint second place with Ca' Foscari University of Venice among medium-sized universities in the North-East in the evaluation of scientific publications by researchers who achieved career advancement between 2020 and 2024, and ninth place among Italian universities overall.

Second among all universities in the North-East for knowledge valorization/public and social engagement, and seventh nationally, ahead of even very large universities.

From the first snapshot emerging from the 2020–2024 Research Quality Evaluation (VQR) carried out by ANVUR (National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System), UniTS stands out as a university with an overall evaluation of publications above the national average, where deserving researchers are promoted and, above all, as a hub of research with a strong impact on society.

This latter indicator, in detail, assesses the value generated “outside the University” in terms of impact on the local area and society: social and territorial projects and lifelong learning, public engagement, research with an impact on health, well-being, sustainability and inclusion, technology transfer, and academic entrepreneurship.

The VQR evaluated articles, monographs, and other research outputs totaling 199,816 products, compared to approximately 182,000 submitted in the previous 2015–2019 assessment. More than 75,800 researchers were accredited. The number of universities considered also increased, reaching 100. The works were divided among 19 Evaluation Expert Panels (GEV), composed overall of 719 disciplinary experts and 37 interdisciplinary experts from Italian and international institutions. In addition, more than 6,740 international external reviewers were involved in the evaluation.

The University of Trieste, on the occasion of April 28—designated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work—takes part in a joint initiative aimed at strengthening, at both academic and local levels, the culture of prevention and the protection of health and safety in workplaces, study environments, and everyday life.

On this occasion, universities are joining forces to carry out an initiative of great symbolic and educational value: students, faculty members, and technical-administrative staff will be involved in a simulated emergency event followed by an evacuation drill conducted simultaneously across different university campuses, in particularly representative buildings.

The evacuation drill will follow the simulation of an emergency situation, with the simultaneous activation of alarm systems and the implementation of the procedures set out in each university’s safety and emergency plans. Participants will be asked to temporarily interrupt teaching, research, and administrative activities and proceed in an orderly and calm manner to a designated safe “assembly point,” following safety signage and the instructions of emergency personnel.

The initiative will make it possible to assess the effectiveness of emergency procedures, coordination among different units, the timeliness of communications, and the response capacity of staff, students, and users involved. It will also help strengthen the culture of prevention and safety within the academic community. Moreover, the simulation will serve as a broader opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of preparedness, personal responsibility, and proactive behavior in the event of a critical or emergency situation.

The initiative is promoted within the framework of the coordination network of Prevention and Protection Services of Italian universities, with the support of the CRUI Safety and Fire Prevention Commission, and represents the first joint inter-university action within the project “Universities United for Shared Safety.”

This initiative aims to be a collective commitment to transforming safety from a regulatory obligation into a shared value. Universities—also through their respective Prevention and Protection Services working in synergy—take on a strategic role in promoting a structural and lasting cultural change. At the same time, they can act as a genuine driver of change, capable of significantly influencing both individual and collective behaviors, so that “prevention” and “taking care of one’s own and others’ health and safety” become an integral part of everyone’s mindset.

The University of Trieste, under the leadership of its Rector, Donata Vianelli, promotes this initiative because every action aimed at increasing awareness and sensitivity to safety issues represents a small but meaningful step toward strengthening the culture of health and safety prevention in the workplace.

From cosmic rays to the proteins of the future: these are the topics that took center stage at FameLab Trieste 2026, the international science communication talent competition. Winning the local selection, held on April 23 in a packed Teatro Miela, were Pietro Monti-Guarnieri and Roberta Pratolini, who will advance to the national final of FameLab Italia.

The event was organized by Immaginario Scientifico, in collaboration with the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA, and the Municipality of Trieste, as part of the “Trieste City of Knowledge” protocol.

In just three minutes, the 18 contestants transformed complex topics into accessible and engaging stories, demonstrating how science can be clear, surprising, and even entertaining. Hosting the evening was Simone Kodermaz, a physicist, violinist, and winner of the first Trieste edition in 2013.

This year’s first-place winner, Pietro Monti-Guarnieri, is a PhD student in astroparticle physics at the University of Trieste and INFN Trieste. Enthusiasm, humor, and high energy define Pietro, who presented the effects and applications of cosmic ray physics in an unusual and captivating way, from climate processes and the “creation” of clouds to muon tomography.

Second place went to Roberta Pratolini, a PhD student at the University of Udine, who clearly and playfully explored the frontiers of food science, including hybrid proteins and… a raspberry cake.

The two winners will represent Trieste at the national final scheduled for the autumn. The Italian champion will then move on to the international FameLab final in November, competing against participants from around the world.

Third place and the audience award went to Smritirekha Talukdar (Area Science Park), who combined neuroscience and sustainable energy in a brilliant presentation on neuroplasticity and possible alternatives to fossil fuels.

The contestants were evaluated by a jury composed of Nicola Bressi (Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste), Vieri Candelise (University of Trieste), Giulia Casasole (SISSA), and Valeria Filì (University of Udine).

On the occasion of the 2026 edition of World Creativity and Innovation Day, the University of Trieste joins the international community in celebrating the value of ideas and their ability to turn into concrete actions.

Creativity means imagining new solutions. Innovation means making them real. Within this ongoing dialogue lies the role of the university, which works every day to share knowledge and make it available to society. It is a complex process, built on responsibility, sustainability, and collaboration, that takes shape in what is known as Technology Transfer.

Professor Erik Vesselli, Delegate of the Rector for Technology Transfer and Relations with Research Institutions, explains this commitment:

“Making the results of the University’s research—at a level of international excellence—available to society is essential. But that is not all. The University plays a key role in education, in developing those creative and generative abilities that today risk being stifled by bureaucracy and standardization. UniTS works in this direction through training and co-working activities, such as the Innovators Community Lab (ICL), supporting entrepreneurship with dozens of active start-ups and spin-offs, and developing over one hundred collaborations with local institutions and companies.”

A dynamic ecosystem, therefore, where ideas, people, and skills come together. This is also confirmed by Salvatore Dore, head of the Innovators Community Lab at UniTS:

“Students who take part in ICL activities share a common trait: they know how to turn intuition into action. They are diverse profiles, united by courage, independence, and the ability to take risks consciously. In recent years, we have seen a clear shift: from simpler digital services to high-tech projects, where artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and augmented reality are everyday tools. There is also growing attention to real impact: it is no longer just about doing business, but about solving concrete problems with sustainable and scalable models. Finally, what stands out is the increasingly international dimension. ICL has become a true crossroads of global talent, where the exchange between different cultures generates more innovative and robust solutions.”

Through the contributions of faculty, researchers, and students, the University of Trieste continues to build open and shared knowledge, capable of generating value for the local area and for society as a whole.

Antonio Luca Cucchiara, a resident physician in the Dermatology Specialization School of the Università degli Studi di Trieste, is the winner of the “Current topics in acariasis” section of the 4th Logofarma Award conferred by SIDeMaST.

“The idea of presenting the clinical case that won the award came from observing an atypical presentation of scabies with involvement of the nail apparatus, which made diagnosis and treatment particularly complex,” explains Cucchiara. “Scabies is an increasingly common parasitic infection in the general population and represents a highly relevant current issue. This work highlights the role of dermoscopy and the importance of a careful evaluation of the nails as well, in order to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.”

SIDeMaST is the leading Italian scientific society in the field of dermatology. It brings together dermatologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals engaged in the study, prevention, and treatment of skin diseases and sexually transmitted infections. The organization aims to promote scientific research, disseminate up-to-date knowledge, and improve the quality of dermatological care in Italy.

Enrollments open earlier this year at UniTS, which is opening its doors already in April instead of June, as per tradition.

“We have responded to students’ requests, as they want to secure a place at our university even before taking their final high school exam,” explains Rector Donata Vianelli. “We are also seeing increasing attractiveness in our Master’s degree programs. More and more students, including those from other universities, are choosing UniTS to continue their studies.”

The main novelty this year is the removal of limited enrollment for degree programs in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, and Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development: admission will be open to all students who meet the requirements, with possible initial assessments of competencies.

Also noteworthy is the strengthening of UniTS’s international outlook, offering numerous courses entirely in English and Double Degree programs with the Universities of Rennes, Paris Cité, Regensburg, KU Leuven, Ljubljana, Alicante, Seville, Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg, and Rouen.

With its 36 Bachelor’s programs, 7 single-cycle Master’s programs, and 35 Master’s programs, the University offers education aligned with labor market needs in the fields of science and technology, life and health sciences, and social sciences and humanities.

It does so at the highest possible level, as confirmed by its recent accreditation in the excellence tier among Italian universities, together with only four others out of the 33 evaluated so far by the National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System (ANVUR).

LINK – Course offerings 2026/27: Course offerings 2026/2027 | University of Trieste

The 2026 edition of “The Mathematics of Young People” is currently taking place at IC Roli in Trieste, a long-standing educational initiative promoted by the University of Trieste through CIRD – the Interdepartmental Center for Educational Research.

Founded in 1996, the project engages students aged 5 to 18 in an active, cooperative learning experience based on peer interaction. The students themselves take center stage, explaining mathematical concepts to their peers through workshops, hands-on activities, and interdisciplinary pathways, helping to make the subject more accessible, concrete, and engaging.

Over the course of the two days, classes from kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools lead 12 mathematics-focused workshops, some of which include interdisciplinary content. The activities, repeated every 30 minutes and accessible at different school levels, offer participants the opportunity to directly experience concepts and tools, ranging from dynamic geometry to connections between mathematics and the humanities.

Preparing the event required months of work by both students and teachers, involving a total of around 250 participants from the provinces of Trieste and Pordenone. The effort was supported by school teachers and university lecturers, with particular attention to educational and communication aspects. Bookings for workshop visits came from schools of all levels in Trieste, Udine, and Piran (Slovenia), with a total of approximately 750 visitors over the two days.

The event, which has no competitive purpose, aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and to highlight mathematics as a universal language and a tool for collaboration. It represents an educational model that fosters the development of transversal skills and stimulates interest in STEM disciplines.

The project is coordinated by Professor Valentina Beorchia as part of the activities of CIRD and the National Plan for Scientific Degrees – Mathematics Project, with the support of the CRTrieste Foundation.