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).

The heartbeat helps slow the growth of tumors in cardiac tissue. This is the finding of an international study published in Science, coordinated by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the Monzino Cardiology Center IRCCS. 

The study, entitled Mechanical load inhibits tumor growth in mouse and human hearts, draws attention to a still little-explored aspect of cancer biology: the physical forces acting in the myocardium do not merely regulate heart function, but can also influence the behavior of tumor cells, even to the point of slowing their proliferation. 

The research involved partners in Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom, including the European Institute of Oncology, the Medical University of Innsbruck, King’s College London, the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, and the Simula Research Laboratory in Oslo. This broad and integrated network made it possible to combine experimental, clinical, bioengineering, and computational expertise. 

The work began from a medical observation that has long been known but remains only partly understood in its underlying mechanisms: the heart develops tumors very rarely and, even when it is affected by metastases, these tend to be smaller than those found in other organs. The researchers therefore investigated whether one explanation might lie precisely in the mechanical nature of cardiac tissue, which is constantly subjected to contraction, pressure, and deformation. 

To do so, they used different and innovative experimental models. On the one hand, they studied what happens when the heart is mechanically “unloaded”: under these conditions, tumor cells proliferate much more extensively. On the other hand, they used engineered cardiac tissues grown in the laboratory, where they were able to modulate mechanical load and directly observe the response of tumor cells. 

The result was consistent: when cardiac tissue beats and generates mechanical load, tumor growth slows down; when this stimulus is reduced, tumor cells resume proliferating. 

“Our findings show that cardiac pulsation is not only a physiological function, but can also act as a natural suppressor of tumor growth,” said Professor Serena Zacchigna, Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Trieste and head of the Cardiovascular Biology laboratory at ICGEB. “This suggests that the cardiac environment is unfavorable to tumor cells not only for immunological or metabolic reasons, but also because its continuous mechanical activity physically limits their expansion.” 

Professor Giulio Pompilio, Scientific Director of the Monzino Cardiology Center IRCCS and Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences of the University of Milan, added: “One of the most fascinating aspects of this research is that it shows how the mechanical forces regulating heart activity, already known to create an environment hostile to its regenerative ability, conversely exert a beneficial biological action in counteracting tumor growth. Perhaps these are two sides of the same coin. I would also like to stress that this work was made possible thanks to the collaboration of experts from different fields, ranging from cardiology to oncology, bioengineering, and bioinformatics.” 

The most interesting finding concerns the level at which this effect occurs. The study shows that the mechanical forces exerted by the heart do not stop at the surface of tumor cells, but also affect internal mechanisms that regulate their ability to multiply. 

This is an important step because it concretely links the mechanical dimension of the cellular environment with the epigenetic regulation of the tumor. In other words, the heart may be hostile to tumor cells not only for immunological or metabolic reasons, but also because its very movement physically limits their expansion. 

Another major strength of the study lies in its ability to connect basic research with clinical observation. The results obtained in experimental models were compared with human cardiac metastases, analyzed in parallel with lesions located in other organs of the same patients. This made it possible to verify that the molecular signatures observed in the laboratory are also found in human samples, reinforcing the robustness of the work and its potential impact. 

This research opens up a potentially transformative direction: understanding whether and how mechanical stimuli might one day be harnessed as a therapeutic tool against cancer. The idea that a “mechanical therapy” could complement or inspire new oncological strategies still remains to be developed, but the principle emerging from the study is clear: physical forces are not just a backdrop to disease, but could represent an important brake on it. 

Un equipaggio misto, una sfida internazionale e la volontà di misurarsi in mare con entusiasmo, caparbietà e spirito universitario. Venerdì 24 e sabato 25 aprile il CUS Trieste sarà in gara nel bacino di Dubrovnik/Ragusa per l’Elafiti Slalom Regata, appuntamento inserito nel programma della manifestazione organizzata dal JK Orsan.

La partecipazione triestina nasce all’interno della collaborazione con il CUS Bari e porterà in Croazia una squadra composta da nove velisti a bordo di una X-41, barca a vela da regata di circa 12 metri. L’equipaggio del CUS dell’Università di Trieste sarà formato dal prof. Piergiorgio Trevisan, docente di Lingua e traduzione inglese al Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, insieme a tre studentesse e cinque studenti: Carolina Bontempo, Sara Calici, Leonardo Centuori, Lorenzo Centuori, Kim Francesco Magnani, Giovanni Marchese, Julia Rubesa Perini e Samuele Trovò.

Per il gruppo universitario si tratterà di una due giorni di regate costiere, con percorsi definiti in base alle condizioni meteo, al termine della quale verrà stilata anche una classifica riservata alle sole barche universitarie. Un contesto competitivo di rilievo, dunque, ma anche un’occasione significativa per dare visibilità a un equipaggio che mette insieme esperienza velica, qualità sportive e percorsi di studio diversi.

La squadra triestina riunisce infatti atlete e atleti con esperienze maturate in classi giovanili e d’altura, in alcuni casi anche a livello europeo e mondiale, e conferma la capacità del CUS Trieste di valorizzare giovani che sanno conciliare attività agonistica e formazione universitaria. In questo senso, la trasferta di Dubrovnik rappresenta anche un passaggio coerente con l’identità marinara della città e con la volontà di rafforzare la presenza dell’Ateneo negli sport acquatici.

«Queste opportunità per le nostre studentesse e i nostri studenti nascono da consolidati rapporti di collaborazione e amicizia, come quello tra il CUS Trieste e il CUS Bari», osserva Michele Pipan, presidente del CUS Trieste. «Come CUS Trieste crediamo che questi possano essere i primi passi per ampliare la nostra sezione dedicata agli sport acquatici, avvicinando un numero sempre maggiore di studenti e rispettando l’identità marinara della nostra città. Crediamo che attraverso queste collaborazioni si possano creare opportunità fattibili e non onerose per i nostri tesserati».

La presenza a Dubrovnik aggiunge così un nuovo tassello al percorso con cui il CUS Trieste sta consolidando la propria proposta sportiva anche sul fronte della vela, puntando su collaborazioni, occasioni internazionali e coinvolgimento diretto di studenti e studentesse.

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.

Nearly seventy local organizations and companies, as well as multinational corporations, took part, alongside seven hundred students and recent graduates who submitted over 5,000 CVs and participated in 3,000 job interviews. These are the figures that characterized the 2026 edition of JOBUniTS, the Career Day of the University of Trieste.

Now in its 15th edition, JOBUniTS confirms itself as the University’s main event dedicated to connecting students, graduates, and the world of work, with increased company participation compared to last year.

Among this year’s new features was speed mentoring: an informal session designed to offer participants a quick exchange with Alumni of the University of Trieste—former students now working in various professions—from whom participants received last-minute advice before facing interviews with companies.

During the event, three outstanding students were awarded scholarships funded by companies: the Danieli Award went to Luz Marina Traetta and Samuele Battistella, while the Innova Award for female innovation was presented to Diana Sofia Pacchione. The three students will also have the opportunity to undertake an internship period.

Companies and organizations participating in JOBUniTS 2026:
AcegasApsAmga – Gruppo HERA • Adecco • Alfa Sistemi S.p.A. • ALLIANZ • Apleona Italy S.p.A. • Area Science Park • Autamarocchi • Autostrade Alto Adriatico S.p.A. • Banca Mediolanum • BAT Trieste • BCC Venezia Giulia • Biko Meccanica • Bluenergy • Carpe Diem • Chiomenti • Cimolai • Cooperativa Il Portico • Cooperativa Itaca • Coral Audit S.r.l. • Costa Crociere S.p.A. • CRIF S.p.A. • Cybertec • Europe Direct Trieste – Eurodesk – Informagiovani of the Municipality of Trieste • EY • Fincantieri • Friulia • Generali • Gruppo CDP • Gruppo Danieli • Gruppo ICM S.p.A. • Gruppo Pittini • HHLA PLT Italy • Honeywell • In Situ S.r.l. • Innova S.p.A. • Italia Marittima S.p.A. • La Quercia Social Cooperative • Lafarmacia. • Lafert S.p.A. – Member of Sumitomo Heavy Industries • Lidl Italia • Manpower • Marchesini Group – Schmucker Division • MAW • Modine • Mondi Duino • MSC Cruises • Nidec ACIM • PMP Industries Group • PwC • QUIN S.r.l. • Randstad • Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia – Employment Services and EURES: European Employment Services • Rhoss S.p.A. • RINA • Roncadin S.p.A. SB • Segula Technologies • Servizi CGN S.r.l. Società Benefit • Sisecam • SMS Group S.p.A. • StarTech Trieste S.r.l. • Taghleef Industries S.p.A. • Trieste Airport Friuli Venezia Giulia • Turin Tech • UMANA • UniCredit • Valmet • Volkswagen Group Italia • Walter Group • Wärtsilä Italia

FameLab, the science communication talent show, is opening its doors to the public for the first time, not just schools. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 6:00 PM at the Teatro Miela.

The Trieste leg of the competition will feature researchers on stage, each asked to explain a scientific topic in just three minutes, without slides or visual aids: just words, ideas, and the ability to engage. This competition rewards not only scientific expertise, but also clarity, charisma, and the ability to captivate an audience.

This year, Trieste will host candidates from the University of Trieste, Area Science Park, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, ICTP, INFN Trieste, OGS, SISSA, the University of Udine, and even the University of Catania. The top two will advance to the FameLab Italia National Final and a masterclass in science communication, as well as receive a cash prize. The winner will also be able to attend a course in the Master's Program in Science Communication at SISSA in Trieste. The national winner will represent Italy at the FameLab international final.

During the evening at Miela, in collaboration with the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival – La Cappella Underground, the short film "Il criaturo sintetico" by Sarah Narducci will be screened. The film tells the story of a world where births are controlled. Adele and Filippo, a couple struggling with a difficult housing situation, attempt the parenting test, aiming to secure an apartment in the luxurious Children's District.

Conceived in 2005 by the Cheltenham Science Festival, FameLab has also been held in Italy since 2012, organized by Psiquadro Perugia.

FameLab 2026 involves five cities: Bari, Cosenza, Ferrara, Genoa, and Trieste, where the local selection is organized by Immaginario Scientifico, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA, and the Municipality of Trieste, as part of the Trieste City of Knowledge Protocol. With over 1,500 researchers involved and 28 participating cities over the years, FameLab represents one of the main platforms for science and the public to meet, offering the opportunity to experience science live, outside of academic contexts, and to discover its more human, direct, and engaging side.

Nearly 600 students registered for Porte Aperte Magistrali, the orientation event dedicated to the postgraduate.

Participants had the opportunity to explore all the key aspects needed to make an informed choice about their study path, including admission requirements and the career opportunities associated with the various Master’s degree courses.

HERE you can find all the useful information on how to enroll at UniTS and on upcoming orientation initiatives.