The first edition of the Raman Spectroscopy Summer School: Principles and Applications (RAMSS 2026) has successfully concluded. The event was hosted in the Chapel Hall of the former Military Hospital in Trieste, home to the University of Trieste’s Luciano Fonda Honors College.

All 20 available places were filled by PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals from across Italy, confirming the strong interest of the scientific community in this analytical technique.

Raman spectroscopy is an analytical method that allows scientists to determine the composition of a material and understand how its molecules are organized without damaging or altering the sample. The technique works by illuminating the selected sample with a laser beam. Most of the light is reflected unchanged, but a small fraction interacts with the material’s molecules and undergoes slight energy shifts. By analyzing these variations, researchers obtain a sort of molecular “fingerprint” that enables them to identify the chemical composition of the sample.

The Summer School combined lectures, hands-on sessions using real instrumentation, and a workshop dedicated to spectroscopic data analysis. The teaching staff brought together eight specialists. Representing the University of Trieste were Alois Bonifacio, Stefano Fornasaro, Vanni Lughi, and Valter Sergo. They were joined by Ivano Alessandri (University of Brescia), Stefano Legnaioli (CNR-ICCOM, Pisa), Barbara Rossi (Elettra – Sincrotrone Trieste), and Giorgia Sciutto (University of Bologna). Their expertise covered a wide range of fields, including biomedicine, materials science, catalysis, and cultural heritage conservation.

The school received the patronage of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) through its Divisions of Analytical Chemistry and Chemistry for Technologies, which provided four scholarships covering the registration fees for four outstanding participants.

The event was organized by the local committee of the University of Trieste, composed of Alois Bonifacio, Gianpiero Adami (co-directors of the school), and Stefano Fornasaro.

The University of Trieste reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovation and youth entrepreneurship through initiatives that foster dialogue between research, education, and business development. In this context, the Innovators Community Lab (ICL) hosted the event “Self-Employment Program for Central and Northern Italy: Turn Your Idea into a Fundable Project” at the former Military Hospital premises.

The event, organized in collaboration with BIC Incubatori FVG, Invitalia, and the Self-Employment Program for Central and Northern Italy, was aimed at students, graduates, PhD candidates, researchers, young professionals, startups, and project teams interested in developing innovative entrepreneurial initiatives and exploring the support opportunities available to transform them into reality.

During the meeting, participants were introduced to the incentives and support measures offered under the Self-Employment Program for Central and Northern Italy. Particularly appreciated was the opportunity to engage directly with Invitalia experts through dedicated one-on-one meetings, allowing attendees to discuss their project ideas in depth and receive practical guidance on how to make them eligible for funding.

“The project design phase with a view to establishing a company represents a critical decision-making moment, especially for young aspiring entrepreneurs,” emphasized Prof. Erik Vesselli, Delegate for Technology Transfer and Relations with Research Institutions. “The support programs and initiatives offered by Invitalia through the Self-Employment Program for Central and Northern Italy align particularly well with a specialized training pathway such as ICL, opening up constructive opportunities for collaboration.”

The event is part of the broader effort led by the University of Trieste through the Innovators Community Lab to enhance skills and innovative ideas, fostering strategic connections with institutional partners and stakeholders within the innovation ecosystem.

Promoting a culture of prevention and health education from childhood, bringing academic expertise also into the settings of sport and outdoor life: this is the aim of “Health at Sea from an Early Age”, the new project developed as part of the Public and Social Engagement – Third Mission activities promoted by the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSMCS) of the University of Trieste.

The initiative will take place in Trieste within the framework of the 13th Zone of the Italian Sailing Federation, from Monday 15 June to Friday 4 September, with weekly sessions aimed at the sailing schools that have joined the project. The meetings, lasting around one hour, have been proposed to local sailing clubs and associations in order to reach children and young people aged 6 to 13 who are approaching the world of sailing.

The programme will focus on some of the main conditions that may arise during activities at sea, from sunburn and dehydration to minor injuries and other common situations in outdoor sports and recreational contexts. The aim is to provide simple, accurate and age-appropriate knowledge, encouraging informed behaviour and basic skills useful for preventing and initially managing minor health issues.

The scientific rigour of the project is ensured by a multidisciplinary board bringing together different clinical and academic areas of expertise, coordinated by the DSMCS, directed by Professor Luigi Murena. The working group involves specialists in paediatrics, anaesthesiology, dermatology, dentistry, orthopaedics and sports medicine, including Egidio Barbi, Erik Roman-Pognuz, Laura Trapani, Gianluca Tornese, Umberto Lucangelo, Adamo Pio D’Adamo, Nicola Di Meo, Milena Cadenaro, Alex Buoite Stella, Alessandro Amaddeo, Iris Zalaudek, Leandro Ferreira and Daniele Tognetto. The board worked on defining the educational content, adapting it to the age of the young sailors and to the situations that may occur during activities in marine environments.

The collaboration with the Immaginario Scientifico will further strengthen the project’s outreach dimension. The science centre will contribute to the development of content designed for a young audience, with a lively, educational and pedagogically engaging approach.

The University of Trieste at IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC) 2026 in Glasgow, the world’s leading conference in the field of telecommunications. Representing the University was Fulvio Babich, professor at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, who served as Leading Co-Chair of the Communication Theory Symposium, one of the conference’s most significant scientific tracks.

The conference brought together researchers, industry experts, and representatives of the world’s leading technology companies to discuss the future of digital communications, with a particular focus on the development of 6G networks, artificial intelligence, and the sustainability of telecommunications infrastructures.

Reporting from Glasgow, Prof. Babich noted that the international debate is currently focused on the need for a new generation of mobile networks capable of addressing the profound changes brought about by artificial intelligence.

“The prevailing consensus within both the scientific and industrial communities is that the evolution toward 6G is now appropriate, if not urgent, in light of the extremely rapid development of artificial intelligence,” he explained. “Current forecasts indicate that a first version of the standard could become available between 2029 and 2030.”

One of the most widely discussed topics at the conference was the growth in data traffic generated by new AI-based applications. Autonomous systems, intelligent agents, augmented reality, and wearable devices are profoundly reshaping network requirements, calling for new architectures capable of delivering greater capacity and efficiency.

Among the most promising innovations presented in Glasgow was the Token Communication paradigm, which is expected to complement traditional bit-based transmission models “Token Communication represents a highly significant paradigm shift,” observed Prof. Babich. “The goal is no longer to transmit large quantities of data, but rather to efficiently transfer the semantic content of information. This approach can reduce network traffic, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to the environmental sustainability of future digital infrastructures.”

Considerable attention was also devoted to integrated terrestrial–air–space networks, regarded as one of the key components of the future 6G ecosystem. Alongside the growing deployment of low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, the scientific community is increasingly interested in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), which can provide connectivity over wide areas while offering lower energy consumption and reduced latency.

“Stratospheric platforms could play an increasingly important role in future communication architectures,” Babich emphasized. “Compared with traditional satellite systems, they offer significant advantages in terms of regional coverage, energy efficiency, and the ability to maintain and upgrade infrastructure.”

Prof. Babich’s participation in IEEE ICC 2026 highlights the contribution of the University of Trieste to international telecommunications research and confirms the University’s role in advancing the technologies that will shape the networks of the future.

Photo caption: Chedlia Ben Naila (Optical Networks and Systems Co-Chair, Polytechnic University of Catalonia), Fulvio Babich, Nam Tran (Wireless Communications Co-Chair, University of Dublin), and Muhammad Ali Imran (Executive Co-Chair, University of Glasgow).

A small green space on campus has been transformed into an open-air laboratory where students and staff can observe firsthand how nature adapts to the challenges posed by climate change.

This is the idea behind the T4EU Student Garden at the University of Trieste, developed within the framework of Work Package 6, “Green Campus Life, Inclusion and Wellbeing”, of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) European University Alliance. The initiative envisages the creation of a Student Garden at each partner university through a collaborative process aimed at raising awareness of ecological sustainability and environmental transformation across the academic community.

At UniTS, the project has taken shape in a previously unused green area located next to Building H3, on the side facing the University Botanical Garden. The site has been redesigned and redeveloped as a biodiversity hotspot, featuring predominantly native Mediterranean plant species selected for their ability to withstand increasingly frequent heatwaves and prolonged periods of drought.

At the heart of the initiative lies the concept of assisted plant migration—an approach already adopted in several European cities to support the resilience and sustainability of urban green spaces in the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions. The students involved took part in the design of the garden, the selection of plant species, and the planting activities. During the initial establishment phase, they will also contribute directly to the care of the garden through a scheduled irrigation programme.

The project was made possible through the collaboration between T4EU, the Department of Life Sciences (DSV), and several central administrative offices of the University, with the active involvement of DSV students. The design and implementation of the initiative were coordinated and supervised by Dr Andrea Moro, Curator of the University Botanical Garden, Professor Andrea Nardini, Full Professor of Plant Physiology, and Dr Martina Tomasella, Assistant Professor in Plant Physiology.

The University of Trieste hosted the project meeting of the Interreg Italy–Croatia project MareSkill, bringing together project partners to plan the final activities ahead of the project’s completion in September 2026.

Activities continued with a study visit organized within the framework of the MareSkill and DIH Innovamare projects. The event involved project partners, students, early-career researchers and professionals working in the blue economy sector from both Italy and Croatia.

The study visit focused on innovation, sustainability and skills development for the blue economy in the Adriatic area. Both projects represent important examples of cross-border cooperation: DIH Innovamare supports the digital and technological transformation of the maritime sector through the involvement of companies, research centres and public institutions, while MareSkill promotes the development of new professional skills in the fields of boating, logistics and the wider blue economy, with particular attention to the challenges posed by the green and digital transitions.

The initiative also provided an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the University and the regional economic ecosystem. Organized with the contribution of the University of Trieste and Unioncamere del Veneto, in cooperation with Mare Tech FVG, the study visit enabled participants to gain first-hand insight into some of the most significant maritime and industrial realities of the region.

The programme included visits to the Port of Monfalcone, a strategic hub for logistics and maritime traffic in the Northern Adriatic, and to the production facilities of Groupe Beneteau Italia, an internationally recognized leader in the recreational boating industry. The visits offered participants a valuable opportunity to explore innovation processes shaping the sector and to foster dialogue between academia, research institutions and industry.

Representatives of the Municipality of Monfalcone also took part in the event, presenting local development strategies and growth opportunities linked to the blue economy, while highlighting the area's role as a hub for innovation and competitiveness within the Adriatic maritime sector.

The initiative confirmed the University of Trieste’s role as a key player in research, education and innovation in the maritime field. Through its participation in European projects and its collaboration with companies, institutions and regional stakeholders, the University contributes to the development of advanced skills and the creation of networks that support sustainable growth and competitiveness across the Adriatic region.

Photo: Participants in the project meeting and study visit organized within the Interreg Italy–Croatia projects MareSkill and DIH Innovamare, hosted by the University of Trieste in collaboration with institutional and industrial partners from the region.

The enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the growing strategic importance of the Arctic, and the Euro–Adriatic–Ionian geopolitical arena of consular diplomacy are among the key themes of the 2026 edition of GeoAdriatico (www.geoadriatico.it), the international geopolitics symposium taking place in Trieste from 11 to 14 June.

Organized by the Cinzia Vitale Initiative for Culture (www.vitaleinitiative.it) in partnership with the University of Trieste, GeoAdriatico will also explore topics related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, the G20 as a platform for cooperation on transport, port infrastructure and maritime affairs, as well as issues concerning the protection of the planet.

“GeoAdriatico embodies the international and multidisciplinary vocation of the University of Trieste. The major challenges of our time cannot be addressed within the boundaries of a single discipline. They require the integrated contribution of the social, economic, legal, technological and environmental sciences. In this context, our University provides a network of internationally recognized expertise, helping to make Trieste a privileged laboratory for dialogue among diplomacy, scientific research and economic development. It is precisely through collaboration among fields of knowledge, institutions and scientific communities that the most effective responses to the global challenges of the present and the future can emerge,” said Mauro Tretiach, Deputy Rector of the University of Trieste.

“In a global scenario marked by conflicts currently involving more than ninety countries around the world,” stated Roberto Vitale, President of GeoAdriatico and of the Vitale Initiative, which conceived the international symposium, “international diplomacy is more essential than ever in building peace. This active commitment to dialogue and cooperation represents the beating heart and primary mission of the symposium, reinforcing Trieste’s central position within the new global geopolitical landscape.”

GeoAdriatico enjoys the patronage, among others, of the Italian Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of University and Research, the Ministry of Defence, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the collaboration of the European Commission Representation in Italy.

Among the speakers confirmed for the 2026 edition of GeoAdriatico are Ambassador Francesco Maria Talò, Special Envoy for IMEC at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Admiral Pierpaolo Ribuffo, Head of the Department for Maritime Policies at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Ambassador Giorgio Marrapodi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; Marco Alberti, Italian Ambassador to Albania; Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director of TWAS (The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World); Paolo Trichilo, Italian Ambassador to Croatia; Andrea Romanino, Director of SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies); and Luca Gori, Italian Ambassador to Serbia.

The opening ceremony of GeoAdriatico, scheduled for Thursday, 11 June at 9:30 a.m. in the representative hall of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and reserved for invited guests, will also feature contributions from Marco Consalvo, President of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea; Vincenzo Garofolo, Commissioner of the Port Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea; Carmelo Barbarello, IMEC Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Francesco Benevolo, President of the Port Authority of the Central Northern Adriatic Sea; Massimo Campailla, Professor of Maritime and Transport Law at the University of Trieste; Paola Del Negro, Director General of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS); and Dario Giacomin, Vice President for Underwater Product Development at Fincantieri.

Among the more than 70 participants representing over 10 countries are Stefano Pilotto, Professor of International Relations at MIB Trieste School of Management; Antonio Paoletti, President of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce; Roberto Musneci, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania; Alessandro Lombardi, Head of CEI (Central European Initiative) Projects; Giuseppe Mancini, Vice President for Intelligence and International Security at Leonardo; Antonio Gurrieri, CEO of Alpe Adria; Nicola Polato, Head of North-East Italy at SIMEST; Pasquale Silvestro, Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania; Gabriele Bellon, General Director of BCC Venezia Giulia; Daniel Burcea, Director of Banca Transilvania’s Italian branch; Paul Vatamanu, CEO of Vatamanu Coperture; Francesco Caputo, HR Director of Prysmian Romania; Gianluca Meomartini, Vice President of Sales at Bitdefender; Claudio Taboga, General Manager of Vard Shipyards Romania (Fincantieri); and Maria Teresa Tombini, Senior Advisor for Group International Public Affairs at Assicurazioni Generali. They will participate in the panel on economics, science diplomacy and cybersecurity taking place on Thursday, 11 June, at 2:30 p.m. in the main hall of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce.

GeoAdriatico, which benefits from the media partnership of the ANSA news agency, will also feature Brigadier General Carlo Di Somma, President of the Joint Armed Forces Steering Committee for the Arctic, Sub-Arctic and Antarctic Environment at the Ministry of Defence; Fausto Ferraccioli, Director of the Geophysics Section of OGS; Luigi Matarazzo, General Director of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division; Fabrizio Orengo, Director of the Italian Navy Hydrographic Institute; Giuliana Panieri, Director of the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR); and Stefano Polli, columnist for ANSA.

On Friday, 12 June, at 9:30 a.m. in the representative hall of MIB Trieste School of Management, a session dedicated to the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans will take place. Following opening remarks by Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, speakers will include Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, Chair of the Senate Committee on European Union Policies; Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative; Anila Bitri Lani, Ambassador of Albania to Italy; Mauro D’Ubaldi, Deputy Secretary General of Defence; Andreina Marsella, Italian Ambassador to Montenegro; Elisabetta Dovier, Programme Manager at the Central European Initiative; Senator Tatjana Rojc, member of the Senate Committee on EU Policies; Francesco Deana, Professor of European Union Law at the University of Udine; and Andrea Tracogna, Dean of MIB Trieste School of Management and Professor of Business Administration at the University of Trieste.

On Friday, 12 June, at 4:00 p.m., in the Desiata Red Hall of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, a partner of GeoAdriatico, discussions will focus on Space in the Age of Invisible Conflicts. Speakers will include Anna Gregorio Michelazzi, astrophysicist at the University of Trieste; Beatrice Manassero, from the Space and Scientific Cooperation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Fabrizio Rovatti, Project Manager at Area Science Park; Carlo Baccigalupi, Professor of Cosmology at SISSA; Federico Battera, Professor of African History and Institutions at the University of Trieste; Massimo Comparini, Director of Leonardo’s Space Division; Valter Bonvicini, Director of the Trieste Section of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN); Guido Bortoluzzi, Professor of Strategy and Organization at MIB Trieste School of Management; and Andrea Vacchi, Professor of Physics at the University of Udine.

GeoAdriatico 2026 will also host a panel dedicated to students of the Sustainable Blue Growth Master’s Programme, directed by Mounir Ghribi. The students themselves will serve as speakers on Saturday, 13 June, at 9:30 a.m. in the Red Hall of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea, addressing topics related to the sea as an essential element for the future of societies. They will be joined by Steve Taylor, Coordinator of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project, and Rodolfo Taccani, Professor of Energy Systems at the University of Trieste.

Finally, on Saturday, 13 June, at 10:00 a.m., in the representative hall of the General Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI), a discussion will focus on the new Euro–Adriatic–Ionian geopolitical framework, with the participation of Marco Ferruzzi Balbi, Consul of the Republic of Poland; Massimiliano Fabian, Consul of the Republic of Cameroon; Agnese Ghersi, Consul of the Republic of France; Adina Lovin, Consul General of Romania; Sabrina Strolego, Consul of the Republic of Austria; and Lucia Montesanti, Professor of Sociology of Political Phenomena at the Magna Graecia University.

An official delegation from the University of Trieste took part in Mbeya, Tanzania, in the launch event of the international development cooperation project Towards the next generation of sustainable quality coffee producers in South Tanzania (TNG), funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and coordinated by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

The mission, which took place in the Mbeya region, in the Southern Highlands, marked an important step in the operational launch of the 36-month project and in the strengthening of institutional, scientific and educational relations between the University of Trieste and local partners. UniTS is involved in the project through three of its Departments – IUSLIT, DEAMS and DSV – confirming the interdisciplinary nature of the University’s contribution. The official delegation in Tanzania was composed of Prof. Ilaria Micheli, from the Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies, coordinator of the project activities planned by the University, and Dr Matteo Carzedda, from the Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics.

The TNG project is based on a broad partnership that brings together, alongside the University of Trieste, Illycaffè, the Ernesto Illy Foundation, the Bari branch of CIHEAM – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute, the Regions of Mbeya, Songwe and Ruvuma, and the civil society organisation Café Africa – Tanzanian Branch.

The project aims to reach at least 12,000 local coffee producers in Southern Tanzania, contributing to the improvement of the production chain and to the development of a more sustainable, informed and resilient model. Within this framework, the role of UniTS is twofold, combining applied scientific research and knowledge transfer.

The research activities will focus on understanding the effects of climate change on the territory and identifying possible mitigation strategies, with the contribution of Giovanni Bacaro and Alberto Pallavicini from DSV; enhancing local practices and facilitating communication between farmers and trainers through the creation of multilingual technical-cultural vocabularies and manuals, under the coordination of Ilaria Micheli; and identifying economic and agricultural strategies suited to the local context, with the aim of strengthening farmers and improving the value of the raw material in the early stages of the value chain, with the contribution of Matteo Carzedda, Gianluigi Gallenti, Giuseppe Borruso and Barbara Campisi. Based on the evidence emerging from the research activities, the most appropriate content and methods will be defined for the training of local stakeholders and beneficiaries.

The official launch of the project took place in the conference hall of the Eden Highlands Hotel in Mbeya, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Giuseppe Sean Coppola, a UniTS alumnus; Paolo Razzini, AICS representative in Tanzania; Stefano Zannier, Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Councillor for Agri-food, Forestry, Fishery and Mountain Resources; the highest authorities of the governments of the three Southern Tanzanian Regions involved in the project; and representatives of the Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Catholic University of Mbeya (CUoM), which will support the University of Trieste in its activities on site.

During the meeting, Ambassador Giuseppe Sean Coppola and Paolo Razzini highlighted the value of a particularly broad and diversified partnership, in which public bodies, universities, research institutions, companies and civil society organisations work together to pursue common goals. Research, technology transfer and training are the three pillars on which to build a shared development pathway, capable of generating concrete benefits for local communities and for the coffee supply chain as a whole.

The presence of the UniTS delegation in Tanzania also made it possible to strengthen cooperation with local academic institutions. The University’s representatives met with colleagues from MUST and CUoM to define how the two universities will support the project and to lay the foundations for future joint initiatives in the fields of development cooperation, research and international exchange of academic staff, technical and administrative staff, and students.

These collaborations will be developed within the framework of Memoranda of Understanding involving the University as a whole. The first agreement, with the Catholic University of Mbeya, was signed during the project launch, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador, the Regional Councillor and the Bishop of Mbeya, Wolfgang Pisa. The process for signing the agreement with the Mbeya University of Science and Technology is also nearing completion.

The mission also allowed the UniTS delegation to learn more about other international cooperation projects funded by AICS in the Mbeya region and carried out by civil society organisations and Italian volunteers, with particular attention to initiatives dedicated to children with disabilities. In this context, the delegation also visited the Utengule Coffee Plantation, one of the most advanced local organisations in coffee cultivation and selection, with which promising synergies were identified for the next phases of the project.

A significant part of the mission was also devoted to observing field training activities for operators of central coffee pulping units and for representatives of local AMCOS cooperatives in the Mbeya and Songwe regions. The training, led by Francesca Pellis and Gianluca Malvicini from Illycaffè, provided an initial opportunity for operational discussion on the needs of the supply chain and on the most effective ways to support local producers in improving the quality and sustainability of the production process.

The next step for the University of Trieste will be the selection of three research fellows who will support the academic staff in the field activities. The fellows will acquire specific skills and work closely with local networks, contributing to the continuity of the project activities and to their long-term integration within the territory.

MiGE hosted the international conference “STACK in Trieste 2026”, dedicated to the use of open-source digital tools to improve teaching in STEM courses and support scientific cooperation with African universities.

The initiative is part of a pathway launched in 2022, when the University of Trieste became the first university in Italy to install STACK, a software for teaching and automatic assessment in scientific disciplines. Since then, UniTS has developed its own question bank for foundation courses, which is now used by around 1,000 students every year.

STACK — System for Teaching and Assessment using a Computer algebra Kernel — allows students to practise independently through interactive exercises that are parametrically generated and automatically assessed. The system provides targeted feedback and guided solutions, enabling lecturers to introduce forms of continuous assessment even in large classes.

This aspect is particularly relevant in foundation STEM courses and in rapidly growing university contexts. In some African universities, for example, the increase in the student population has led to very large classes, with student-to-lecturer ratios that are difficult to manage using traditional tools.

“Demographic growth in Africa, together with other factors, has led to extremely large university STEM classes, in some cases with more than 1,000 students per lecturer. University resources have not grown proportionally, despite the fact that STEM education is increasingly central to the world of work and to development. At the same time, in the Italian context, continuous assessment in STEM is almost absent, as it requires considerable resources from lecturers. The open-source software STACK helps address both of these challenges, simultaneously and through a joint effort,” said Professor Lewanski of MiGE.

The conference brought together 46 participants from 12 countries. Delegations from Kenya, Rwanda and Somalia took part in the event, with 12 African lecturers representing Masinde Muliro University for Science and Technology, Maseno University, INES Ruhengeri and Somali National University.

The opening session featured contributions from Roberta Altin, Rector’s Delegate for Cooperation and Development; Silvia Pallaver, representing the UniTS Teaching and Learning Center and the DEH Alma project; and Federica Gori, from the International Project Design and Recruitment Office. Guests also included Marcelo Knobel, Director of UNESCO – The World Academy of Science; Christopher Sangwin, Professor at the University of Edinburgh and creator of STACK; and David Stern, Director of IDEMS International.

The development of STACK at UniTS, research into its impact on teaching, and support for the African STACK Community have been funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Erasmus+ KA171 projects, PNRR doctoral scholarships for public administration, UniTS development cooperation projects, and the DEH Alma project.

Giovanni Comelli, Full Professor of Experimental Physics of Matter and Applications at University of Trieste, is the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., the non-profit company of national interest that manages one of the world’s most advanced research infrastructures based on the use of synchrotron light and free-electron lasers for the characterization and development of new materials, biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and chemical and biochemical processes.

A deep expert on Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Prof. Comelli is the author of more than 250 scientific publications and is actively involved in numerous national and European research programs and scientific infrastructures. He served on Elettra’s Board of Directors from 2005 to 2014, also holding the position of Vice Chairman from 2006 to 2014, and was again appointed board member from 2023 to 2026. Throughout his career, he has also held numerous positions of scientific and organizational responsibility at both national and international levels, including Director of the Department of Physics at the University of Trieste and member of scientific evaluation and advisory bodies promoted by Italian and European institutions.