As the 50th Social Week of Catholics hosted in Trieste came to a close, Pope Francis received a UniTS delegation composed of students, young researchers from the University's ten departments accompanied by their heads of department, the Rector, Vice-Rector Valter Sergo, the Director General and a representation from the governance.

The meeting, in the spirit of the theme of the Social Week, "At the Heart of Democracy," aimed to emphasize confidence in the ability of young people - engaged in training in the various disciplines that create universitas - to build a more just and solidarity-based society also through the development of knowledge. The historic meeting, experienced in the UniTS Centenary year, will also be remembered by the Pope's signature on the University's Book of Honour. 

PHOTO (Credit: Vatican Media)

Holy Pope Francis signs UniTS Book of Honour

Political Science and Administration student Ilaria Corazza won a gold medal at the World University Rowing Championships hosted in Rotterdam, bringing UniTS to the top step of the podium.

The young athlete, together with Gaia Colasante of the University of Turin, triumphed in the women's doubles final, which took place in the Willem-Alexander Baan lake, thanks to a resounding stretch that started around 1,000 meters, first putting the Lithuanian crew behind and then overtaking the Polish team.

In the third leg of the race, the Italian pair increased the gap, holding the lead until the finish line with a 1.19-second advantage over the Polish team.

Ilaria Corazza adds this world championship title to an already rich record of achievements that counts an overall World title in the Lightweight four pair, a world title and an under-23 European title in the same speciality, as well as the recent victory at the University Games 2023 in the women's doubles.

Ilaria, who once again carried the colours of the Italian Rowing Federation and the University of Trieste, receives compliments from the entire academic community for the extraordinary talents she continues to demonstrate as an athlete and for the consistency and determination with which she reconciles her sporting and university commitments.

The Foiling SuMoth Challenge is a student competition in which the teams' goal is to design, produce and sail the most sustainable and efficient International Moth (IMCA) foiling boat. 

The recently concluded regatta series in Malcesine was characterised by thunderstorms and unstable wind. The bad weather and unforeseen events put the Audace Sailing Team to the test but... the results were not lacking! 

The UniTS team's boat, BAI-Flyng Lina 2.0, won Stage 1, the part of the competition where sailors and designers judge the quality of the project in its entirety and beyond. This Stage also includes simulation, concept, design, life cycle assessment (LCA) and communication and marketing activities. 

BAI-Flying Lina 2.0 proved to be the fastest boat in the fleet, registering a speed of no less than 22 knots (40km/h) and thus also securing victory in Stage 2 where, along with performance, the construction phase is also assessed.

On 7th July, Pope Francis will visit Trieste, at the conclusion of the 50th Social Week of Catholics in Italy, which the city has been hosting since 3rd July. After meeting the Delegates, and before reaching Piazza Unità for the celebration of the Holy Mass, the Pope will also receive some students and young researchers from the ten Departments of the University of Trieste, accompanied by the Directors, the Rector, the Director General and a governance delegation. In the spirit of the theme of the Social Week, ‘At the heart of Democracy’, the meeting aims to underline everyone's confidence in the ability of young people - engaged in training in the various disciplines that create universitas - to build a fairer and more united society also through the development of knowledge. The University will experience this meeting in the centenary year of its foundation, which will also be commemorated by the Pope's signing of the University's Book of Honour. 

UniTS is also present in the rich programme of the Social Week:

5th July, 17:30 - SQUARES OF DEMOCRACY 

OUTSKIRTS: cities seen from the margins (in Piazza Ponterosso) 

Speakers: Eugenia Carfora, Giovanni Carrosio (UniTS), Mario Vatta 

LOCAL INSTITUTIONS: democracy on trial for communities (in Piazza Hortis) 

Speakers: Gregorio Arena, Federica Fanesi, Roberto Louvin (UniTS) 

FAMILIES: ties, relationships and community (in Piazza della Borsa) 

Speakers: Mariolina Ceriotti Migliarese, Adriano Bordignon, Renata Longo (UniTS) and Francesco Pavanello 

5th July, 15:00 – 17:00 DIALOGUES ON GOOD PRACTICES

Thinking well to act better: university, research and the third mission (Chamber of Commerce, Piazza della Borsa 14) 

Speakers: Caterina Falbo (UniTS), representatives from Università Cattolica Milan, LUMSA Rome and Università Europea Rome)

6th July, 17:30 - 5th July, 17:30 – SQUARES OF DEMOCRACY 

CITIZENSHIP: migration and rights in today's Italy (in Piazza Ponterosso) 

Speakers: Giovanni La Manna, Abdoulaye Mbodj, Roberta Altin (UniTS) 

PREPARING FOR POLITICS: participating, debating, deciding (in Piazza della Borsa) 

Speakers: Giovanni Diamanti, Rosangela Maino, Mattia Zulianello (UniTS)

The offer of degree programmes at the University of Trieste is about to be enriched. Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, two new master's degrees will be opened, characterised by a markedly international and professionalising perspective, entirely in English: Engineering for the energy transition and European Policies for digital, ecological and social transitions, both aimed at training tomorrow's professionals in the field of digital, ecological, social and energy transition.

‘Both master's degrees deal with transition processes for which new models and professions need to be developed,’ explains Rector Roberto Di Lenarda. ‘They are also multidisciplinary, because the ecological, energy and digital transition also requires legal and political preparation. They train professional figures with innovative specialisations in demand in the world of work and are complementary, focusing respectively on the energy transition and its integrated governance at EU level.’

Engineering for energy

An international novelty in the form of an interclass course with two curriculums: Sustainable: building design and technology and Sustainable industrial systems, it intends to offer advanced preparation in the field of energy transition in both the building and industrial fields.

Students will acquire design skills that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable and will know how to choose the most suitable technologies, materials, sources and energy vectors. They will be able to integrate building and energy systems with electricity grids, storage systems and sustainable mobility.

The fields in which the new figure will be able to move are diverse: freelance professionals and design offices operating in the fields of construction, thermal engineering, energy efficiency, production systems and use of energy carriers and renewable energy sources, companies and private public bodies in the process of adapting building systems and plants, industries for the production and management of energy components, plants and systems, industries operating in the production of building envelopes, companies that design, install and manage systems using energy carriers in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors, companies that provide services in the energy field, companies and public or private bodies that are obliged to appoint an energy manager and research bodies that develop projects related to energy transition.

Energy storage devices represent one of the enabling technologies for the transition to renewable energy sources. ELISA, an ad-hoc laboratory serving a multidisciplinary group of engineers, chemists, computer scientists, economists and social scientists, also enriches the Engineering for the energy transition degree course. ELISA complements two existing laboratories at the University of Trieste, dedicated to ‘Photovoltaics’ and ‘Smart Grid and Electric Mobility’, strategically increasing the university's ability to position itself among the most active research institutions in the field of renewable energy sources and sustainable mobility. ELISA has innovative instrumentation and offers platforms for rapid prototyping and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations. 

To access the Engineering for the energy transition course at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, students must hold one of the following qualifications: a three-year degree in the industrial or civil and environmental engineering classes; alternatively, they must have gained at least 18 credits (CFU) in the mathematics area, 9 credits in the physics area, 6 credits in the chemistry area, 6 credits in the electrical area, 6 credits in the energy area, 6 credits in the civil area or in architecture - 15 if the student intends to enrol in the Sustainable building design and technology curriculum. The student must also show a graduation mark of 95/110 or higher, otherwise they will have to undergo a cognitive interview. The course also requires knowledge of the English language at a level of at least B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference.

European Policies for digital, ecological and social transitions

Running from next September, the course aims to provide future generations with a multidisciplinary background in the governance of digital, ecological and social transitions.

Students, future civil servants in public administrations, project managers and consultants, will acquire advanced knowledge and skills in analysis, management and evaluation of European policies, programmes and projects, together with in-depth thematic knowledge on political, social and legal tools and mechanisms to govern, in an integrated way, aspects related to environmental sustainability, digital impacts, social cohesion (e.g. comparative law of the environment and digital technologies, analysis of open data and big data, participatory design techniques for sustainable and inclusive innovation). This combination of skills will make graduates of the course capable of using the tools and resources of the European Union in the most effective way to govern digital, ecological and social transitions.

There are also specific entry requirements for the course in European Policies for digital, ecological and social transitions at the Department of Political and Social Sciences. Students must hold one of the following degrees: a bachelor's degree in the classes of Political Science and International Relations, Administrative and Organisational Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences for Cooperation, Development and Peace; alternatively, they must have completed a total of 24 credits in Law, Economics and Statistics (at least 6 credits of the total 24), Political Science and Sociology. The course also requires knowledge of the English language at a level of at least B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference.

This morning saw the start of the first session of the 2024 Summer Training Modules, the orientation initiative aimed at students who have completed their third and fourth year of 'high school'.

This year's edition opens with record numbers, starting with an even broader (18 modules compared to last July's 12) and more multidisciplinary training offer, but above all for the number of school students involved: 702 enrolled, almost 200 more than the first 2023 session, with a 40% increase.

The initiative confirms its attractiveness for high school students not only from our area: almost 40% of those enrolled come from outside Trieste and 10% from outside the region. Boys and girls from Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Lombardy, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria and Veneto, as well as from abroad (Argentina, Ethiopia, India and Venezuela) will also be getting to know UniTS.

The opening ceremony took place in the Aula Magna of the H3 building with the participation of Giulio Xhaet, partner and digital strategist at Newton S.p.A, with an interactive speech entitled 'Da grande' (When I grow up).

During his speech, Xhaet touched on several topics, including what questions to ask yourself to find your career path and how to increase your skills through personal passions.

The Italian Chemical Society awarded prof. Maurizio Prato the prestigious Raffaele Piria Medal, which is awarded to a scientist who has honored Italian Organic Chemistry and of it represents a continuity in its most distinguished traditions. 

The Medal was awarded to prof. Maurizio Prato for his pioneering vision that has elevated fundamental studies in Organic Synthesis to interdisciplinary frontier research with exceptional scientific impact and great biomedical and technological potential in multiple areas of regenerative medicine and nanomedicine and for the conversion of solar energy with sustainable processes and materials bringing luster to the Italian School of Organic Chemistry and Organic Materials.

Maurizio Prato, National Member of the Academy of the Lincei, former full professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Trieste, is Ikerbasque Research professor at CIC biomaGUNE, in Donostia San Sebastian, Spain. Prof. Prato is known worldwide for his innovative research on carbon-based functional materials for applications in materials science, nanomedicine and catalysis. 

The Raffaele Piria Medal, which will be awarded on monday, august 26, 2024 during the "XXVIII National Congress of the Italian Chemical Society" event in Milan, crowns this prestigious scientific career.

This Medal joins the Ciamician Medal obtained by dr. Giacomo Filippini and the National Award for Best Doctoral Thesis in Organic Chemistry by dr. Beatrice Bartolomei, crowning the success of Prof. Maurizio Prato's research group and the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences in general.

The thirteenth edition of Trieste Next, the Festival of Scientific Research, will take place from 27th to 29th September 2024 with a focus on ‘The Horizons of Intelligence. Knowledge between human beings and technologies.’ is once again counting on the ‘Volunteer Project’ to allow all UniTS students to  take part in the event as active participants. 

The experience of being a volunteer at Trieste Next is extremely engaging, allowing you to immerse yourself the event directly, to discover the stimulating system of scientific research in our area and to be inspired by working in contact with scientists and disseminating their projects, involving children and adults. 

Volunteers will support the activities of the exhibitors and the workshops planned in Piazza Unità d'Italia, collaborate in welcoming visitors and managing the rooms where the conferences and events are held, and act as social ambassadors to help tell the story of the event on digital communication channels.   

This role requires passion, communication and interpersonal skills, empathy, and a desire to have fun and learn!   

At the end of the experience, not only will each volunteer be issued with a certificate of participation, but UniTS will also award 1 ECTS/CFU to students for 25 hours of volunteering. To obtain the recognition of the credits you will have to present the certificate of participation, which will be issued at the end of the event, to the Didactic Secretariat of your Department. 

To apply, fill in the FORM by 8 p.m. on 30th June 2024. 

For students interested in working in a specific research group, we remind you that there is a specific field in the application form where you can indicate the name of your reference lecturer.

Come and be part of our team, we are waiting for you!

All info 

Knowledge Dissemination Office, University of Trieste: volontari@units.it; tel. 040558 6124 or 6143

At their monthly assembly, the chancellors of Italian universities listened attentively to the speech by the President of the Italian National Student Union (CNSU) Alessia Conti. Conti represents two million students and expressed their concerns about the conflict in the Middle East.

Following the discussion, and in view of the numerous views communicated to the rectors, the CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors) wishes to reiterate how the entire university system is united in the demand, now received from many quarters, for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release of the hostages seized in the inhuman attack of 7 October. The massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip since that date and the simultaneous destruction of all infrastructures, not least the universities, have now exceeded all acceptable limits. With this in mind, together with President Mattarella, the universities reiterate the urgent need to “put a halt to the chain of actions and reactions and allow a process to begin that will put an end to the massacres and finally lead to stable peace.”

“It is essential to avoid fostering escalation with aprioristic deployments,” stressed Giovanna Iannantuoni, President of CRUI, “The situation in the Middle East is complex and must be analysed as such. Real courage entails not giving in to partisan logic and instead taking sides for peace.”

Article 11 of the Constitution states that: “Italy repudiates war as an instrument of offence against the freedom of other peoples and as a means of settling international disputes.”  Moreover, it is in the very nature of a university to be a free and peaceful place, where even the bitter confrontation between opposing theses is resolved through rational argument, never violence. It is therefore the task of universities to encourage openness, in-depth study, debate and the search for solutions for civil coexistence.

With this in mind, the CRUI and the university system commit themselves, as of now, to the following actions:

1.      To continue to pay close attention to all the ongoing international crises. As sustained by President Mattarella, “the value of human dignity, of the demand for freedom, of the condemnation of oppression, of the rejection of brutal violence does not depend on the territory, the borders between States, or international relations between political parties or movements.”

2.      To intensify the work of the joint CRUI-CNR-INFN-INAF commission that has just been set up with the task of proposing guidelines on the ethical and deontological principles for the use of the results of scientific research for non-military use.

3.      To encourage broad public debate and the interdisciplinary in-depth study of international crises and their historical, economic and cultural roots, a move that has already been made by universities in recent weeks.

4.      To continue scientific collaboration with foreign universities in all countries. Breaking off agreements with universities, in fact, signals the rejection of the importance of places for reflection, critical thinking and constructive confrontation. Science and culture guarantee free spaces for dialogue, even when opinions and visions differ.

5.      To promote the universities’ UNIMED membership (Mediterranean Universities Union), a consortium which Palestinian universities are members of. Equally, supporting TESI membership (Technical Education Support for Higher Education Students Initiative), promoted by An-Najah National University, which provides financial and material aid to students in the Gaza Strip.

6.      To call for the strengthening of the Scholars at Risk and Students at Risk initiatives to fund scholarships for teachers, students and female students from Palestinian universities destroyed by the conflict.

7.      To propose the establishment of ‘Educating for Peace’, a project that allows universities to establish scholarships for Palestinian students. To promote the activation of the ‘Erasmus for Palestine’ programme in European institutions.

On the 18th June 2024, the Academic Senate of the University of Trieste heard the Rector’s report.  A boycott motion, received on 11th June 2024, was included in the agenda and presented on the day of the meeting by 5 students. After extensive and thorough discussion, the Senate unanimously rejected the motion and deemed it appropriate to reiterate the University's position. 

First of all, the Senate points to a number of principles underpinning the University's actions which are relevant to the definition of specific peace initiatives. UniTS acts with respect for constitutional principles, with specific reference to Article 11 of the Constitution, which states that "Italy repudiates war as an instrument of offence against the freedom of other peoples and as a means of settling international disputes" and to Article 33 of the Constitution, which states that "art and science are free and the teaching of them is free", thus strongly affirming the value of freedom of research. These values are enshrined in its Statute and Code of Ethics. 

With these principles in mind, the Academic Senate embraces and takes on board the apprehension and distress of the entire university community with respect to all the wars taking place in the world, expressing its sorrow for the enormous suffering that the numerous conflicts in progress are causing to the civilian populations involved. 

The University is committed to supporting the diplomatic resolution of international disputes and cease-fires in all conflict situations. The University equally supports the Rector in his constant active participation in the CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors) debate on peace.

With specific reference to the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip, the Senate strongly and urgently calls, also in the light of the UN resolution of 25th March 2024, for "an immediate ceasefire [....] and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages," endorsing CRUI’s statement of 23rd May 2024 which was immediately published on the UniTS institutional website.

This statement reiterated "... how the entire university system is united in the demand, now received from many quarters, for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release of the hostages seized during the inhuman attack of 7th October. The massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip since that date and the simultaneous destruction of all infrastructures, not least the universities, have now exceeded all acceptable limits. 

With this in mind, together with President Mattarella, the universities reiterate how urgent it is to "put a halt to the chain of actions and reactions, and allow a process to begin that will put an end to the massacres and finally lead to a stable peace."

With regard to the role of university institutions in these contexts, the Academic Senate recalls and fully and wholeheartedly endorses the words of President Mattarella, pronounced in our Aula Magna on 12th April 2024 on the occasion of the conferral of an honorary degree: "Universities have always been (...) a place of free debate, criticism and even dissent of power. Debate, criticism and dissent link universities in all countries, above borders and above differences between states. If you sever this connection, this precious exchange of reflection, of collaboration, of experience, you do not help rights, you do not help freedom or peace, but you weaken the power of debate, criticism, dissent. You help power, the worst kind, which has always tried to keep the universities in its own country isolated, to prevent them from connecting with those beyond its borders.”

UniTS promotes the development of institutional relations and the creation of spaces for dialogue and debate, internally, nationally and with international universities and research centres, reaffirming the importance of respect for freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful demonstration, and repudiating incitement to hatred and the use of violence. UniTS does not adhere to any boycott initiatives because it is contrary to its mission of promoting dialogue and building bridges between different cultures. UniTS acts with the aim of opposing discrimination, of guaranteeing students the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development through respect for human rights, gender equality, the promotion of a culture of peace, non-violence and the enhancement of cultural diversity.

UniTS condemns the brutal attack of 7th October 2023 and the violence committed by Hamas terrorists against the Israeli population, just as it strongly condemns the actions carried out by the Israeli government that led to the unacceptable massacre of civilians. 

UniTS pledges to promote and support peace at every level and to intensify its presence within the UNIMED consortium, to continue its support for the Scholars at Risk network and the Network of Italian Universities for Peace (RUniPace). In this way, UniTS demonstrates its continued willingness to welcome students and scholars, all the more so those arriving from war zones. 

UniTS undertakes to maintain and increase, if possible, scientific collaborations with universities in all foreign countries, with the aim of fostering debate, and, if necessary, dissent. Equally, UniTS will not be part of any initiatives connected to war-related activities when negotiating agreements. 

UniTS continues to collaborate and support all companies that are compatible with its code of ethics in order to offer our students the best employment opportunities. 

UniTS will continue to keep the list of research collaborations updated, already available here. 

Finally, the UniTS Academic Senate strongly stigmatises the behaviour of some of the demonstrators who committed violent actions against and made false statements about students, senators and governance itself.