The University of Trieste today awarded the honorary Master’s Degree in Law to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and to Borut Pahor, former President of the Republic of Slovenia, two personalities who are contributing to writing the history of the Adriatic border.

The motivation for the double award is, in fact, the policy of reconciliation pursued by the two Presidents, which has made the eastern border area, scarred by the wounds of 20th century history, an example of cooperation between peoples bound by their common membership to the European Union.

This is the motivation: ‘Sergio Mattarella and Borut Pahor courageously repudiated the narrow perspective of nationalistic egoism to pursue instead a policy of reconciliation, based on the creation and consolidation of spaces and symbols dedicated to collective memory, as the foundation of authentic peace among peoples. These two statesmen interpreted the love for their homelands with high European values at heart, helping to transform the Adriatic border from a territory afflicted by harsh ethnic and cultural conflict to a space of dialogue, cooperation and friendship, in the common awareness of human rights and in the light of democratic freedoms.

The text of the motivation was read out in Italian by Prof. Gian Paolo Dolso, Head of the Department of Legal, Language, Interpretation and Translation Sciences (IUSLIT) of the University of Trieste, which proposed the double awarding of honorary degrees. The Slovenian version was entrusted to Professor Tereza Pertot.

Professors Davide Rossi and Fabio Spitaleri read out the two laudations.

‘Our University’s task is to build bridges, not walls; to make a concrete contribution to the social, cultural and ethical growth of new generations,’ explained Roberto Di Lenarda, Rector of the University of Trieste. ‘In a historical moment like this one, marked by war scenarios, universities are open to everyone, they are inclusive, they protect and support above all the weakest among us, but universities must also be granted autonomy in choosing their collaborators to produce science and develop human and social culture.’

‘Science is produced by doing research, and this involves both cooperation and competition with other universities and research bodies. Together, we progress hand in hand, supporting the most advanced minds and souls, even in suffering societies,’ the Rector continued, calling for a balanced and rational management of the tension that agitates Italian universities.

The ceremony began in the University’s Main Hall, in the presence of the University Rector, the academic community, civil, military, diplomatic and religious authorities, and students.

Set in the broader context of the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans and the political and diplomatic action carried out by the two Heads of State and their predecessors Giorgio Napolitano and Danilo Turk, today’s celebration confirms the role of the University of Trieste as a place of exchange and dialogue and constitutes a new opportunity for the two Presidents to meet, showing a solid relationship that has continued even after Pahor’s term of office ended.

Over the years, in fact, there have been numerous initiatives involving Mattarella and Pahor, such as the ceremony ‘Europe as a place for overcoming conflicts’ on the centenary of the union of Gorizia with Italy on 26 October 2016 and the meeting on 21 October 2021 to celebrate the joint designation of Gorizia and Nova Gorica as ‘European Capital of Culture 2025’, a recognition destined to increase the sense of union of the two cities, which were divided by barbed wire until thirty years ago.

Also to be remembered as a fundamental moment in the new season of relations between Italy and Slovenia, a model of cooperation for the European continent, is the bilateral meeting in Trieste on 13th July 2020, with the Presidents’ homage to the sites symbolic of the tragedies of totalitarianism.

This is not the first time that the University of Trieste has conferred an honorary degree to a President of the Republic: we remember Luigi Einaudi on 4 November 1954, on the occasion of Trieste’s return under Italian sovereignty, and Antonio Segni in 1963, on the threshold of the establishment and launch of the Special Statute Region.

The ceremony was enriched by the performance of the Italian, Slovenian and European anthems by the Choir and Orchestra of the University of Trieste, conducted by Riccardo Cossi.

At the end of the ceremony, the University’s centenary anthem ‘Sorprendi la sorte’, with lyrics by Marcela Serli, was also performed. 

Eugenio Fornasiero of the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste has been awarded € 248,000 by the Telethon-Cariplo Call for Proposals to fund a research project on neurodevelopmental disorders.

The initiative, which the two Foundations commit to continuing into the future, is dedicated to clarifying those still obscure aspects of the human genome potentially responsible for rare diseases.

Now in its third year, the Fondazione Cariplo and Fondazione Telethon call for proposals has led to the selection of 14 new research projects, for a total of € 3.2 million and 22 research groups involved.

In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, € 248,000 have been allocated to fund a project of the University of Trieste.

This brings the total joint investment by the two Foundations to almost € 14 million, which has led to the funding of 59 research projects involving 90 Italian research centres.

This initiative, inspired by a programme of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims precisely to ‘illuminate the darkest portion of the human genome’, inviting researchers to study genetic aspects and molecular mechanisms that are still largely unknown or poorly understood, but which represent potential for the development of new therapies for rare diseases. In particular, projects were to focus on the study of so-called T-dark targets, for which information on structure, function and interaction with molecules and drugs is unknown. Although the human genome has been completely sequenced, we still know very little about many genes and the proteins they encode. Suffice it to say that of the 4500 human proteins considered to be possible pharmacological targets, only 700 are currently in the crosshairs of approved drugs: this means that of all the others, more than 80 per cent, there could be proteins that are suitable to be studied in order to develop new therapies, but for several reasons are not being studied.

Eugenio Fornasiero from the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste will coordinate a study on neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, the project focuses on a specific gene called CCDC32, classified as TDark of which we have very limited knowledge. The loss of function of CCDC32 is the direct cause of a rare and non-specific syndromic intellectual disability,

often accompanied by physical abnormalities. By delving into its function, the fundamental basis for understanding not only this specific gene, but also the more general mechanisms underlying rare intellectual disabilities and associated physical malformations will be provided.

As far as the geographical distribution of the research centres involved is concerned, most - 14 out of 22 - are located in Lombardy; the others are in Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Marche, Piedmont and Tuscany. Among the pathologies under study are certain forms of muscular dystrophy such as Duchenne’s and facio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy, blood diseases such as haemochromatosis, haemorrhagic telangiectasia and thalassaemia, but also neurodevelopmental disorders and rare tumours.

A total of 77 project proposals were submitted by Italian non-profit, public or private research organisations. Of these, 69 were deemed suitable and submitted to the evaluation process, entrusted to a medical-scientific commission of 15 internationally renowned scientists from all over the world and chaired by Dr. Massimo Pandolfo of Mc Gill University in Montreal (Canada). For the evaluation of the projects, the peer-review method was used, which indicates the critical assessment that a work or publication receives from specialists with similar skills to those of the person submitting it, guaranteeing the transparency and fairness of the evaluation.

The Allianz Pallacanestro Trieste game on Sunday 14 April at 18:00 against Urania Milano will celebrate the UniTS Centenary. The LEDs on the sidelines and the Palatrieste wall will display colours and images chosen to celebrate this historic anniversary.

Even the court flooring will be customised to remind basketball fans that sport and study go hand in hand. This union of sport and study will also be underlined by the presentation of a special game jersey to Rector Roberto Di Lenarda by the General Manager of Pallacanestro Trieste, Michael Arcieri.

‘This year we are celebrating an anniversary that has great significance for the University and for the entire city of Trieste,’ comments Michael Arcieri. ‘Our partnership is a tribute to the shared values of education and sport, and we are proud to contribute to such an important celebration. We are pleased to announce that the match against Urania Milano at PalaTrieste will really showcase this partnership.’

‘We believe that passion for sport as a player or even as a supporter is a sign of vitality and enthusiasm that, in the case of our students, helps them face the challenges of study, work and life,’ adds Roberto Di Lenarda. ‘We are happy to paint PalaTrieste’s home court with the colours of our centenary and invite all sportsmen and women to participate in our initiatives dedicated to this historic anniversary.’

28th March marks World Endometriosis Day, established in 2014 to draw attention to a disease that, in some cases, can be highly incapacitating for those who live with it. 

Worldwide, approximately 190 million adults and adolescents assigned female at birth (between 2 and 10% of the general female population) are affected by endometriosis during their reproductive years, although some may suffer from it beyond the menopause. 

In Italy, 10-15% of fertile women are affected by endometriosis: the condition affects approximately 30-50% of people with difficulty conceiving. There are at least 3 million confirmed diagnoses.

The peak occurs between the ages of 25 and 35, but the condition can also appear in younger age groups. The diagnosis often comes after a long and costly struggle, most often experienced with serious psychological repercussions.

The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic of the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences conducts a great deal of research on the disease in collaboration with various facilities of the University of Trieste, the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo and other Italian and foreign research bodies.

A study was recently published in an important scientific journal in which the presence of many metals of environmental derivation in endometriosis tissue was demonstrated, which could contribute to the development of the disease. 

Study by Pascolo, L.; Pachetti, M.; Camillo, A.; Cernogoraz, A.; Rizzardi, C.; Mikus, K.V.; Zanconati, F.; Salome, M.; Suarez, V.T.; Romano, F.; Zito G., Gianoncelli A., Ricci G. Detention and mapping of iron and toxic environmental elements in human ovarian endometriosis: A suggested combined role. Science of the Total Environment 2023, 864, 161028. 

From Maine (USA) and tested for the first time in Italy and Europe, the new monitoring system allows the identification of the so-called ‘umbrella species for monitoring’, making it possible to simultaneously track other species thus maximising the effectiveness of their observation and control. The concept of umbrella species has long been known in conservation biology, but is being readapted in this case for monitoring purposes. The creator of the protocol is Alessio Mortelliti, associate professor of Ecology in the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste, and first associate professor in Wildlife Habitat Conservation at the University of Maine.

Under its coordination, the University of Trieste and the Julian Prealps Natural Park, who are already engaged in a study on the behaviour of micromammals, will collaborate as partners in the project Optimal Monitoring of Mammals. This project was won on the call for the National Biodiversity Future Center, one of the five national centres dedicated to frontier research, funded by NextGenerationEU, Ministry of Universities and Research and NRRP.

Launching in April 2024 and scheduled to end in December 2025, the project aims to develop a mammal monitoring system within the park and surrounding areas, spanning 100 km2 of extraordinary biodiversity and located in Friuli Venezia Giulia on the border with Slovenia. It was also recognised in 2009 as a cross-border protected area by the EUROPARC Federation. 

Specifically, the project has two highly innovative objectives at national and international level. The first is to identify the protocol with the most cost-effective ratio for a specific management purpose and budget, which is also adaptable according to variable economic availability and aim of the institution. The second goal is to identify the so-called umbrella species. 

Alessio Mortelliti, associate professor of Ecology at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste explains, ‘Identifying umbrella species means identifying species on which to focus our effort, but at the same time ensuring that other species will be included in the monitoring. This approach is therefore an excellent tool to minimise the cost of monitoring while maximising the number of species covered. For example, monitoring the wild cat by means of phototraps makes it possible to simultaneously monitor other species, such as martens, roe deer and foxes.’

The data, collected in two field campaigns using traps, nest tubes and phototraps (the first during spring/summer 2024, the second in spring/summer 2025), will be used for the development of protocols and statistical analysis able to detect significant trends in the decline of umbrella species. As another distinctive feature of the project, a number of citizen scientists, i.e. pupils of local primary and secondary schools, will participate in the sampling activities as part of the environmental education activities promoted annually by the Park, accompanied and supported by the students of the course in Ecology of Global Changes of the University of Trieste.

 Additionally, in order to ensure sustainability in the medium to long term and remain achievable in relative autonomy, the project includes various training activities for Park staff on field techniques, the acquisition and management of data, and the identification of species. The protocol is also structured to allow for its replication in other protected areas characterised by similar forest types, and to export the results related to umbrella species in different contexts.

‘There is a passing of the baton and a transfer of know-how between the University of Trieste and the Julian Prealps Natural Park. The protocol is to be understood as a real investment for the institution. It is applied research, a model that becomes professional practice in the field’, continues Alessio Mortelliti, ‘The involvement of schools and the local community is also fundamental, so that they may feel part of this great ecosystem and become increasingly informed, conscious and empowered.’

President of the Park Annalisa Di Lenardo expressed satisfaction with the funding obtained, and emphasises that, ‘the project is significant for the area due to its innovation and capacity to create a network between a research institute, a managing body of a protected area and the local community. The data collected will increase the knowledge available to administrations and citizens in order to raise awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity and its proper management.’

Alessio Mortelliti has twenty years of experience in the development of monitoring protocols and is co-author of some of the Ispra monitoring protocols. He has developed others for the state of Maine (USA), the Regional Agency of Lazio Parks (formerly ARP), the Selva del Lamone Nature Reserve and the monitoring of babirusa (Sus celebensis) in Indonesia. In the past, he has conducted numerous courses specifically focused on field techniques and the analysis of monitoring data in numerous countries, including Italy, Austria, the United States, Indonesia, Tunisia and Mauritania.

Aneta Aleksova, associate professor of Cardiovascular Diseases at UniTS, received the second research prize at the European Society of Cardiology's (ACVC-ESC) 'Acute Cardiovascular Care 2024' Congress, which brought together cardiologists from intensive care cardiology units in Athens.

The unpublished paper, entitled 'Increased amyloid-beta values predict mortality during long-term follow-up in patients with acute myocardial infarction, both STEMI and NSTEMI', was selected as one of the four best overall and presented at the Award session of the Congress, coming second place and earning the distinction of most scientifically original work.

The study on the predictive value of beta amyloid peptide on the mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction was mostly carried out by the Molecular Cardiology Laboratory team (Dr. Alessandra Lucia Fluca and Dr. Milijana Janjusevic), coordinated by Prof. Aneta Aleksova herself, within the ASUGI Cardiology Complex Structure, directed by Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra.

The prestigious award is an acknowledgement of the research activity resulting from a national and international collaboration: in particular, the significant contribution of professors from the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSM) of the University of Trieste - including Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra (Cardiovascular Apparatus Diseases), Prof. Stefano D'Errico (Legal Medicine) and Prof. Giulia Barbati (Medical Statistics) - and Prof. Antonio Paolo Beltrami of the University of Udine should be emphasised.

International cardiovascular experts, such as Prof. Maria Marketou from the University of Crete, Heraklion (Greece) and Dr. Donna Zwas from the Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem (Israel), are also to be thanked for their involvement in the study.

Aleksova received further recognition by placing three other research papers, presented as moderated posters, among the best 14 of the Congress, which was open to scientific contributions from all over the world.

Thanks to the awards received by the cardiologist and DSM lecturer, the University of Trieste was the only Italian university to be represented among the winners of the research prizes and the best moderated posters.

AIRCampus is a project by the Italian National Cancer Association (AIRC) Foundation's project dedicated to university students to raise awareness of cancer.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, UniTS has organised lectures on topics related to the Foundation's work which are also of interest to students from various degree courses.

Join us for the second semester. Each lecture lasts about 2 hours, during which both an Italian National Cancer Association (AIRC) expert such as a researcher, manager, nonprofit expert, or testimonialand a UniTS lecturer will speak.

This is a unique opportunity for students to explore topics in line with their study plans, and to listen to the testimonies of professionals with concrete examples and a multidisciplinary approach to the subject.

PROGRAMME

27 March, 11:00 – 13:00

Baciocchi Hall, Androna Baciocchi 4, Trieste

STEM, health and active citizenship in primary schools: AIRC's pathway in schools

Invited speaker: Cristina Zorzoli, AIRC Educational Projects Coordinator

Hosting UniTS lecturer: Barbara Bocchi

Students from General Education within the Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education 

29 April, 10.30 

Room F, Building G, Piazzale Europa Campus

Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications to the Brain

Invited speaker: Paola Scifo, AIRC researcher at the San Raffaele Hospital, Milan

Hosting UniTS lecturer: Valentina Zaccolo, Paolo Camerini and Renato Longo

Students from Introduction to Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics and Introduction to the Physics of Matter within  the Bachelor’s Degree in Physics

2 May, 14:00

Online

Microbiota, immunity and tumours

Invited speaker: Maria Rescigno, AIRC researcher and full professor of General Pathology at Humanitas University

Hosting UniTS lectuer: Fiamma Mantovani

Students from Cancer Biology within the Bachelor’s Degree in Functional Genomics and Medical and Diagnostic Biotechnology

8 May, 14.30 - 16.30

Morin Hall, H2bis Building, Via A. Valerio 12/1

Artificial intelligence for genomics and personalised medicine in myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms

Invited speaker: Gastone Castellani, AIRC researcher at the University of Bologna

Hosting UniTS lecturer: Giulio Caravagna

All undergraduate students from Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, Scientific and data-intensive computing, Data science and artificial intelligence, Statistics and Informatics for business, finance and insurance

The #100UniTS Corsa dei Castelli (Castle-to-Castle race), was presented today (Monday 25th March) in a press conference at the Cammarata Hall of the University of Trieste. It is a 10 km road running event approved by FIDAL and organised by Promorun for Sunday 20th October 2024. Promorun marks a new and very important partnership with the University of Trieste, which this year celebrates a century of research, excellence, creativity and human ingenuity to which a sporting event has now been added.

UniTS will be well represented in the 2024 Corsa dei Castelli: medals and race T-shirts will bear its 100th anniversary logo alongside splashes of the anniversary’s official colour, a vibrant cherry red.

By holding events that have consistently represented a flagship in technical quality, environmental care, social issues and economic impact, Promorun has proven itself more than worthy of the trust proudly extended by many institutions, now including the historic University of Trieste, thus continuing to cultivate a two-way relationship between Promorun and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. 

THE 100th ANNIVERSARY - ‘In the programme that the University is dedicating to Trieste and its visitors, we absolutely needed great sporting event,’ emphasises Rector Roberto Di Lenarda. ‘On 20th October, the UniTS community will take to the track with the public and top-level athletes, in order to collectively celebrate its first one hundred years. I invite everyone to visit 100anni.units.it to discover this and other unmissable events.'

THE RACES – A snapshot of Trieste, starting from the Miramare Castle and arriving at the Castle of San Giusto (the city's patron saint), along a route that displays the city in all its architectural, scenic and cultural richness. The first 8 km riepilogo will be run at full throttle before entering the city and reaching the stunning Piazza Unità, where the last kilometre known as 'The Wall' will begin, finishing at the San Giusto Castle. A day for everyone, two additional races have been organised: the Non-Competitive Ten, a side event for which no membership card or sports medical certificate are required, and the 8 km Family Run, which will finish in Piazza Unità, and for whom the renewal of the charity project for the Burlo Garofolo Foundation is already in the pipeline. 

Many UniTS students and staff are expected to celebrate the University's 100th anniversary with a day of sport and wellbeing. After the success of the first edition, the International Road Race Running Match u.23 10k will take place once again and will see participation from U23 athletes from foreign federations, enriching the international cohort.

THE HISTORY - Since the first edition, the event has had a technical focus of the highest quality thanks to people of great international calibre, such as Ezekiel Kemboi, Sammy Kipngetich, Hagos Gebrhiwet,Birhanu Balew and Muktar Edris. Over the years, Promorun has broadened its focus to amateurs, conceiving and realising the Family Run first and then the Non-Competitive Ten. Both these successes run alongside fundraising for local health organisations and side projects involving the world of education. Promorun's tradition of renewing the event every year has not stopped there. In 2023, the 1st International Road Race Running Match U.23 10k began, and saw the participation of European national teams.

SPORT AND TOURISM - Sport and tourism: the winning combination of the present and the future. The association Promorun is committed to promoting theregion, which is still little-known due to its geographical location at the edge of the Italy’s Boot. Promorun wants to turn the event into an opportunity to unveil the scenic beauty of the Adriatic Sea, the mountainous headland of the Karst, the city’s rich history involving numerous gruelling battles, the artistic expression resulting from the fusion of cultural influences, and the regional food and wine tradition.

REGISTRATION - Registration is open on the website (https://join.endu.net/home). Next rate change on 30th May. Registration for the Family Run 8 km is open on the website. Special promo: two adults accompanying a child under 16 for €9.00. Club Promo with a minimum of 10 participants. Children and young people aged 18 or younger participate free of charge.

Info: segreteria@promorun.it; info@promorun.it

Speakers at the press conference included Roberto Di Lenarda, Rector of the University of Trieste, Fabio Scoccimarro, Regional Councillor for Environmental Protection, Energy and Sustainable Development, Pierpaolo Roberti, Regional Councillor for Local Authorities, Public Function, Security and Immigration, Caterina de Gavardo, Municipal Councillor for Citizens' Security Policies, Erika Dessabo, Friuli Venezia Giulia Coordinator of Sport and Health, Ernesto Mari, CONI delegate for the Province of Trieste (representing Giorgio Brandolin, President of CONI FVG), Silvia Gianardi, President of Promorun and Michele Gamba, former Italian national team athlete and Technical Director of the competition.

Photo: Michele Gamba, Roberto Di Lenarda and Silvia Gianardi

A total of 3,270 students have registered for Spring Open Day and are attending the presentations of the UniTS bachelor’s and master's degree courses.

Most of them come from Friuli Venezia Giulia (in particular Pordenone and Udine) and Veneto (Treviso, Venice, Belluno, Vicenza, Padua and Verona).

There were also many sign-ups from Trento, Bolzano, Brescia, Bergamo, Sondrio, Milan, Mantua, Turin, Biella, Genoa, Bologna, Modena, Ferrara, Rimini, Ravenna, Pistoia, Prato, Arezzo, Rome, Latina, Ancona, Macerata, Ascoli Piceno, L'Aquila, Urbino, Naples, Caltanissetta and Catania.

As always, there were numerous registrations from Slovenia and Croatia (Piran, Nova Gorica, Portorož, Izola, Koper, Rijeka, Zagreb), Prague and Budapest. This year there were also a few entries from Ethiopia, Gambia, Pakistan and the Ivory Coast.

Between presentations, the students can also take a guided tour of the Piazzale Europa Campus. These tours are held every half hour, with a meeting point in front of the Prospective Student Support and School Liaison Office, in the atrium of the left wing.

In the afternoon, there will also be a meeting by the Prospective Student Support Staff with ‘Instructions for use’, where they’ll discuss university life, accommodation, fees and facilities.

At the end of the activities chosen for the day, participants can collect their certificate of attendance from one of the desks in the atrium of the Main Building (left wing), upon presentation of an identity document.

The kick-off meeting of the SITE project (Shaping Inclusive Tourist Experience) has recently been held at the Urban Center of Trieste, and was funded under the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 programme. The event marks the official launch of an ambitious project that aims to make tourism sustainable through the principles of Universal Design, addressing the challenge of diversifying flow through a more inclusive tourism.

The SITE project has been created in conjunction with a consortium of seven other partners. It has been organised by prof. Lorenzo Castelli of the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA) of the University of Trieste in collaboration with the Trieste Inclusion and Accessibility Lab (TrIAL) research group, whose contact person is prof. Ilaria Garofolo. The main objective of SITE is to promote tourist destinations that are accessible to all travellers, guaranteeing an experience free of barriers of any kind.

The Italian and Croatian partners involved in this innovative project include the City of Šibenik, DURA Dubrovnik Development Agency, Dubrovnik Airport, Municipality of Fano, Central Marketing Intelligence (CMI) - Trieste, VEASYT - Venice and the Faculty of Management in Tourism and Hospitality of the University of Rijeka.

With a duration of two and a half years, the SITE project envisages the development of pilot initiatives in key locations such as Dubrovnik, Šibenik and Fano, to test and implement solutions that make tourism an accessible and enjoyable experience for all.

In today's Europe, where a quarter of the adult population lives with some form of disability and the Ageing Index is continuing to rise, the SITE project aims to turn demographic challenges into opportunities. By creating more inclusive tourist destinations, it is not only possible to improve travellers' experiences but also to stimulate sustainable and diversified economic growth.

The kick-off meeting took place in the Urban Center, which was made available by the Municipality of Trieste, and was attended by Vice-Rector Valter Sergo, who in his welcome recalled that SITE is the only Interreg 2021-2027 project whose Lead Partner is a department of the University of Trieste, the DIA.

Thanks to the support of the European Union and the joint commitment of the partners, the SITE project stands as a beacon of innovation and inclusivity in the tourism sector. It is a practical demonstration of how, working together, we can overcome barriers and make tourism a universal experience, open to all.