M'illumino di Meno, the switch off campaign organised by Rai Radio2 through its popular show Caterpillar, has since last year become the Italian National Day of Saving Energy and Sustainable Lifestyles, celebrated every 16th February.

The name of the campaign, which literally means ‘I fill myself with less light’, evokes in the Italian reader a famous line from the poem Mattina (morning) by Giuseppe Ungaretti: M’illumino d’immenso (immensity fills me with light). In 2024, this campaign celebrates its 20th edition. This year’s theme is ‘No borders’, an invitation is to switch off borders by seeking international alliances!

UniTS joins in the campaign by involving the partner universities of Transform4Europe, the university alliance that brings together Saarland University (Germany), the University of Alicante (Spain), Estonian Academy of Arts, University of Silesia - Katowice (Poland), Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Catholic University of Portugal, University of Primorska (Slovenia) and Jean Monnet University (France).

To raise awareness of saving energy, the University main building will dim the lights illuminating its façade from the evening of 16th February and throughout the weekend.

The University of Trieste today conferred an Honorary Master's Degree in Civil Engineering to Andrea Zampa.

The degree was conferred ‘for his significant contribution provided by experimental research and in the development of modern strategies based on the use of composite materials aimed at reducing the seismic vulnerability of existing masonry buildings.’

‘The prestigious accolade from the University of Trieste goes to me, but above all it concerns an entrepreneurial reality that has done and continues to do great work with the university,’ says Andrea Zampa. ‘A commitment that transforms thought and research into patents, products, methods, and systems that have an impact on regulations and the market, creating added value and wealth for the entire country system.’ 

Andrea Zampa is founding partner, president and technical director of Fibre Net SpA and Fibre Net Holding, a group that deals with the design, development and production of products and systems in fibre-reinforced composite materials, used in the building, energy, transport and industrial sectors. Thanks to his experience in the field of composite materials, in the early 2000s he conceived and engineered an innovative Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) product that is now widely used for structural reinforcement and seismic improvement of buildings and infrastructures. During his professional career, he has collaborated in numerous research and development activities with universities, laboratories and institutes all over the world with the aim of designing new products by applying state-of-the-art technologies and solutions. Today Zampa is a board member of professional associations and working groups of the CNR (National Research Council) and RILEM (International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures).

Andrea Zampa's speech of acceptance is entitled: 'An experience in industrial research for the structural improvement of buildings: from concept to product standard'.

Present at the ceremony were Valter Sergo, Vice Rector of the University of Trieste, Paolo Gallina, Head of the Department of Engineering and Architecture, who gave the introductory speech, and Massimiliano Gei, full professor at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, who gave the laudation.

Sunday 11th February is the worldwide celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. On this anniversary, the University of Trieste will join the global community in promoting the equal participation of women and girls in scientific fields of study and work. 

Despite the progress of recent years, the gender gap remains, particularly in so-called STEM fields. Globally, women represent only 28% of researchers and 35% of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In Italy, the situation is only slightly better, with 33% of researchers being female along with 41% of graduates.

According to Eurostat data, women employed in scientific fields are a minority throughout Europe, at around 41%. In Italy, the figure stands at 34%, with 400,000 female scientists and engineers, almost half that of their male colleagues (760 thousand). 

Another critical element concerns the wage gap, which still persists today. Worldwide, women earn on average 20% less than men employed in STEM fields. In Italy, the gap is 15%. 

However, signs of change can be seen. The number of women pursuing scientific careers is steadily increasing, albeit at different rates depending on the disciplines. In Italy, for example, the pecentage of women among PhDs in computer engineering has risen from 17% in 2000 to 33% in 2020.

The University of Trieste believes that gender equality in science is fundamental for the development of society and the scientific community. It also renews its commitment to take every action possible to promote inclusive environments for all 'women in science' and to raise awareness of how women and girls can contribute to the scientific and technological progress of society.

On 10 February, the University of Trieste will join in the commemoration events organised for the National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe, established to preserve and renew the memory of the victims of the foibe massacres and the exodus of Istrians and Dalmatians after World War II, within the complex story of the Italian eastern border.

In recent decades, the University of Trieste, has distinguished itself for the development of a strand of historical research focussing on the violence and persecution that occurred along the Adriatic border before and after World War II. This is with particular thanks to the academic rigour of Professor Raoul Pupo who has carefully reconstructed and analysed events within the period.

In recent years, interest in the eastern border has grown. As a result, studies concerning the border have contributed to an increased understanding of the events that affected the Julian-Dalmatian populations. Thorough and nuanced research in this area is essential if we are to avoid simplifications and the consequent risks of dangerous instrumentalization.

Research activity into events at the eastern border has also involved a comparison between Italian and Slovenian historiography and has made it possible to give space to the memory of the Istrian, Fiuman and Dalmatian diaspora community publicly where such space was previously denied. In this way, we continue to work towards the completion of a reconciliation process aimed at overcoming the conflicts of the 20th century.

Twenty years after the institution of the National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe, we want to stress the importance of knowledge and respect for memory in order to consolidate a culture of peace, strengthen the European spirit and build the future together.

The path ahead is clearly shown in the image of the Presidents of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, immortalised hand in hand during an official visit to the foiba of Basovizza in July 2020.

The Maine Building of University of Trieste will be illuminated with the tricolour on the evenings of 9, 10 and 11 February.

FameLab, the science communication talent show, is returning to Trieste. The local selection for the international contest will take place next Friday 5th April from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Luttazzi Hall (Magazzino 26, Porto vecchio). As always, the challenge will be to describe a research topic in a clear and engaging way in just 3 minutes to an audience of non-experts, without the aid of projections, graphics or videos. Applications must be filled in online by Thursday 28th March 2024.

Contestants from both STEM or medical fields and the humanities (Anthropology, Archaeology, Economics, Philosophy, Geography, Law, Linguistics, Literature, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, History and Art History) are eligible.

The local selection is organised by Science Centre Immaginario Scientifico, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) and the Municipality of Trieste, as part of the ‘Trieste City of Knowledge’ Memorandum of Understanding. 

The people ranked first and second in the local selection will receive a cash prize, take part in an international masterclass to be held in Perugia in June, and then in the national final scheduled for September and October. The winner of FameLab Italia 2024 will gain access to the FameLab International final, scheduled in November, where they will face other competitors from all over the world.

A free training session has been planned for all the Trieste competitors to better prepare for the challenge. The meeting, organised by FameLab Italia, will take place remotely on the Zoom platform on 21st March 2024, (4pm-8pm). All eligible researchers interested in joining FameLab can participate, even if they haven’t registered yet. For more info on registration, please write to info@immaginarioscientifico.it

The University main building will be illuminated in blue and orange on World Cancer Day, celebrated on 4th February.

The event aims to raise awareness of the disease and to educate people on its prevention. The theme chosen for the 2024 edition is 'Close the Care Gap - Everyone deserves access to cancer care'.

Half of the world's population lacks access to essential health services and, when it comes to cancer, many are denied basic treatment. Internationally, people seeking cancer care face several barriers: insufficient income or education, geographic location and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle. The most disadvantaged groups are also more likely to be exposed to a range of other risk factors, such as smoking, an unhealthy diet or environmental triggers.  

This is an equality gap, which costs lives.

2023 Italian data.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon and the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) estimate that in 2023 there were 395,000 new diagnoses.: 208,000 in men and 187,000 in women. In the last 3 years, there has been a further increase of more than 18,400 cases. These figures illustrate a growing trend and raise questions for which there are presently no comprehensive answers. In 2023, the most frequent cancers were breast cancer (55,900), rectal cancer (50,500), lung cancer (44,000), prostate cancer (41,100) and bladder cancer (29,700). 

Healthy lifestyles are an important defence against the disease. 40% of cases could be avoided by eliminating or reducing risk factors such as smoking, obesity, alcohol and physical inactivity. A cross-sectional approach is therefore needed, by implementing prevention through healthy lifestyle, early diagnosis and participation in screening programmes.

University of Trieste, Department of Engineering and Architecture

DEGREE COURSE IN ARCHITECTURE

Laboratory of Architecture and Construction Integrated Design – RRR Lab

VillageGo2025! Workshop Exhibition. Prefigurations for Gorizia - Nova Gorica European Capital of Culture 2025

Curated by: Luigi Di Dato, Alessio Bortot, Thomas Bisiani, Sonia Prestamburgo, Adriano Venudo

When: 19th January 2024 – 16th February 2024 (during building opening hours)

Where: Room 401, 4th floor, via Alviano 18, Gorizia Campus, 34170 Gorizia

The VILLAGE GO2025! Workshop was held last week as part of the Integrated Design Laboratory - RRR Lab for the degree course in Architecture at the University of Trieste. During the workshop, students produced a masterplan and projects for Gorizia - Nova Gorica European Capital of Culture 2025.

The students, guided by teachers and experts of national and international renown, worked on four possible prefigurations for an “urban village” in the cross-border urban system Gorizia and Nova Gorica. This urban village will welcome visitors to and host events and activities at the European Capital of Culture event. The four urban prefigurations were developed in the form of a masterplan and placed on a large-scale model of the two cities. The prefigurations propose architectural solutions for 21 specific sites across three themes (guest reception, entertainment and shows) and are displayed in 21 illustrative panels which detail the architectural and functional solutions. The solutions developed by students look to the future while maintaining a focused and systematic approach.

The projects consider not only the present, i.e. the preparation of an 'event-city', but also the future, the post-event, or rather, what will be left after the event and what effects this will have on the future of Gorizia and Nova Gorica. The possible implications for the city, its architecture, infrastructure, landscape and the re-use and valorisation of its existing heritage were discussed in a public event dedicated to technical debate and theoretical reflection. In attendance were lecturers from the UNITS Laboratory based in Gorizia (Thomas Bisiani, Alessio Bortot, Luigi Di Dato, Sonia Prestamburgo and Adriano Venudo), professors from the Milan Polytechnic University (Elvio Manganaro), the University of Naples Federico II (Alberto Calderoni) and representatives of various local authorities directly involved in the organisation of the Capital of Culture 2025 event (Municipality of Gorizia, Order of Engineers of Gorizia, Order of Architects of Gorizia and EGTC).

The designs from the workshop are displayed in an exhibition in via Alviano 18, room 401, Gorizia Campus. The exhibition is open to visitors until 16 February 2024.

For more information, please write to:

avenudo@units.it

tbisiani@units.it

The feasibility study for 5G-SITACOR - the CAM-based 5G corridor between Italy and Slovenia - has officially launched.

The project is part of the EU programme CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) and, more specifically, the CEF-DIG-2022-5GCORRIDORS programme, which funds growth, employment and competitiveness through investments in infrastructure located in key areas among EU countries. CEF is coordinated by HADEA, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency.

The study will last 6 months (until July 2024) and will include the analysis of existing arterial roads and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as assessments of the investments needed to achieve CAM 5G coverage in the corridor between Italy and Slovenia. 

The ultimate goal of the study is to define the parameters necessary for the subsequent implementation of an infrastructure dedicated to the development of smart digital services for territories and communities, to be applied to businesses, schools, hospitals, cities, and highways.

The border area between Italy and Slovenia is one of the 5G corridors identified - by the EU - for enhanced coverage and connectivity, being the crossroads of several routes (national, regional and local), serving both rail and port infrastructure and being, at the same time, an area with many obstacles such as mountains and road tunnels. 

The 5G-SITACOR project was entrusted by the EU to a pool of diverse and complementary entities: the Friuli Venezia-Giulia Region (project coordinator); the Port of Koper; ANAS and DARS (Italian and Slovenian highway operators); Retelit and Telekom Slovenia (telecommunications operators); the University of Trieste; and the University of Ljubljana.

The cost of the study is €600K, with the EU funding over €300K through grants.

The Molecular Biology Laboratory in the local health authority’s (ASUGI) Anatomical Pathology Department has obtained EMQN 2023 Certification. The European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN) awarded this important European certification in recognition of the laboratory’s activities in the analysis of prognostic-predictive markers in the field of oncology.

The accreditation is crucial for authorising the purchase of very expensive drugs for patients.

In the past, ASUGI could only evaluate a small number of markers for a few types of tumours. The accreditation increases the number of markers and tumours the lab can analyse, guaranteeing more treatment possibilities.

This year, the Anatomical Pathology Laboratory has seen a significant increase in activity, and by the beginning of February 2024, the new state-of-the-art instrumentation that also allows for second-line oncological examinations should be up and running.

‘What has been achieved in terms of clinical oncology diagnostic services, provided for patients, has been made possible thanks to collaboration between hospital and university staff from the various laboratories within the Anatomical Pathology Department, allowing for an optimisation of the material used in analyses. The molecular laboratory staff have also played an essential role, contributing to the execution and interpretation of tests and working harmoniously with the support of clinical professionals across the various sectors involved. In addition, in this field, the Anatomical Pathology Department has been able to count on a sizeable contribution from LILT (an Italian foundation funding research into tumours) to equip itself with state-of-the-art equipment and research funding in order to develop the field of tumour biomarkers in liquid biopsy,' says Prof. Fabrizio Zanconati, professor of Anatomical Pathology at UniTS and Director of the Pathological Anatomy and Histology Unit.

On Saturday, 27 January, 20,000 AIRC volunteers will distribute in the squares little red oranges grown in Italy, honey and orange marmalade. The contributions collected will be used to fund cancer research.

The 2024 arancedellasalute.it campaign invites people to take concrete action to prevent cancer, with their lifestyle, and to make it more curable by supporting research. A mobilisation in which tens of thousands of students and supporters are also participating.

Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle in reducing the risk of cancer. Up to 40 per cent of new cancer cases are potentially preventable or more curable when action is taken on modifiable risk factors through individual behaviour: not smoking, physical activity, choosing a healthy, balanced diet, and adhering to recommended screening for early diagnosis.

Data on the population living in Italy have shown that about one third of adults have risk factors for developing cancer. About 33% of people are overweight and 10% obese, 31% are sedentary and 24% smoke. The most worrying numbers concern school children: about 39% are overweight and, of these, 17% are obese. These numbers are among the highest in Europe, mainly due to insufficient physical activity and a diet that has moved away from the principles of the Mediterranean diet.

UniTS participates in AIRCAMPUS

Since last year, UniTS has also been part of AIRCampus, the project dedicated to university students to introduce them to the reality of AIRC and spread awareness of the 'cancer' problem.

In the 2023/24 academic year, the university is organising 8 lectures on topics related to the Foundation's activities and, at the same time, of interest to students on various study courses.

The UniTS degree courses involved in AIRCampus are: Medicine and Surgery; Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics; Economics and Business Management; Physics; Functional Genomics; Primary Education Sciences; Scientific Computing and the Master's Degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Engineering.

AIRC supports researchers under 40

Once again this year, AIRC is making more than 19 million euros available for talented oncology researchers under the age of 40, activating specific calls for proposals to accompany them at different stages of their careers.