World Water Day will be celebrated on 22nd March, and this year, the United Nations has chosen ‘Glacier Conservation’ as the central theme — a critical and increasingly urgent issue linked to the ongoing effects of climate change.

We spoke with glaciologist Renato R. Colucci, contract lecturer in glaciology at the University of Trieste and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), for his expert insights.

‘At this time of year, Alpine glaciers are still in their accumulation phase. Until the end of April, and well into May, they will continue to accumulate snow,’ explains Colucci. ‘Winter snow is a valuable resource which – provided summer 2025 does not bring prolonged periods of extreme heat but rather milder, more typical conditions – could be transformed into ‘reserve ice’ to be redistributed to the glacier’s lower sections in the coming years.’

‘However, March is also a key month for monitoring conditions in polar regions, especially in terms of sea ice extent. In Antarctica, early March marks the end of summer, and every year this is when the sea ice reaches its minimum extent. In contrast, mid-March marks the Arctic’s exit from winter, with the sea ice reaching its maximum extent.’

‘According to recent data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Antarctica has now recorded the second-lowest sea ice minimum ever measured by satellite (dating back to the 1970s), with an extent of just 1.98 million square kilometres. This marks the fourth consecutive year below 2 million square kilometres, compared to an average of 2.4 million.’

‘The data from the Arctic is even more concerning,’ Colucci continues. ‘This year, the Arctic recorded the lowest sea ice maximum extent ever observed since satellite monitoring began, with just over 14 million square kilometres, compared to an average of almost 16 million.’

Sara Zuppin, a graduate in Architecture from the University of Trieste, has been awarded the second edition of the Marco Zuttioni Graduation Award. The award ceremony took place in the Main Hall of the Gorizia University Campus, home to the Master’s Degree in Architecture, in the presence of Cecilia Gazzi, President of the Marco Zuttioni Association.

The award, established in memory of the architect and founder of the Modourbano studio, aims to support and recognise excellence in the field of architecture, in line with Zuttioni’s vision and commitment. This year, the award was given for the thesis entitled ‘OUT (SIGHT): Beyond the Boundaries of the Visible.’

The thesis, written under the supervision of Professor Adriano Venudo (supervisor) and Professor Alessio Bortot (co- supervisor), presents a subterranean architectural project – a space for reflection and contemplation that celebrates the surrounding landscape. Carved into Monte Sabotino, now straddling the border between Italy and Slovenia and once a theatre of conflict during World War I, this structure subtly and profoundly invites reflection on a future of greater integration.

During the event, Sara Zuppin presented the award-winning project, developed in collaboration with fellow student Ivan Vinciguerra. The award consists of a €1,500 cash prize and a six-month paid internship in Milan at Modourbano.

The ceremony was opened by Professor Giuseppina Scavuzzo, coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Architecture, and concluded by Professor Thomas Bisiani, chair of the Board of Examiners, who outlined the application process for the next edition of the award.

The second edition of ‘Universities Unveiled’, the National Universities Day, will take place on 20th March 2025. The initiative is promoted by CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors) under the patronage of the Ministry of Universities and Research.
More information is available at: https://www.crui.it/archivio-notizie/universita%E2%80%99-svelate-20-marzo-2025.html

The theme of the 2025 edition, organised with the support of ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), is the relationship between universities and local authorities – a collaboration aimed at creating a dynamic and innovative environment where knowledge, creativity and participation can flourish. The goal of this partnership is to provide university students with the ideal conditions to make the most of their experience, integrating study, social life, culture and leisure within university cities.

To mark this occasion, UniTS wishes to highlight its collaboration with the Municipality of Trieste, which has been strengthened through numerous joint initiatives carried out over the past year:

• The exhibition ‘1924-2024. A Century of History of the University of Trieste. Images and Documents’ was hosted at San Giusto Castle from 15th March to 10th November 2024.
• The MOVIEUNITS festival offered a series of film forums between March and June 2024, in collaboration with University departments, enriching the city’s cultural programme.
• On 23rd July 2024, in collaboration with the Giuseppe Verdi Opera House and as part of the ‘Trieste Estate’ summer programme, the UniTS Centenary Concert took place, celebrating the University’s 100th anniversary with a prestigious musical evening.

• The Castles Run on 20th October 2024 saw enthusiastic participation from both the academic and local communities, strengthening the sense of belonging and collaboration between the University and the city.

Several science outreach activities were also jointly organised: 

• The regional selections for the international talent show FameLab, on 31st March 2024
• The Trieste Next Festival, from 27th to 29th September 2024
• The European Researchers’ Night – SHARPER, on 27th September 2024

• Bloomsday, celebrated from 14th to 16th June 2024, followed by the Trieste Joyce School from 30th June to 5th July 2024, promoting the cultural legacy of the Irish writer

The UniTS - Municipality collaboration will of course continue in 2025 with: 

• The FameLab regional selection, to be held in the Luttazzi Hall on 4th April 
• Trieste Next Festival, from 25th to 27th September 
• Researchers' Night, on 25th September 
• Bloomsday, in the week of 16th June, and the Trieste Joyce School from 29th June to 4th July.

During the inauguration ceremony of the 101st academic year, Rector Roberto Di Lenarda and President of Fondazione CRTrieste, Massimo Paniccia, awarded the most deserving first-year students for 2023-2024.

Each student received a €1,500 grant, funded by Fondazione CRTrieste.

‘Awarding a prize to the most deserving first years means valuing merit, encouraging excellence, and promoting an academic environment that fosters commitment and personal growth,’ said Massimo Paniccia on the occasion.

The prize-winning students, along with their degree courses and departments, are:

• Simone Barbon (Civil and Environmental Engineering – Department of Engineering and Architecture)
• Reka Cikalese (Applied Interlinguistic Communication – Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies)
• Erasmo Ferrara (International Economics and Financial Markets – Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics)
• Giulia Fignon (Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics – Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences)
• Jacopo Qualizza (Political and Administrative Sciences – Department of Political and Social Sciences)
• Antonio Santini (History and Philosophy – Department of Humanities)
• Noemi Sartor (Physiotherapy – Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences)
• Luna Sorgente Scemama (Psychology – Department of Life Sciences)
• Giulio Ticli (Physics – Department of Physics)
• Maria Toso (Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology – Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences)

For the last six years the entire UniTS community has worked to make the University more solid, efficient and attractive to prospective students. As his term of office comes to a close, the Rector Roberto Di Lenarda leads the inauguration ceremony for the 2024-2025 academic year as UniTS begins its 101st year.

In addition to marking the fundamental tenets of his rectorate, Prof. Di Lenarda wanted to reiterate his position on two important current issues.  Firstly, the green light given to the reform that will abolish the admission test to master’s degrees in medicine and surgery, and dentistry and dental prosthetics, replacing it with exams taken at the end of the first term, and, secondly, the growth of telematic universities.

‘The significant and, in my opinion, pathological growth of online universities (which is also supported by legislation) does not only challenge us in terms of competition and alternative educational models, but also in terms of the ethics of teaching, empowered as they often are by foreign investment funds whose sole purpose is profit,’ underlined the Rector. ‘The problem is not the teaching tool itself, but its methods, purposes and objectives.’

The outgoing Rector takes a similarly strong position on the delegated law that will lead to the abolition of admission tests for master’s degrees in medicine.

‘The law must always be respected and so UniTS fully intends to respect it, but I cannot refrain from expressing my deepest opposition to changing the admission methods to degree courses in medicine and surgery, and in dentistry and dental prosthetics,’ he continued. ‘This is a dangerous, unworkable measure, which holds negative effects for many other degree courses and is founded on false premises. The regional health service does not lack practitioners, it lacks attractiveness. Admissions will remain competitive after this reform, but building a national ranking on the basis of the marks acquired in exams taken during the first term is unthinkable.’   

During the inauguration ceremony, the invited authorities who spoke wanted to leave a message of good wishes to the University.

'The relationship between Generali and the University of Trieste is long-lasting and enriched by significant collaborations,' stated Andrea Sironi, Chairman of Assicurazioni Generali. 'The sharing of knowledge and the development of new skills represent a fundamental cornerstone for people’s personal growth and an increasingly valuable asset for the community, demonstrating the vitality of the social fabric in which they take shape. In an extremely complex and competitive global context, the creation of joint projects between companies and educational institutions can build an important advantage to face and overcome the big challenges of our time. The opening ceremony of the Academic Year, which concludes the celebrations for the Centenary of the University of Trieste, is a very important moment not only because it celebrates the university institution and the value of the high educational path of the individual, but also because it represents a moment of dialogue with city institutions, private actors, and the community.'

‘The regional administration will continue to invest in knowledge, research and education, because we are fully aware that the development of our community depends on knowledge and innovation,’ said the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Massimiliano Fedriga. ‘Over the three-year period 2022-2024, the total funding allocated to the regional university system exceeded 80 million euros, significant resources to support teaching, research, technological innovation, the right to education, the modernisation of infrastructure and the ability to attract talent. The Region and the University of Trieste are united in a strategic alliance that will deliver important results in areas that are still crucial today, such as quantum communication, green hydrogen, life sciences, the blue economy, trade districts and the health system.’

‘The quality of life offered by any place is determined by many complex elements: the presence of businesses and therefore job opportunities, knowledge exchange, cultural events and opportunities for personal enrichment, innovation processes and propensity for innovation,’ stressed the Deputy Mayor of Trieste, Serena Tonel. ‘Every day, our municipal administration works to maintain and continue to increase the quality of life for not only its citizens but also the thousands of university students who study and live in the city. I am thinking about the public transport system, cultural activities, opportunities to initiate, set up and consolidate economic initiatives as well as career opportunities after studies. We are working, alongside other institutions in the area, with the University but also with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, to perfect the synergy between research and its technological applications. I would like to thank President Fedriga for the investments in the public sector he has guaranteed and for the policies he has put in place to increase the attractiveness of the area for businesses and highly qualified workers. All this constitutes a system that we want to make all the more integrated and successful. The University has been able to look with pride to the past and with determination to the future, expanding its range of courses and welcoming an ever-increasing number of students, investing in the quality of teaching and research. The city of Trieste and its administration are proud of the University, an institution that has distinguished itself as an important landmark in the panorama of higher education and scientific research in Italy and rest of the world.’

Following, the key points of the speech by the Rector, Roberto Di Lenarda.

Reflections after the Rector’s six-year term (2019-2025)

‘The fundamental starting point for this governance was the improvement of teaching and of the course catalogue,’ explained Prof. Di Lenarda. ‘Thanks to the activation of more than 20 new degree courses, today the University of Trieste is one of the fastest growing Italian universities in terms of both national and international intake.’

Student intake grew by more than 30% compared to 2019-2020 (six times more than the average growth of Italian public universities). The percentage of students who enrolled from outside the region and abroad (40% in first- and second-cycle courses and 60% in third-cycle courses) confirms the University’s attractiveness and makes our target of reaching 20,000 students not only more concrete but also more tangible in the short term.

Social responsibility and historical moment

The Rector recalled the Covid-19 pandemic, a period in which UniTS stood out for its strong opposition to anti-scientific approaches, for maintaining in-person teaching (especially for students in their first years of study) at a time when this couldn’t be taken for granted and for its commitment to supporting public health. 

‘Only a few months later, on 13 July 2020, we signed the pre-agreement for the return of Narodni Dom to the Slovenian community. On 28 March 2022, President Mattarella’s participation in the inauguration ceremony for that academic year was a momentous moment not only for the University and the city of Trieste but, more generally, for Italy-Slovenia relations. Our university has been recognised as a promoter of this process, as a link and as an important mediator.’ 

In April 2024, this direction was confirmed with all due ceremony when honorary degrees were conferred on President Mattarella and former Slovenian President Borut Pahor.

Key actions and strategic investments

There has been a lot of investment in the UniTS community, both through recruitment and career progression. 75 teaching staff have joined in the past five years and a further 56 recruitments are planned in the coming months. A similar investment has been made in technical and administrative staff through the addition of 95 new recruits and a further 55 new employees will be added in 2025.  

‘We are also very proud to have launched the extraordinary recruitment plan for female teaching staff which will allow us to recruit 10 female full professors, one per department, by the end of the year,’ added Prof. Di Lenarda.

Also worth mentioning is the 6 million euros of funding planned for updating and upgrading scientific equipment and measures to make the University’s spaces more modern and welcoming.

Future prospects: growth, innovation and sustainability

‘A project which we will be, or at least I hope we will be, heavily involved in is the redevelopment of the Old Port, a great opportunity for Trieste to relaunch itself as an internationally attractive city,’ continued the Rector. ‘The new Cattinara Campus will also contribute decisively to this, an investment of over 50 million euros by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region that will bring our university to new heights in healthcare and scientific research.’ 

At the end of his speech, Prof. Di Lenarda thanked the entire UniTS community and its closest collaborators as well as the Municipality of Trieste and the FVG Region which, under the guidance of President Massimiliano Fedriga and with the commitment of the regional Councillor for University Alessia Rosolen, have given ready, generous and strategic support to the University. 

A special thanks also went to the CRTrieste Foundation that supported the cost of the prizes awarded to the ten most deserving first years at the inauguration ceremony.

The ceremony was also attended by the President of the Student Council Anna Colussi, the Representative for Technical and Administrative Staff Francesca Tardio, the Deputy Mayor of Trieste Serena Tonel, and the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Massimiliano Fedriga.

The opening lecture was given by Andrea Nardini, Full Professor of Plant Physiology at the Department of Life Sciences, on the topic ‘Some Lessons from Trees on the Risks of Climate Change’. 

STUDIO DUE – GONGO 2025 has been officially launched. This inter-university teaching project involves students and lecturers from the University of Trieste (UniTS), the Polytechnic University of Milan, Federico II University of Naples, and the University of Salerno.

On Saturday 15th March 2025, the Conference Centre at the UniTS Gorizia campus in Via Alviano will welcome over 200 students and around fifteen lecturers and teaching assistants for a study day dedicated to architectural design and the urban transformation of the cross-border areas of Gorizia and Nova Gorica. The event, open to the general public, forms part of the calendar of initiatives organised by the University in celebration of GO! 2025 – Nova Gorica and Gorizia European Capital of Culture.

Launched in 2023 by UniTS Architecture lecturers Thomas Bisiani and Adriano Venudo, Elvio Manganaro from the Polytechnic University of Milan, and Alberto Calderoni from Federico II University of Naples, the project has since grown to include additional ‘Composizione 2’ studios at the Polytechnic University of Milan, led by Giacomo Ortalli, Aleksa Korolija and Luca Cardani, as well as the University of Salerno with Felice De Silva.

Prof. Adriano Venudo explained the aim of the project: ‘Gorizia, together with Nova Gorica and the border, has unique characteristics that make it stand out. This seminar and exchange will allow us to gain an external perspective. We will also produce a publication to collect the outcomes.’

‘This is a project that connects urban planning with the university world, something we believe in strongly. Our university courses are an extraordinary asset, and we are committed to promoting them to the fullest,’ said Chiara Gatta, Deputy Mayor of Gorizia.

Patrizia Artico, Municipal Councillor for GO! 2025, added: ‘Our border, with its history and unique features, is of great urban interest. The fact that prestigious universities have chosen to study it confirms this.’

After working on the historic centre of Naples in the first year of the project, the students will now turn their attention to the Transalpina Station in Nova Gorica and the cross-border urban areas between Italy and Slovenia.

During the day, Prof. Paolo Nicoloso from the University of Trieste will give a lecture entitled ‘Gorizia: 1900–1950’, followed by architect Nejc Koradin’s talk on ‘Nova Gorica: The Birth of a City’. Participants will then take part in an exploratory walk to discover the sites under study.

Programme STUDIO DUE - GONGO 2025

UniTS x GO! 2025

Over the past fifteen years, science and research have increasingly emerged as key players in the complex field of international relations, serving as essential tools for dialogue and global cooperation.

Although it may seem unusual to think of scientists and researchers as new ambassadors, scientific diplomacy is becoming an increasingly valuable instrument, capable of fostering growth opportunities for developing countries and creating the conditions needed to tackle the major challenges of our time – challenges that require collaboration between nations.

This innovative interaction between foreign policy and scientific research includes activities such as promoting international scientific cooperation, attracting researchers to universities and research centres, developing shared scientific infrastructures, and providing technical expertise for the development of public policy.

In recent years, the University of Trieste has strengthened its commitment to scientific diplomacy, developing a structured approach involving academics, diplomats, and representatives of international cooperation networks and initiatives.

A key milestone in this journey was the technical roundtable held on 7th March, organised by the University of Trieste and attended by Giuseppe Pastorelli, Deputy Director General for the Country Promotion System at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

'Science brings people together: it addresses problems and enhances international reputation, but above all it strengthens relations between countries and enables the sharing and advancement of knowledge,’ explained Pastorelli during his address at the University of Trieste.

According to this senior official from the Ministry, Trieste is a prime example of scientific diplomacy: ‘It hosts the most significant international scientific system in Italy and is therefore a key pillar of our diplomacy for growth. The Trieste hub offers the Global South a gateway to innovation and cutting-edge research, enabling Italy to contribute to development and maintain a strong network in its relations with the Global South.’

The event, held in the presence of Vice Rector Valter Sergo and coordinated by Prof. Ilaria Micheli, Deputy Rector for Development Cooperation, along with Prof. Simone Arnaldi, marked a stage in a journey initiated by the University in May 2024 with an initial workshop on scientific diplomacy. This event brought together academics, diplomats, and representatives of projects focused on sustainable development, support for refugee scholars, education, knowledge transfer, and international cooperation.

Following this initial exchange, the first version of a background document was drafted and subsequently shared with the academic community to gather additional input and feedback. The process continued with another round of discussion on 16th September 2024 during a technical roundtable with Prof. Pierre-Bruno Ruffini, a French economist and Co-President of the European Union Science Diplomacy Alliance. On that occasion, the document was further developed and reviewed before being submitted to the University’s governance in its final version.

The technical roundtable of 7th March provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in scientific diplomacy during the outgoing six-year governance period of the University. The meeting allowed the University of Trieste to present the work carried out over recent months, outlining guidelines for future international research agreements, and also facilitated a constructive and educational dialogue with national institutions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

A new phase of the outreach project ‘Mare Sopra – What is the Future of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Coasts?’ will begin on Friday, 7th March. The project, conceived and coordinated by the University of Trieste, is funded by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of rising sea levels and their impact on coastal systems. As part of this effort, a series of outreach activities will involve students and citizens in measurement operations.

On Friday, for example, students from the ‘Galileo Galilei’ High School in Trieste will take part in observations and field measurements at the small harbour of Grignano. Throughout the spring, other groups of students and citizens will carry out sea level rise measurements in Muggia, Lignano, and Grado.

The project follows a citizen science model, where students, citizens, association representatives, and non-experts actively participate in research after receiving appropriate training.

‘In the coming decades,’ explains Stefano Furlani, Associate Professor of Geomorphology at the University of Trieste, ‘sea levels will rise dramatically, altering the geography of our coasts and damaging regional shoreline structures. Since 1880, the sea level has already risen by more than 20cm, and it is projected to reach 30cm by 2050.’

There have already been warnings of what this situation could bring. The most recent was the severe storm surge in November 2023, which struck the eastern shoreline of the Gulf of Trieste, from Muggia to Lignano, causing significant damage to coastal infrastructure.

‘With Mare Sopra,’ Furlani continues, ‘our goal is to raise awareness of sea level rise caused by climate change. We are organising expert-led discussions, documentary screenings, hands-on experiences with students and citizens, and the creation of a virtual tour—an engaging and accessible tool that allows users to explore places and environments in a highly realistic and detailed way, almost as if they were physically there.’

At the end of these activities, key coastal locations will be marked with two lines: a yellow line indicating where the sea will reach in 2050 and a red line showing its level in 2100.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, involving geomorphologists, sociologists, and biologists from three UniTS departments (Mathematics, Computer Science, and Geosciences; Political and Social Sciences; Life Sciences), as well as members of the public, schools, and associations.

‘Mare Sopra’ is the first outreach project funded by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in 2024. It benefits from the collaboration of the Miramare Marine Protected Area, the Municipality of Muggia, the Marevivo Association – FVG Section, the Marco Polo School Cluster of Grado, the ‘Galileo Galilei’ High School of Trieste, and other local institutions.

International Women's Day is an important occasion to take stock of the situation regarding women's conditions, assess progress, and renew efforts on gender issues, equal opportunities, and anti-discrimination initiatives.

‘The data published in recent weeks by ISTAT (https://www.istat.it/tag/donna/) paint a mixed picture of the situation in Italy,’ says Dolores Ferrara, President of the CUG (Equal Opportunities and Staff Welfare Committee) at UniTS. ‘While female employment is increasing, it is growing at a slower rate than male employment. A significant gender gap persists in terms of wages and women's participation in the country’s economic and social life. We need new solutions that place these issues at the centre of the conversation, ensuring that women’s presence is actively promoted in both academic and professional settings.’

The University of Trieste and its CUG are committed to this goal, implementing support measures and anti-discrimination tools. They recognize that a deep understanding of the most insidious and exclusionary forms of discrimination is essential to fostering a true culture of equal opportunities.

With this in mind, and to assess the state of gender equality in scientific research, the CUG has organised a conference titled ‘In Search of Equality: Women in Science’, which will take place on 1st April at 10:00 in the Bachelet Hall, Piazzale Europa Campus.

A young, dynamic, and ambitious initiative, yet already demonstrating excellent organisation: this is ASTREO, the new UniTS team bringing together students with a shared passion for aerospace. Their mission? To collaborate and challenge themselves alongside colleagues from other Italian and international universities, developing cutting-edge solutions for the sector with a strong focus on sustainability.

Astreo is the third student team active at the University of Trieste, joining the already established Audace Sailing Team and UniTS Racing Team. Founded within the Department of Engineering and Architecture, Astreo has already built a solid foundation, with nearly 30 members from five different departments. The project’s scientific lead is Stefano Seriani, a professor of Robotics at the University of Trieste and an expert in satellite development, with experience collaborating with ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA.

The team operates with a clear and efficient organisational structure, complemented by specific working groups dedicated to key areas: Design, Electronics, Scientific Performance, Outreach, Finance & Legal, and Software.

One of Astreo’s first projects is the development of a detector for space debris in low Earth orbit – an urgent response to concerns highlighted in ESA’s annual reports, which warn of increasing space traffic and the growing risk of collisions between satellites and debris. To ensure sustainability in their research and make experimentation more accessible, the team is committed to using innovative and modular technologies. They aim to adopt the CubeSat standard – small satellites used for scientific and experimental purposes – and employ 3D printing for prototyping.

From 3rd to 7th March 2025, Astreo had its first opportunity to engage in an international setting. Giuseppe Basile, a UniTS student and Astreo member, took part in a workshop organised by ESA after successfully securing a place through a competitive selection process. During the workshop, participants worked on designing a CubeSat based on requirements defined by ESA experts.