The Firefighters Department, Public Rescue and Civil Defence – Provincial Command of the Trieste Fire Brigade will conduct fire prevention, firefighting, and emergency management training courses over the next three years for designated UniTS staff.

The Agreement provides both Level 3 fire safety officer training courses (formerly high-risk activities), lasting 16 hours (12 hours of theory and 4 hours of practice), and 8-hour refresher courses (5 hours of theory and 3 hours of practice).

Upon completion of each course, the Provincial Command will issue a technical qualification certificate.

With the coordination of its Prevention and Protection Service and in a perspective of continuous improvement of safety standards, the University of Trieste has appointed over 130 Level 3 Fire Safety Officers across its facilities. Thanks to this Agreement, staff will attend the required refresher courses at the scheduled five-year intervals. Further appointments are planned in the near future to cover staff turnover.

In the field of health safety and first aid emergency management, the University has also appointed and trained, in close collaboration with ASUGI, 160 employees as First Aid Officers, qualified to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use semi-automatic defibrillators (BLS-D). The University currently provides around 60 defibrillators, some of which are located in mobile surveillance vehicles.

Completing the emergency management framework, UniTS has a 24/7 professional security service, with staff trained to handle various types of emergencies.

Andreina Contessa, former Director of the Historical Museum and Park of Miramare Castle and member of the Board of Directors of the University of Trieste since November 2022, has been appointed Director of the new museum complex uniting the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Bargello Museums in Florence.

An accomplished museum curator, art historian, and expert in digital cataloguing and sustainability in museums, Contessa led the profound transformation and enhancement of the renowned cultural site in Trieste, which saw its visitor numbers double. Since 2020, she has also headed the Regional Directorate of Museums in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

In her new prestigious role, which also includes the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele, Palazzo Davanzati, and Casa Martelli, Contessa will oversee the preservation of some of Italy’s greatest artistic treasures, from Michelangelo’s David to masterpieces by Donatello, Giotto, Cellini, and Ghiberti.

The Rector, Roberto Di Lenarda, and the General Director, Luciana Rozzini, on behalf of the entire academic community, congratulate Dr. Andreina Contessa on this significant appointment, which highlights her outstanding professional and scientific profile and is a source of pride for the University, which has long valued her contribution as a Board member.

The University of Trieste is hosting the second edition of the international Summer School "Sustainability and Digitalization in the Blue Economy", organized by the University as part of the iNEST – Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (funded by the PNRR – NextGenerationEU) and Interreg Italy–Croatia MareSkill projects.

The initiative involves the Departments of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics “Bruno de Finetti” (DEAMS), Engineering and Architecture (DIA), and Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences (MIGe), with the support of OGS – National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, and the Port Network Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea.

Entirely held in English, the Summer School welcomes 28 participants, including master’s and doctoral students, from Iran, Croatia, Serbia, Pakistan, Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Morocco, Moldova, and Italy. The initiative offers multidisciplinary training on sustainability and digitalization in the Blue Economy, with a focus on port systems, shipbuilding, maritime transport, and marine resource management.

The program includes lectures, workshops, group activities, and technical visits to the Port of Trieste, the Groupe Beneteau Italia shipyard, the Fincantieri SpA shipyard in Monfalcone, the San Giovanni di Duino water system, and the wastewater treatment plant managed by AcegasApsAmga.

These visits give participants the opportunity to explore technologies, processes, and sustainable strategies adopted by leading industrial and infrastructure centers in the Blue Economy.

Lectures are delivered by professors and experts from the University of Trieste and OGS on topics such as digital innovation in ship design, port intermodality, decarbonization in maritime transport, marine Digital Twins, and artificial intelligence applied to the Blue Economy. The week will conclude with a project workshop, where participants will present innovative ideas inspired by the topics addressed.

This initiative is a tangible example of international cooperation, networking, multidisciplinarity, and the connection between academia, industry, and institutions, which are at the core of the iNEST project.

The INEST Summer School is funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.5 – Creation and strengthening of “Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainability,” project iNEST – Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem, Cross-Cutting Activity CC4 “Education & Lifelong Learning” – CUP J43C22000320006 – Funded by the European Union, NextGenerationEU.

The University of Trieste has signed a four-year Framework Agreement with the ‘Mattador’ Association to acquire, preserve and promote the cultural works created over its first 15 years of activity in the audiovisual and creative fields.

The association is the creator of the International Mattador Screenwriting Award dedicated to Matteo Caenazzo, aimed at young screenwriters, directors and concept designers aged between 16 and 30, both Italian and international. Over the years, this Trieste-based initiative has gained international recognition and prestige.

Through UniTS Museum Services (smaTs), the University of Trieste will gradually acquire the screenplays, short films, backstage videos and published books, overseeing their restoration, preservation, digitisation and promotion. A dedicated multimedia archive will be established – the Matteo Caenazzo fund and Mattador Award – which will serve as the foundation for cultural activities, public and social engagement initiatives designed to involve young people and the university community in the audiovisual and creative sectors.

The ‘Mattador’ cultural association has, over the course of its work, awarded more than 130 young authors, 80% of whom have found employment in the film industry. It has also granted over 80 scholarships and organised 15 Artist Prizes.

The initiative is dedicated to Matteo Caenazzo, a talented and eclectic young artist from Trieste, who graduated in decorative painting at the city’s art school and was awarded an honorary degree in film by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. He expressed himself through painting, photography, video and writing, eventually embracing screenwriting. His artistic and professional dream was tragically cut short by his premature death at just 23 years old. By fostering creativity, research and outreach in the audiovisual sector, the University of Trieste will contribute to enabling new young talents to flourish in the spirit of Matteo’s poetic vision and passions.

A five-year agreement was signed today between the University of Trieste and the Trieste Court to allow two individuals on ‘probation’ (a legal measure offering an alternative to criminal prosecution) to carry out community service activities within the University.

The probation measure allows defendants, under certain conditions, to avoid criminal proceedings by completing a period of supervised rehabilitation, the length of which is determined by a judge. This involves making amends for the harm caused by the offence, including offering one’s time and skills free of charge in service to the community through socially useful work.

Probation is one of several ‘community-based’ measures which, in Italy and across Europe, have been shown to reduce reoffending. These measures create alternative paths to justice for defendants and convicted individuals, encouraging lawful reintegration and fostering a sense of accountability towards victims and society.

The activities agreed with UniTS will be carried out free of charge at one of the university’s sites and include reception services, support for staff and administrative work, maintenance of green spaces and cleaning of outdoor areas, minor maintenance tasks, safeguarding of libraries and internal spaces, and assistance in ensuring the accessibility and protection of the university’s cultural and archival heritage. The role may also include welcoming and assisting university users and supporting event preparation. In addition to these, participants may propose other tasks aligned with their specific skills.

The agreement was signed by the Rector of the University of Trieste, Roberto Di Lenarda, and the President of the Court of Trieste, Igor Maria Rifiorati.

The European MammoWave trial has begun at Cattinara Hospital. It involves the use of an innovative breast imaging technology based on non-ionising microwaves. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of this new system for breast cancer screening.

The study is open to asymptomatic women in the screening age group (45–74 years) who have had a mammogram within the last 30 days or have one scheduled.

Participation is free and voluntary.

The examination is carried out at the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Cattinara Hospital, directed by Professor Maria Assunta Cova, in the clinic dedicated to the MammoWave study.

The centre is one of ten selected across Europe to take part in this international clinical trial, which will involve over 10,000 women in five countries.

What is MammoWave?

MammoWave is a medical device that uses very low-power microwaves to create a map of breast tissue, with no need for compression or contrast agents.

The examination is quick, safe and non-invasive.

Thanks to advanced software and artificial intelligence algorithms, the system can detect any abnormalities in the tissue, classifying them as either “suspicious” or “non-suspicious”.

A step forward in prevention

Taking part in this study means actively contributing to the development of new methods for early breast cancer detection – methods that are more accessible, safer and suitable for repeat use over time.

Where and how to take part

Participation includes:

• a brief eligibility interview
• the examination (approximately 15 minutes)
• no use of ionising radiation or breast compression.

Info:

Tel. 0403994862; mammowavetrieste@gmail.com

UniTS has climbed two places in the Censis rankings of Italian universities (2025-2026 edition, based on data from academic year 2024-2025), reaching 5th place among medium-sized universities (10,000 to 20,000 enrolled students).

In particular, the University of Trieste improved its score for graduate employability and quality of facilities. Ratings for student services and internationalisation remain stable.

According to the Censis sector analysis, overall university enrolments are up 5.3 per cent compared with March 2024. The trend, however, is uneven across the country: universities in the central regions show the strongest growth (+14 per cent), followed by those in the South (+6.1 per cent). Changes in the North is more modest: +2 per cent in the North-East and -0.9 per cent in the North-West.

UniTS bucks the wider northern trend, reporting +15 per cent enrolments as of November 2024 and an impressive +40 per cent compared with the pre-pandemic year 2019-2020.

The Censis university rankings, while not a complete measure of institutional quality, provide a detailed analysis of the Italian university system. Universities (public and private) are grouped by size and assessed across key indicators: available facilities, student services, scholarships and financial support, degree of internationalisation, communications and digital services, and graduate employability. Additional rankings cover subject groupings for bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and integrated master’s degrees, based on student progression and international engagement. In total, 70 league tables are compiled from 962 variables, offering students and families a useful tool for making informed decisions about higher education pathways.

Matteo Parenzan, UniTS student and Paralympic table tennis champion, adds another gem to his extraordinary sporting career by winning the Para Showcase in Las Vegas, an invite-only tournament that brought together the world's top eight athletes in class 6 Paralympic table tennis. 

It was a flawless victory, with five wins in as many matches, topped off with a perfect final against the American Ian Seidenfeld, who was defeated 3-0.

The triumph in the glittering Orleans Arena reaffirmed the talent and even more so the mental strength of the young champion from Trieste, who delivered a polished performance throughout the tournament, particularly in the final. ‘It was tough mentally,’ he said, ‘but I managed to stay focused and defuse my opponent's game. Even if it doesn't count in the rankings, this win gives me confidence, because I competed against all the strongest players and they were all highly motivated.’

At 22, Parenzan has already won everything and will be called upon to prove himself again: after becoming world champion in Granada in 2022, European champion in Sheffield in 2023 and Paralympic gold medallist in Paris in 2024, he is now defending his leading role on the international scene. But it is through his daily determination and desire to improve that he continues to build his career.

A student of Political and Administrative Sciences at the University of Trieste, Matteo is a prime example of the illustrious dual student-athlete career: dedicating the same care, concentration and passion to both sports competitions and his university studies. From Las Vegas, to Paris, to Piazzale Europa.

Seven student-athletes from the University of Trieste will represent Italy at the upcoming FISU World University Games, scheduled from 16th to 27th July in the German region of Rhine-Ruhr. 

The top international competition dedicated to university sports, heir to the historic Universiade, will see one of the largest Italian contingents ever, with 219 athletes from 57 universities competing in 15 disciplines.

UniTS will contribute with Ilaria Corazza (Political and Administrative Sciences), already a gold and silver medallist in Chengdu in 2023, who will compete in single scull (solo rowing), while Tommaso Vianello (Strategy, Consultancy and Business Logistics) will take to the water in the mixed quadruple sculls (mixed rowing). The national water polo women’s team will be counting on the goals scored by Pallanuoto Trieste's members Giorgia Klatowski (Law), Emma De March (Science and Technology for the Environment and Nature) and Guya Zizza (Psychology). In compound archery, Elisa Bazzichetto (Biology) and Antonio Brunello (Naval Engineering) will take to the platform.

The competitions will take place in six cities, including Bochum, Duisburg and Essen, with Italy determined to prove its leading role in world university sport after finishing fourth in the medal table at the previous edition.

For many students, participation in the World University Games represents the pinnacle of a route that combines academic commitment and sporting ambition, against the backdrop of a veritable university Olympics. 

The University of Trieste, which strongly supports the dual careers of its student-athletes by providing support that allow them to balance the demands of both competitive sport and university education, is preparing to enthusiastically follow the adventures of the ‘magnificent 7’ at the upcoming World University Games.

A new international study, coordinated by Francesca Malfatti, Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste, has revealed how black carbon can significantly influence microbial communities in the marine environment, with important implications for the global carbon cycle and the functioning of ocean ecosystems. The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, involved a team of researchers from the Oceanography Department of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), Elettra and several French and Austrian research institutions.

Black carbon, the focus of the study, is a residue resulting from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood, biomass or biofuels. It makes up a significant fraction of atmospheric particulate matter and can reach the ocean through rain, wind or river runoff. Due to its ability to absorb heat, it also contributes to global warming.

Through experiments carried out in the Ligurian and Adriatic Seas, the researchers simulated high concentrations of black carbon (24 mg per litre) to observe how marine microbial communities reacted to its presence. The results showed that black carbon can stimulate the growth of heterotrophic prokaryotic microorganisms, which feed on organic matter in the water, and increase the production of organic carbon, making it available to other marine organisms.

However, the same experiments showed a decrease in enzymatic activity, which normally promotes the degradation of organic matter, and a reduced presence of viruses. This suggests that black carbon alters the microbial balance, creating environmental micro-niches in which microorganisms with specific metabolic functions proliferate.

These results help to better understand the functioning of the so-called ‘microbial carbon pump’ (MCP), a mechanism that transforms organic matter into more stable forms, capable of remaining in the ocean for long periods and thus contributing to carbon storage. Studying the role of black carbon, especially that of anthropogenic origin, is therefore essential for improving climate change models and developing effective mitigation strategies.