The 20th edition of the ‘Romana Calligaris’ Trophy, an international long-course (50 m) swimming competition, will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May. The event promises to entertain spectators at the Bruno Bianchi Swimming Pool – Federal Centre of Trieste. Over 750 participants will compete, representing 41 clubs mainly from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Emilia-Romagna, Apulia, Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary, Spain, England and France.

SYNERGY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TRIESTE 

This year, researchers and students from the University of Trieste belonging to the Clinical Applied Physiology and Kinesiology research group (Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences), and the Biomedical Engineering group (Department of Engineering and Architecture), will assess the neuromuscular characteristics of some athletes participating in the Trophy. Their aim is to explore the role of shoulder and trunk muscles across different swimming strokes and conditions.

Another objective is to provide tools to support athletes’ technical and medical staff.

The research team, supported by Alessandro Mencarelli, Technical Director of Triestina Nuoto, and biomechanic expert Ivo Ferretti, is led by Alex Buoite Stella, researcher and lecturer in Physiology at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences at UniTS.

‘The project,’ explains Buoite Stella, ‘was born a few years ago from the spark of some physiotherapy students who encouraged us to step into the fascinating world of water and swimming sports, which has led us to develop the skills and tools needed to study athletes both in and out of the pool.’

Initial results have already been achieved, but there is still a long way to go: ‘In recent years we have published a series of articles on the role of the swimmer’s shoulder, particularly in terms of managing that joint. We intend to continue working together to study swimming sports through a translational scientific approach – combining clinical and theoretical research with fieldwork – to provide athletes and their support teams, both technical and medical, with useful information to optimise performance, reduce injury risk and aid recovery.’

ATHLETES TO WATCH

Among the most anticipated athletes are, on the men’s side, Olympic double bronze medallist Federico Burdisso and one of the greatest Italian freestyle swimmers in history, Luca Dotto; and on the women’s side, the trio composed of Paris 2024 relay swimmer Emma Virginia Menicucci, Nika Godun (a Moscow native with French citizenship), and Anja Crevar (Serbia).

The Calligaris Trophy has always stood for inclusive swimming as well, with Paralympic athletes capable of taking the spotlight at both World Championships and the Olympics. This edition will see the participation of, alongside the Triestina Nuoto team, Vittoria Bianco (representing the Paralympic Defence Sports Group, gold medallist in the 4x100 freestyle relay at the Tokyo Paralympics and bronze medallist in the 400 freestyle S9 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics), and Giorgia Marchi (a Triestine athlete from the national Police sports team who competed in the 100 breaststroke S14 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and won bronze at the 2024 European Championships).

Though he will not be competing, one of the most recognisable faces of the Italian Paralympic swimming team, Antonio Fantin (Police sports team), will be present at Sunday afternoon’s award ceremony. Fantin, from Latisana in Friuli, has won 7 Paralympic medals, 8 World Championship golds and 10 European Championship golds in the S6 category.

The University of Trieste today awarded an honorary master's degree in psychology to Julio Velasco, one of the most influential figures in international sport in recent decades, in recognition of the originality and consistency with which he has integrated psychological principles into training, group management and performance culture.

This is the first honorary degree conferred by an Italian university on ‘Maestro’ Julio Velasco, a coach who has led national teams to Olympic gold and silver medals, two World Championships, five World Leagues, one World Cup and six continental titles including European, Asian and Pan American Championships.

The honorary degree was awarded on the initiative of the University of Trieste’s Department of Life Sciences, which for 25 years has hosted a Laboratory of Sport Psychology.

The ceremony took place in a packed Aula Magna, also thanks to the strong presence of representatives from federations and sporting associations – a testament to the extraordinary cultural impact that the La Plata-born coach has had in his field and to what he represents, in terms of image, mindset and innovation, for the entire Italian sporting movement.

The event opened with speeches by Rector Roberto Di Lenarda, Luca Ubaldeschi, editor-in-chief of the NEM group’s publications, and Fabrizio Brancoli, deputy editor responsible for the local newspaper Il Piccolo and events. All highlighted, through the metaphor of sport, the human and cultural impact of Velasco’s vision, which has the power to speak to a wide audience with words that are both simple and profound.

In the citation read by Professor Ivan Donati, Head of the Department of Life Sciences, Velasco is recognised as a communication and management model who has succeeded in developing both individual and collective potential in sport and organisational settings, promoting a culture of performance that is conscious, ethical and sustainable. His ideas have reached well beyond the playing field, inspiring fields that may seem distant, such as business, education and managerial training.

The academic laudatio by Professor Tiziano Agostini, Professor of General Psychology and head of the Laboratory of Sport Psychology, retraced an exceptional human and professional journey: from the difficult years of post-dictatorship Argentina, to his arrival in Italy and the leadership of the ‘Generation of Phenomena’; then his return to success with national teams on three continents, culminating in the 2024 Olympic gold medal with the Italian women’s team. A powerful example of how sport can become a space for growth, responsibility and cultural transformation.

'My wish,' said Julio Velasco, addressing the students of the University, especially those studying Psychology, 'is that you may not only successfully complete your university studies, but above all, be able to fully live what you have studied. Because the real challenges begin after university, and that's where more strength is needed. My wish, therefore, is that you may truly practice your profession, practice psychology, and make it a living part of your life.'

‘With this award,’ said Rector Roberto Di Lenarda, ‘the University of Trieste recognises the value of an individual of exceptional stature, capable of combining rigour, vision, and human sensitivity. His thinking and his example have had an impact far beyond the world of sport: they have spoken to generations of enthusiasts, educators, managers, students, and citizens, contributing to a profound reflection on the role of motivation, merit, and trust in the growth of individuals and communities.’

By awarding the honorary degree to Julio Velasco, the University of Trieste not only honours a figure who, through his thinking and actions, has been able to trigger important transformations in his field, but also renews its commitment to sharing with the world of sport initiatives focused on the well-being of individuals and the growth of young people, promoting the values of education, human development, and community living.

Donata Vianelli will be the first female Rector of the University of Trieste!

An economist born in Vicenza and full professor of Business Economics and Management, she secured 552 votes, surpassing the absolute majority threshold of 505 in the first round.

The second candidate, Ilaria Garofolo, received 341 votes.
Vianelli is currently Director of the Department of Economic, Business, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and served as the Rector’s Delegate for Student Orientation and Job Placement from 2013 to 2019.
Voter turnout reached 89.20%, marking a 10% increase compared to the 2019 elections, a sign of strong engagement and participation from the academic community.

“I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to the new Rector, Professor Vianelli, the first in the history of the University of Trieste. I will be handing over the baton to her on 1st August 2025,” commented outgoing Rector Roberto Di Lenarda. “We leave behind a healthy, dynamic and efficient University, well equipped to support the new governance through the challenges that lie ahead over the next six years. The exceptionally high turnout is further testament to the strength of our community, which over the years has shown an ability to renew itself, to come together and to actively contribute to the growth of our university. I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to the other candidate, Professor Garofolo, for her willingness to take part in this highly democratic and participatory process.”

All information on the electoral process: https://amm.units.it/elezioni/ele-53036 
 

The University of Trieste has inaugurated the experimental ‘Community Justice’ multi-service hub: an innovative project that brings together universities, institutions, third-sector organisations and the public to promote social inclusion and restorative justice.

The initiative is the result of an agreement between the University of Trieste and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Justice - Cassa delle Ammende. The hub will be housed on the premises of the former Casa del Marinaio in Via Principe di Montfort 3 and represents an important point of connection between the world of criminal law enforcement and the community.

The centre will be the operational hub of the ‘Ripar(t)iamo’ and ‘INclusione, CONfronto, TRAttamento’ projects, which are co-funded by the Region. The projects aim to foster the socio-occupational reintegration of people who are subject to restrictions of freedom during criminal investigations, offering concrete support to crime victims and promoting programmes for restorative justice and victim-offender mediation. This work is in line with the principles of the Cartabia Reform (Italian Legislative Decree No 150/2022), which emphasises restorative justice as a tool for reintegration, reconciliation and empowerment.

The new hub will be open at least three days a week, guaranteeing welcome, support and training activities for people subject to restrictions of freedom during criminal investigations, victims of crime and practitioners. Within the hub, public bodies, third-sector organisations and academic staff will collaborate with the aim of offering innovative services and strengthening the link between institutions and citizens.

The Rector, Prof. Roberto Di Lenarda, the Regional Councillor for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Prof. Giovanni Grandi, and Dr. Gianna Zamaro attended the inauguration.

The University of Trieste has inaugurated the new ‘Antonio Longinelli’ Stable Isotope Laboratory, dedicated to the analysis of stable isotopes and their applications in environmental, geological and interdisciplinary research. Located in the basement of Building ‘O’ at the San Giovanni Campus, Via Weiss 6, the laboratory falls under the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences (MIGe) and is coordinated by Professor Stefano Covelli, with Daniele Karlicek as the technical lead.

The new scientific facility is equipped with a next-generation Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IR MS), an instrument that enables the analysis of stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in solid, liquid and gaseous samples. The acquisition of the equipment was made possible thanks to a special funding call issued by the university in 2022 for the purchase of scientific instruments, with a total allocation of 4 million euros. The proposal was the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration involving academic staff from the MIGe, DSV and DSCF departments.  

Stable isotopes – atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons and therefore in mass – are invaluable tools for studying a wide range of natural phenomena. In Earth Sciences, for instance, stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon are used to reconstruct past temperatures and climate changes by analysing rocks, sediments and ice. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes help to investigate the origin and movement of surface and groundwater, providing key insights into the water cycle and interactions between water and soil. Isotopes are also used to identify sources of pollution and to monitor the degradation processes of pollutants. In Environmental Sciences, the analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes allows for a deeper understanding of ecosystem functioning, nutrient sources and plant growth mechanisms. In archaeology, the study of isotopes in human and animal remains provides information about diet, mobility and ancient cultural contexts. Isotopes also play a key role in verifying the origin and authenticity of food products such as wine and extra virgin olive oil, helping to detect fraud, adulteration and counterfeiting.

The laboratory is named in memory of Professor Antonio Longinelli, a pioneer of isotopic geochemistry in Italy and Full Professor at the University of Trieste from 1983 to 1998. A leading figure in the international scientific community, Longinelli established isotopic geochemistry laboratories in Pisa, Palermo, Trieste and Parma. His extensive body of research covered fields ranging from palaeoclimatology to hydrogeology, from oceanography to environmental science and biomedicine. A member of the European Academy and the Lyncean Academy, he is remembered not only for the value of his scientific contributions, but also for his charismatic personality and enduring influence on the scientific community. 

The collaboration agreement between the U.S.-based company Performance Medical Technology (PMT) and the University of Trieste was signed at the Palazzo della Regione, with the involvement of the Central Health Directorate of the Regional Administration.

"The agreement involves three departments of the University of Trieste (Department of Life Sciences; Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences), which will conduct research, analysis, and pilot clinical studies aimed at developing a new drug for Parkinson’s disease,” explained the Rector of the University of Trieste, Roberto Di Lenarda. “The scientific activities carried out at the University, in collaboration with PMT (Performance Medical Technologies), will serve as the foundation for the NDA (New Drug Application) required for the drug’s commercialization. We are at the beginning of a stimulating scientific challenge with great social impact, which we will pursue using the skills and outstanding facilities at our disposal.”

The agreement paves the way for PMT’s establishment in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, PMT specializes in developing new therapeutic options for neurodegenerative diseases—particularly early-stage Parkinson’s—and will launch a series of joint activities in the field of medical research.

A journey through centuries of Byzantine history takes digital form: the University of Trieste has officially presented the Nomismata Database, a research project of excellence and a significant advancement in the field of Digital Humanities. 

The database, which currently includes more than 210,000 data entries from around 5,000 sites, represents the first large-scale, systematic effort to catalogue finds of Byzantine coins minted between 498 and 1453, both within and beyond the borders of the Empire.
Developed with the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Department of Humanities, the UniTS International Relations Office and the 2022 PRIN (Research Projects of National Interest) programme, the project is the result of collaboration among numerous internationally renowned scholars and researchers, including Cécile Morrisson, Vivien Prigent, Gheorghia Alexopoulou, Vujadin Ivanišević, Ermanno Arslan, Stefan Krmnicek, Alessia Rovelli, Erika Trbojević, Stoyan Mihaylov, Nikolaus Schindel, Luca Zavagno, Andrea Gariboldi, Giulio Carraro, Cristiano Rossetti and Kateryna Sorochan.

Equally fundamental was the IT contribution of Giorgio Donato, Jordan Piščanc and Davide Franch, along with the communication design curated by Pamela Theodotou and Giulia Basso.

During the presentation, a prestigious new donation was also announced: Giorgio Conetti, Professor Emeritus at the University of Insubria and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Trieste (1984–1992), has donated his personal collection of coins from medieval Serbia, the Latin Empire and 19th-century Balkan states to the University. This enriches the numismatic heritage available for research and public engagement.

A section dedicated to the study of Byzantine seals from archaeological excavations will also be integrated into the database, in collaboration with the Research Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art of the Academy of Athens, represented by Olga Karagiorgou.

The database, which is part of the University Museum Services (SMATS), will be accessible online at www.smats.units.it, where it will be maintained, continuously updated and further developed, also through the application of artificial intelligence tools.

The University of Trieste and the University of Udine signed a new Framework Agreement together with AUSIR – the Authority for Water and Waste Services in Friuli Venezia Giulia and the region’s leading water and environmental service providers. In addition to AUSIR, the agreement includes the following partners: AcegasApsAmga, Acquedotto del Carso – Kraški vodovod, CAFC, HydroGEA, Irisacqua, Livenza Tagliamento Acque, A&T 2000, Ambiente Servizi, GEA – Gestioni Ecologiche e Ambientali, Isontina Ambiente, MTF, and NET.

The agreement, signed today by all partners in the Predonzani Room of the Regional Government Building in the presence of the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, renews and expands the earlier protocol signed in 2019. It reaffirms the shared commitment to collaborate on sustainability and innovation in the management of the integrated water and waste cycle.

The new framework promotes applied research projects, joint advanced training initiatives, participation in competitive funding calls, and the valorisation of shared data, experience, and technical infrastructure.

The University of Trieste brings a strong interdisciplinary approach to the partnership, represented by Professor Paolo Bevilacqua (Department of Engineering and Architecture) and Professor Fabio Barbone (Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences), who serve as the University’s scientific coordinators. The agreement also supports inter-university masters already launched in collaboration with public service providers, including those in ‘Technology and Management of the Integrated Water Cycle’ and ‘Circular Economy and the Integrated Waste Cycle.’

‘This agreement,’ said Roberto Di Lenarda, Rector of the University of Trieste, ‘offers a concrete opportunity to launch new multidisciplinary research capable of addressing the challenges of sustainable resource management in innovative ways. Collaboration will range from the study of aquifer systems and infrastructure networks to wastewater and sludge treatment, from the economic and regulatory analysis of public services to the reuse of waste within a circular economy framework. Just as crucial is our commitment to communication and training, which are strategic levers for raising awareness and driving change at both the technical and societal level.’

A previously unknown and extraordinary glacial melt event dating back to the Medieval Warm Period has left striking evidence on a glacier in Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. The discovery is detailed in an international study published in the prestigious journal Communications Earth and Environment, titled "A warming pulse in the Antarctic continent changed the landscape during the Middle Ages." For the first time, the study reconstructs the impact of a sudden climatic warming that occurred between 900 and 989 years ago and significantly altered the Antarctic landscape.

The research, coordinated by Emanuele Forte (University of Trieste) and Mauro Guglielmin (University of Insubria and Centre for Climate Change Research), in collaboration with Maurizio Azzaro (Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council – CNR-ISP), Nicoletta Cannone and Alessandro Longhi (University of Insubria and Centre for Climate Change Research), and Ilaria Santin (ETH Zurich), documents a phenomenon never before observed. The study identifies intense fluvial erosion and sediment transport across the glacier’s surface, caused by meltwater runoff that carved a channel at least four kilometres in length.

The findings show that the water left a lasting imprint on the glacier, creating a break in the stratigraphy and forming a graded sediment deposit – clear evidence of a gradual slowing of the water flow. Unlike current melt events observed in East Antarctica and on the Nansen Ice Shelf, the medieval event stands out as an exceptional case. It occurred during a naturally occurring phase of global warming, yet the same glacier today remains permanently snow-covered with no signs of surface melting. This contrast further highlights the uniqueness and significance of the discovery.

The research offers a new perspective on the stability of Antarctic glaciers and demonstrates that even short-lived episodes of climatic warming – often undetectable through traditional palaeoclimatic analysis – can lead to profound and lasting changes in glacial landscapes. The results underscore the sensitivity of Antarctic glaciers to sudden climate shifts and point to the potential impact of extreme events linked to ongoing climate change.

The study was conducted as part of the National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA), funded by the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) and implemented through the National Research Council (CNR) for scientific coordination, ENEA for the planning and logistical support of activities at Antarctic bases, and the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) for the technical and scientific management of the research vessel Laura Bassi.

Making green hydrogen a more efficient, safe and accessible energy source is the goal of the E4H2 – Efficiency for Hydrogen project, launched by the University of Trieste in collaboration with the University of Udine. The initiative is one of several funded by the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia through its regional call for proposals to support the creation and modernisation of research infrastructure in the field of renewable hydrogen.

Thanks to funding of €2 million from the regional government, the UniTS project will establish a network of four laboratories distributed across the region. Each lab will focus on a strategic stage in the hydrogen value chain, from production and storage to end use.

Researchers will work to improve the efficiency and durability of electrolysers, devices that produce ‘green’ hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from renewable sources. The project will test innovative storage systems, including cryogenic tanks – specialised containers capable of storing hydrogen in liquid form at extremely low temperatures (down to -252°C) – and high-pressure solutions designed to reduce energy loss during storage and transport.

Significant efforts will also be devoted to the development of more efficient and longer-lasting fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity without releasing pollutants, as well as to the definition of operating protocols aimed at improving the overall efficiency of the process. Another key objective will be safety, with the new network enabling researchers to identify critical issues and propose solutions to ensure increasingly reliable hydrogen use.

‘The infrastructure,’ explains Rodolfo Taccani, Professor of Machinery at the University of Trieste and scientific lead of the project, ‘will allow for the testing of devices at various levels, from individual components to pilot-scale systems. It will combine experimental research with advanced simulation models, including those based on artificial intelligence. The data collected will support better maintenance, lower costs and greater sustainability across the system.’

E4H2 represents a major step in building a regional green hydrogen supply chain, fully integrated into the broader cross-border framework of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley. It will foster connections between universities, research centres and businesses in support of the energy transition and decarbonisation.

As part of the wider regional funding programme for renewable hydrogen research infrastructure, the University of Trieste is also participating as a partner in three additional projects. The research teams are led by Rodolfo Taccani (Department of Engineering and Architecture), Alessandro Baraldi (Department of Physics) and Lorenzo Bonini (Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences). The total funding awarded to these projects amounts to €3.5 million out of the 11 million allocated by the regional authority, making the University of Trieste the leading research institution in Friuli Venezia Giulia in this area of energy transition.