From 20th February to 3rd April 2026, the series of free events aimed at bringing psychology to a wider audience, returns with six in-depth sessions held across the region, in Palmanova, Trieste, Tavagnacco, Gradisca d'Isonzo, Gorizia and Cormons.

The sixth edition, dedicated to ‘Border Psychologies’, will explore selected contemporary areas of research and application in psychology through the contributions of experts from the academic world, , drawing on the work of six authors active in border regions: Alberto Argenton, Gaetano Kanizsa, Giovanni Bruno Vicario, Paolo Bozzi, Anton Trstenjak and Edoardo Weiss.

The events will address creativity, perception, art, music, the unconscious and relationships, reflecting on how psychology can explore and interpret the frontiers of the human mind and behaviour.

PROGRAM 

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The University of Trieste is taking part in the 22nd edition of M’illumino di Meno, the Italian National Day of Saving Energy and Sustainable Lifestyles, which in 2026 focuses on the role of science in the ecological transition.

The name of this switch-off 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 line with this year’s theme, M’illumino di Scienza (I fill myself with science), UniTS reaffirms sustainable development as a core value of its identity, integrating teaching, research and good practices to address climate change. Since 2012, under the coordination of the UniTS Energy Manager, the University has implemented structural measures, including a new heating plant replacing fuel oil with natural gas, fully LED-based lighting systems, and photovoltaic installations with a total capacity of nearly 1 MW. Together, these actions have led to an overall reduction of around 40% in energy consumption.

A central role in the University’s scientific work on these topics is played by the Interdepartmental Centre ‘Giacomo Ciamician’, a key hub for energy, environment and transport. The Centre is actively engaged in cutting-edge research, technology transfer, education and support for public and private decision-makers. Its main research areas related to energy saving include renewable energy communities, hydrogen, the integration of electric vehicles with power grids, photovoltaics, and energy storage systems, including battery reuse and recycling, also supported by artificial intelligence tools.

As part of its educational offering, UniTS also provides the Master’s Degree in Engineering for the Energy Transition, a course with a distinctly international outlook whose first graduates are highly anticipated by the job market.

In the lead-up to M’Illumino di Meno, the University also organised the workshop ‘Urban Heat Island and Climate Change: Modelling and Mitigation Policies’, held within the PRIN NRRP project CriStAll (Climate Resilient Strategies by Archetype-based Urban Energy Modelling), with the participation of Politecnico di Torino, the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and the University of Trieste. Alongside an overview of the project’s main activities and results, the workshop presented initiatives carried out in Friuli Venezia Giulia by ARPA FVG, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and ATER Trieste to address challenges linked to rising urban temperatures.

Rafforzare le competenze di funzionari e dirigenti della pubblica amministrazione locale e regionale, costruire percorsi formativi avanzati e mettere a sistema ricerca e pratica amministrativa: con questi obiettivi è stata sottoscritta oggi una convenzione di collaborazione tra il Dipartimento di Scienze Giuridiche, del Linguaggio, dell’Interpretazione e della Traduzione (IUSLIT) dell’Università di Trieste, l’ANCI FVG - Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani del Friuli Venezia Giulia e COMPA FVG, la Scuola di Formazione del Comparto Unico della Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia e Centro di Competenza.

Strengthening the skills of senior civil servants and managers in local and regional public administrations, developing advanced training programmes and bringing together research and administrative practice: these are the aims of the cooperation agreement signed today by the Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies (IUSLIT) of the University of Trieste, ANCI FVG – the National Association of Italian Municipalities in Friuli Venezia Giulia – and COMPA FVG, the Training School for the Single Regional Public Sector of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Centre of Expertise.

The signing, held in the Cammarata Hall of the University of Trieste, comes at a time of transformation in the region’s institutional framework, linked to the reinstatement of the Provinces in Friuli Venezia Giulia following the amendment of the Special Statute. In this context, the agreement aims to provide structured support to local authorities, fostering a stable exchange on legal and institutional, organisational and management issues and supporting administrations as they adapt to the new scenario.

Speakers at the event included the Rector of the University of Trieste, Donata Vianelli; the Director of the IUSLIT Department, Gian Paolo Dolso; the President of ANCI FVG, Dorino Favot; and the President of COMPA FVG, Rodolfo Ziberna; together with the Regional Councillor for Local Autonomies, Public Service, Security and Immigration, Pierpaolo Roberti. Also in attendance were the Secretary General of ANCI FVG, Alessandro Fabbro; the Director General of COMPA FVG, Daniele Gortan; and the ANCI National Councillor, Mirko Martini.

In practical terms, the agreement provides for the active involvement of the University of Trieste in the design and delivery of training programmes for staff in local and regional administrations, with particular attention to the needs emerging during the transition to the new institutional framework. The University will contribute through applied research, comparative analysis of territorial governance models, the development of teaching materials, specialist lecturing and scientific support for COMPA FVG’s activities.

The collaboration will also result in thematic seminars, in-depth workshops, professional development programmes and opportunities for dialogue between academia and public administrations, with the aim of strengthening the legal, administrative and organisational skills required of those involved in territorial governance processes.

“This agreement,” Rector Vianelli said, “strengthens the dialogue between the University of Trieste and local institutions: linking academic knowledge with administrative practice means investing in more informed and effective management of processes, especially at a time of change such as the one accompanying the reinstatement of the Provinces.”

“The Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies,” explained IUSLIT Director Dolso, “makes its scientific and teaching expertise available to build solid, up-to-date training pathways, capable of responding to the real needs of administrations and supporting the quality of decision-making within the new regional institutional framework.”

“The signing of the agreement represents an important collaboration between academia, training and the system of local autonomies, because by combining the commitment of the various institutional actors it is possible to achieve better management and organisation of local authorities, in favour of better services for citizens,” said ANCI FVG President Favot.

“Ensuring training and continuing professional development for managers and civil servants in the regional administration and local authorities will make it possible to respond to territorial governance needs in a way that is more aligned with the requirements and expectations of a community that is constantly evolving, with benefits for citizens and businesses. It is a challenge that ComPA, ANCI, the Region and the University are ready for and undoubtedly capable of meeting,” stated COMPA FVG President Ziberna.

Art guides our gaze and daily increses our sensitivity to the world, which is why the University of Trieste joins in mourning the passing of Annamaria Ducaton, an artist from Trieste whose work combined poetic intensity and compositional rigor.

Her connection with the University became particularly significant during UniTS 100th Anniversary celebrations. In 2024, Annamaria Ducaton donated the collection "La donna del mare" (the woman of the sea) to the University Museum System (smaTs), consisting of 28 works inspired by Henrik Ibsen's poem. This precious donation was showcased by UniTS through an exhibition of the entire collection at UniTS Gorizia Campus (October-December 2025), which will soon become a permanent gallery.

In this work, Annamaria Ducaton intertwines personal images and universal symbols, creating a dialogue between time, memory, and identity in a visual narrative that touches the viewer with discretion and depth.

In promoting the collection La donna del mare, UniTS also preserves a legacy of rare intensity, a work that will continue to speak, both inside and outside the University, with the silent and necessary voice of art.

‘Der bodde en underlig gråsprængt en på den yderste nøgne ø’ Henrik Ibsen

‘There lived a remarkably grizzled man on the uttermost, barren isle.’

Accurate measurements are the basis of every effective diagnosis and safe treatment. To ensure that this fundamental requirement for patient safety is met the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste and the University of Trieste have launched the world's first Master's degree in Radiation Metrology.This new two-year course, which began on 26 January, is part of the Master's Degree in Advanced Studies in Medical Physics and is co-funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Medical technologies that use radiation, including widely used techniques such as X-rays, CT scans and radiotherapy, save many lives every year. Using them to make accurate and safe diagnoses and treatments requires highly specialised professionals who can calibrate the instruments and assist medical staff in using the calibration results to ensure the safety and effectiveness of radiation diagnostics and treatment.

The new course in radiation metrology in Trieste will provide a small group of selected students, mainly from the Global South, with the managerial and technical skills they will need to become qualified radiation metrologists and play this vital role in their countries. Once graduated, the Qualified Radiation Metrologists will work in Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories, centres established by the IAEA and the World Health Organization (WHO) to disseminate radiation dosimetry quantities in accordance with international basic safety standards. They will operate the specific equipment needed for radiation measurements, perform calibrations, evaluate the results and issue calibration certificates.

Four students coming from Venezuela, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa will start their two-year training next January. During the first year they will attend the lectures of the Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics, with additional courses focussing on dose measurements and calibration. Discussions are underway with the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) to provide part of the practical, hands-on training that will be delivered during the second year, either at the Italian National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology (INMRI-ENEA) in Rome, Italy, or at IAEA in Vienna, Austria.

“Accurate measurements are the cornerstone of safe and effective use of ionising radiation. This pioneering post-graduate programme is a strategic investment that will support global health and safety in the use of ionising radiation, creating the experts who will ensure that diagnostic and therapeutic radiation doses are precisely delivered and standardized worldwide, optimizing patients’ exposure and advancing health care,” said Mauro Carrara, Head of the Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics Section at the IAEA.

“According to international guidelines, before undertaking an internship and then practising the profession, medical physicists and radiation metrology experts need appropriate postgraduate training,” added Donata Vianelli, Rector of the University of Trieste. “Our Master's Degree in Advanced Studies in Medical Physics guarantees all the skills necessary to work in a hospital or metrology centre."

“We are grateful to the IAEA, the University of Trieste, and all our partners for their collaboration and efforts in creating with us a strong a successful programme in medical physics. It’s a wonderful example of multilateral collaboration for addressing the growing need for scientific expertise around the world in this important field. The work we have carried out together has paved the way for the new specialization in radiation metrology. We are excited to support the training of professionals who will play a vital role in this field,” said Atish Dabholkar, ICTP Director.

The Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics (MMP)

The Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics (MMP) is a two-year training programme run jointly by ICTP and the University of Trieste. The programme provides young graduates of physics or related fields (mainly from developing countries) with postgraduate theoretical and clinical training so that they may be recognised as clinical medical physicists in their home countries. The programme comprises a year of basic and advanced courses taught in English and prepared with the assistance of experts from ICTP, the University of Trieste, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and appointed external advisors. This is followed by a year of professional clinical training in a medical physics department of an Italian hospital in the programme's training network.

Almost 190 medical physicists have graduated so far from the programme, launched in 2014. They have come from more than 70 different countries, mainly in the Global South. About 90 of them have come from Africa, 44 from Asia, 41 from Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 from Europe and 1 from Oceania. Almost 40% of them are women.

Starting next year, a new collaboration with the United Nations University, through the International Institute for Global Health, will enrich the educational offering of both tracks of the Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics Programme by offering a course on medical ethics and issues related to global health.

The MMP is co-sponsored by the IAEA, and is supported by the International Organisation for Medical Physics (IOMP), the European Federation of Organizations in Medical Physics (EFOMP), the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM), in collaboration with Trieste university hospital. The Master’s Programme is accredited by IOMP

UniTS will take part in WIRED Digital Day in Monfalcone, an event dedicated to the cutting-edge of research, development and technological innovation.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday 4th February 2026 at Teatro Comunale ‘Marlena Bonezzi’ in Monfalcone, from 9:00 to 16:45, with free admission upon registration. Programme: Wired Digital Day.

Opening with remarks from UniTS Rector Donata Vianelli, the day features discussions between experts, international and national leaders and leading regional players, highlighting the strategic role of Friuli Venezia Giulia as an integrated innovation ecosystem, supported by three universities, more than 50 research centres and over 10,000 international researchers.

Topics will range from the energy transition to deep tech, from quantum computing to the life sciences, with a focus on the Porto Vivo project, set to transform part of Porto Vecchio (the Old Port of Trieste) into a hub for innovation and start-ups.

For UniTS, Angelo Bassi, Full Professor of Theoretical Physics, is giving a talk on ‘Quantum technologies in Italy: from research to industry’, while Anna Gregorio, Professor of Physics and Strategy Manager at space-tech spin-off PicoSaTs joins the section dedicated to success stories in Italian tech-transfer. 

Countering the motor and cognitive decline associated with ageing is one of the major healthcare challenges of the coming decades. A research project conducted by the University of Trieste shows how innovative rehabilitation protocols that integrate physical exercise, cognitive stimulation and virtual reality can produce significant benefits for active and independent ageing.

The study, developed in collaboration between the public social care provider ITIS and the UniTS Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy, compared the effectiveness of two physiotherapy approaches in a cohort of older adults living in the care facility: a dual-task exercise protocol, combining motor activity with simultaneous cognitive tasks, and a treatment based on the use of virtual and augmented reality to perform targeted physical exercises.

A research project supported by local philanthropic foundations

The research was co-funded by the Morpurgo and Casali ETS Foundations via a one-year research grant awarded to physiotherapist Marta Ceschin, who conducted the study from February 2024 to February 2025. The project was supervised by Luigi Murena, Head of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, and by Manuela Deodato, head of clinical and professional training for the Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy.

Methodology and tools

Approved by the University Ethics Committee, the study involved 45 participants aged over 65 and without medical conditions that could affect participation. They were randomly assigned to one of two dual-task treatment groups: one combined physical activity with cognitive tasks, the other paired physical exercise with virtual and augmented reality.

Both groups carried out 24 individual sessions of 60 minutes each, twice a week for 12 weeks, in the UniTS physiotherapy teaching gym, equipped with advanced virtual and augmented reality devices.

Treatment effectiveness was assessed through standardised cognitive tests (Trail Making Test, Frontal Assessment Battery), motor function (10-Metre Walk Test, Timed Up and Go, Chair Stand Test, handgrip strength) and dual motor-cognitive performance.

Results: dual-task training proves particularly effective

Results show that both approaches significantly improve motor function, particularly in walking and mobility tests. However, the dual-task protocol showed greater benefits when physical activity was paired with a cognitive task, in line with recent studies linking good physical performance with good cognitive performance.

Dual-task training thus emerges as a promising active ageing strategy, capable of acting simultaneously on body and mind and helping older adults remain independent in their everyday activities.

The project ‘Dutch as a key to collaboration between businesses and universities’, funded by the Dutch Language Union (Nederlandse Taalunie) and launched in 2024 within the Dutch section of SSLMIT (departmental division of Modern Languages for Interpreters and Translators) has come to an end.

The project was created with the aim of enhancing the strategic role of the Dutch language as a bridge between academic education and the world of work, strengthening dialogue between universities and the productive system from an international perspective.

In a European context characterised by growing economic, logistical and cultural interconnections, particularly with the Netherlands and Flanders, specialist language skills remain an important factor in employability and professional development.

The project culminated in January 2026 in an event that brought together representatives from the business world, institutions and students for a day of conferences, round tables and job fairs. The meeting provided a concrete space for dialogue between skills supply and deman, demonstrating how even a less widely spoken language can play a strategic role in building qualified career paths and promoting lasting collaborations between universities and businesses.

Representatives from the academic, institutional and business worlds were present, including Vice-Rector Mauro Tretiach, Vice-Rector for Industrial and Community Relations Guido Bortoluzzi, Taalunie, Flanders Investment and Trade, the Port Authority of Trieste, Alpe Adria S.p.A., together with companies from the region and abroad.

Also present were Cristina Sbaizero, CEO of the World Trade Centre Trieste, and Stefano Musilli, representing the Consulate of the Netherlands.

Finally, Caffè Eppinger hosted a job fair where Dutch language students met directly with companies interested in hiring people with this type of language skill, both for internships and future employment.

From regenerating the heart to designing more efficient solar cells: FIS (Fondo Italiano per la Scienza) has allocated a further €3 million to two cutting-edge research projects at the University of Trieste. Funding has been awarded to SOFTEN, focused on new approaches to reversing fibrosis and promoting cardiac tissue regeneration, and to A DIGITal twin for efficient solar CELLs, set to develop a ‘digital twin’ capable of simulating a solar cell in all its complexity and of accelerating, in a predictive way, the discovery of new photovoltaic materials.

FIS is an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) which supports excellent research modelled on the European ERC programmes, with competitive schemes designed to accompany researchers through different stages of their careers. The two grants obtained confirm UniTS’s ability to produce cutting-edge research while also acting as an attractive hub for projects that are highly competitive at the international level.

The project SOFTEN – Reversal of cardiac fibrosis and promotion of tissue regeneration through controlled SOFTENing of the extracellular matrix milieu, coordinated by Pasquale Sacco of the Department of Life Sciences, has been awarded around €1.65 million and addresses one of the most complex challenges in contemporary medicine: after an injury, the adult human heart is unable to regenerate effectively and tends to develop fibrosis, compromising its function.

The idea stems from observations in species such as the zebrafish, which can regenerate the heart thanks to a temporary ‘softening’ of the extracellular matrix. SOFTEN aims to reproduce and control this behaviour using specifically designed biomaterials, combining polymer chemistry, materials design and cellular and molecular biology methods to understand and steer the mechanisms of cardiac tissue repair.

The project A DIGITal twin for efficient solar CELLs, funded with around €1.33 million, is led by Virginia Carnevali, who will move from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) to the Department of Physics at the University of Trieste to carry out the study.

The research aims to develop a digital twin of a solar cell capable of simulating the device in its full physical and structural complexity and of providing predictive insight both into conversion efficiency and into the discovery of new photovoltaic materials. The approach combines quantum simulations, molecular dynamics, statistical methods and experimental data, with the goal of bringing fundamental research and device engineering closer together in a key field for renewable energy.

As the researcher explains, Trieste and the Department of Physics were chosen for their internationally recognised expertise in developing codes and simulation techniques to study the structural and electronic properties of materials. The city also offers outstanding experimental facilities and a consolidated network of scientific partnerships built up since her PhD, which she completed in Trieste.

The FIS grants awarded to the projects led by Sacco and Carnevali add to the three already announced on 1st December 2025, attributed to Paolo Fornasiero (€2.3 million) and Federico Rosei (€1.9 million) of the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and to Matteo Marinelli (€1.1 million) of the Department of Physics. Five UniTS projects have been awarded funding by FIS in this round, amounting to €8.2 million overall.

‘We are very satisfied with these results,’ commented Rector Donata Vianelli. ‘FIS applies particularly rigorous criteria in evaluating projects, and the outcome confirms the University of Trieste’s ability to develop research that attracts funding and, in this case, human capital as well. The selected programmes reflect our commitment to key research areas: from biomedical research and biomaterials to tackle major health challenges, to advanced modelling of materials and devices for renewable energy.’

On 26th January 2026, Paolo Cendon, former full professor of Foundations of Private Law and long-time Head of the Institute of Law of the Faculty of Economics, passed away.

The ‘Bruno de Finetti’ Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics (DEAMS) and the Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies (IUSLIT) remember his academic work, carried out with great passion and dedication.

He joined the University of Trieste in 1971, after graduating in Law at the University of Pavia with a thesis supervised by Rodolfo Sacco. His research results – consisting of monographs, essays, commentaries, editorial series and online journals, including Persona & Danno – enjoyed wide international renown. He had a profound and lasting impact on fundamental aspects of civil law, opening up new and highly significant interpretative perspectives, not only for the Italian legal system. His reflections spanned various crucial areas: from civil liability to the protection of mental illness, from the elaboration of existential damage to the search for less authoritarian and more respectful forms of protection of vulnerable people. A prime example of this is the creation of the measure of supportive administration, whose legislative framework owes much to his thinking and his scientific and cultural commitment.

His lectures and lessons remain unforgettable for their intensity, clarity and originality: the rigour of law was accompanied by examples taken from everyday life, made particularly effective by his sparkling narrative skills, which he also expressed in highly acclaimed works of fiction.

Dialogue, listening and intellectual curiosity characterised his method of teaching and scientific debate, making him an essential point of reference for colleagues and students.

Finally, we cannot forget the happy intuition that, in the 1980s, led him to involve friends and like-minded scholars in the meetings of the Circolo di Venezia (Venice circle), thus planting the seed from which numerous projects and initiatives have sprouted.

Paolo Cendon leaves a legacy that goes beyond books and articles: a way of understanding law as a space for attention to others and as an ethical practice, even before a technical one. His lesson will continue to guide the work of those who believe in a deeply human way of studying law.