At the invitation of Nicola Minasi, Head of the Crisis Unit at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), Pro-Rector Valter Sergo of the University of Trieste participated in an operational briefing in Rome. The session focused on ensuring the safety of academic staff operating in regions affected by international crises, conflicts, or political instability.

In recent years, UniTS has revised its overseas mission protocols, implementing a system that ensures preventive notification to the MFA when researchers travel to areas deemed high-risk.

The visit—following on from Dr. Minasi’s official trip to the University of Trieste in December 2022—forms part of the University’s broader engagement in scientific diplomacy and underpins the deepening collaboration between UniTS and the Ministry.

Once again, Trieste Next is launching its Volunteer Project, giving all UniTS students the chance to take an active role in the Festival of Scientific Research, taking place from 26th to 28th September.

Why volunteer for Trieste Next? 

• You’ll be at the heart of the festival – from labs and lectures to front-line events
• You’ll gain first-hand insight into the world of scientific research and the people behind it
• You’ll strengthen your communication and organisational skills
• You’ll have fun, learn, and connect with fellow students, lecturers, and researchers

Plus… you’ll earn 1 ECTS credit for 25 hours of volunteering!

Just submit your certificate to your Department’s Student Office.

Don’t miss out – join the Trieste Next team!

Apply by 31st July by filling in the online form.

🔎 u.garr.it/EAqVW

The DNA of a freshwater jellyfish of non-native origin, specifically Asian (Craspedacusta sowerbii), has been detected in the underground waters of the Timavo River inside the Luftloch cave, recently discovered by the Adriatic Speleological Society.

This significant scientific discovery is the result of collaboration between the University of Trieste, the Adriatic Speleological Society (SAS), and the Trieste Civic Museum of Natural History.

The sampling and analyses were carried out by the research group coordinated by Chiara Manfrin of the Department of Life Sciences at UniTS, as part of a project aimed at monitoring biodiversity in subterranean environments through the use of environmental DNA (eDNA). This innovative technique makes it possible to detect genetic traces left by organisms in their habitat, allowing the identification of species that are not easily observed.

‘This method allows us, by filtering water, to detect genetic traces left by organisms in the surrounding environment, thus enabling the identification of species that are difficult to observe directly,’ explains Manfrin. ‘The results revealed the presence of Craspedacusta sowerbii DNA, a non-native species originating in China, harmless to humans but whose effects on Karst ecosystems are under study.’

The discovery follows on from previous observations of the jellyfish in the Slovenian section of the Reka-Timavo since 2016, conducted by the Trieste Civic Museum of Natural History and published in a scientific note by Nicola Bressi and Andrea Colla. The genetic confirmation obtained now further strengthens the hypothesis of the species’ presence in the underground waters of the Karst.

It was among the first academic events in Europe dedicated to the new Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law adopted by the Council of Europe in September 2024: The conference held at the Gorizia Campus of the University of Trieste brought together scholars from different countries for a critical and multidisciplinary reflection on the implications of the Treaty.

The event entitled ‘The CoE framework convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the rule of Comparative Law, EU, and International Law perspectives’ also received attention from the Council of Europe, which announced it on its official portal, underlining its value as an in-depth initiative supported by the academic world. 

Opening the meeting was Mario Hernández Ramos, President of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence of the Council of Europe (CAI), who in his speech explained the negotiation process of the Convention, its content and the prospects for its implementation. ‘Human values must be at the heart of the design, development and deployment of artificial intelligence, and the Council of Europe Convention plays a key role in achieving this.’ 

The conference was organised by Giuseppe Pascale and Marta Infantino, professors of International Law and Comparative Private Law at the University of Trieste, with the support of the Department of Political and Social Sciences (DiSPeS) and the European Union. It also received support from the PRIN project AutomatA – The dark side of algorithm in public administration, funded by the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research, whose partnership with UniTS is overseen by Professor Infantino’s scientific supervision.

‘This was one of the very first opportunities in Europe for critical academic reflection on the potential impact of the new Convention’, explain the organisers. ‘We have gathered scholars of comparative, international and European law in Gorizia to understand the prospects and consequences of regulating artificial intelligence. The contributions presented will be collected and published in open access, for the benefit of the scientific community and all those who want to deepen the content and scope of the Convention.’

The Mediterranean in the post-American era, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor renamed the New Cotton Route, the integration of the Western Balkans, and the dialogue between AI and Space are just some of the topics of the 2025 edition of GeoAdriatico, the international geopolitics symposium scheduled for 12th-15th June in Trieste.

GeoAdriatico, promoted by Vitale Onlus  in partnership with the University of Trieste, will also explore topics related to scientific research in the global data society, the G20 as a platform for cooperation on transport, port infrastructure and the sea, as well as issues related to tariffs, trade wars and the protection of the planet.

‘In an area deeply influenced by the development geopolitical relations, the environmental emergency and the data revolution, it is essential that scientific research, diplomacy and business come together to guide global processes towards common goals,’ says Rector Roberto Di Lenarda. ‘In an uncertain and complex international landscape, GeoAdriatico represents an opportunity for the University of Trieste to contribute to building dialogue between worlds that are only seemingly distant. Only through cooperation,’ concludes Di Lenarda, ’can we come up with effective solutions for the great developments of our time.’

In a social context in which there are 56 wars involving over 90 countries worldwide, international relations must play a crucial role in promoting peace, which is one of the priorities of GeoAdriatico. The event is sponsored, among others, by the Italian Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

‘International relations, in a complex world in conflict, are an effective tool for dialogue for peace,’ says Roberto Vitale, president of GeoAdriatico and Vitale Onlus and creator of the international symposium. The city of Trieste is a multicultural melting pot which, given its central position in the new geopolitical arena, must become a centre of multireligious dialogue in which to develop strategies for war prevention and conflict resolution.’

The opening ceremony of GeoAdriatico will take place on Thursday 12th June at 10:00 in the reception hall of the MIB Trieste School of Management, and will also feature speeches by Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dario Giacomin, military representative of NATO and the European Union in Brussels, Nicola Casagli, president of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), and Vittorio Torbianelli, special commissioner of the Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea.

On the same day at 15:00 in the reception hall of the General Secretariat of the CEE (Central European Initiative) there will be a discussion on economics and finance for the revival and integration of the Western Balkans, with the participation from Marco Alberti, Italian Ambassador to Albania, Luca Gori, Italian Ambassador to Serbia, Gabriele Bellon, Director General of BCC Venezia Giulia, Salvatore La Rosa, Head of Research and Innovation at Area Science Park, Nicola Polato, Head of the North-East section of SIMEST, Tatjana Rojc, member of the European Union Policy Committee of the Italian Senate, and Gregor Šuc, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia, moderated by Stefano Polli, Deputy Director of the ANSA Press Agency.

Among the 70+ participants of GeoAdriatico representing 20 countries will be Massimo Gallo, director of the Trieste branch of the Bank of Italy, Tullio Gregori, professor of Finance at the University of Trieste, Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri's Merchant Ships Division, and Stefano Pilotto, professor of International Relations at MIB Trieste School of Management.         

The second day, Friday 13th June, will open in the Reception Hall of the Palazzo della Regione (Regional Government Building), which will host a round table discussion aimed at framing Trieste's role as the arrival point of the East India Corridor. The meeting, which will be opened by Alessia Rosolen, Regional Councillor for Labour, Training, Education, Research, Universities and Family, will feature contributions from Pierpaolo Ribuffo, coordinator of the Maritime Policy Unit of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Antonio Bartoli, Italian Ambassador to India, Federico Donelli, professor of International Relations at the University of Trieste, Antonio Gurrieri, Secretary General of the Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea, and Damir Murkovic, President of the Chambers of Commerce of Central and Eastern Europe. Reservation is mandatory for participation in this round table, and can be made via email to segreteria@vitaleonlus.it by Tuesday 10th June.

GeoAdriatico, which is partnered with the ANSA press agency, will continue at the Area Science Park Conference Centre. On Friday afternoon at15:00, research on the era of global data will be introduced by Caterina Petrillo, president of Area Science Park. The discussion will be led by Denise Amram, lawyer and professor of comparative private law at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Stefano Cozzini, director of the Area Science Park Research Institute for Technological Innovation, Giorgia Lodi, technologist at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), Giorgio Rossi, professor of physics at the University of Milan, and Paolo Valenti, research director at the National Institute of Nuclear Physics. The discussion will be moderated by Francesca Iannelli, spokesperson for the president of Area Science Park. 

This will be followed by a discussion on Space and Artificial Intelligence with Anna Gregorio Michelazzi, astrophysicist at the University of Trieste, in the Desiata room of the Camera di Commercio Venezia Giulia (Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce), a partner of the conference. After an opening speech by Giorgio Marrapodi, Italian ambassador to Turkey, there will be presentations by Maria Angelucci, business developer at WSense, Sylvio Barbon Junior, head of the Machine Learning Lab (DIA) at the University of Trieste, Giuseppe Coronella, CEO of Mare FVG, Beatrice Manassero, from the Space and Scientific Cooperation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Milena Menna, oceanographer and physicist at the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), Fabrizio Rovatti, project manager at Area Science Park, Vincenzo Vitale, maritime director of the Marche region and commander of the Port Authority of Ancona, and Marco Brancati, technical director of Telespazio, a company owned by Leonardo.

Saturday 14th June will begin at 9:30 in the Sala Rossa of the Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea with a lecture by Roberto Danovaro, the world's leading expert on seas and oceans. The lecture is aimed at students from the Sustainable Blue Growth master's programme, which is directed by Mounir Ghribi, who, in turn, will talk about the sea as an essential element for the future of societies. 

At 10:00, the concluding round table will take place in the Sala del Mare of the Port Authority of Trieste, dedicated to the climate crisis, women and human rights. Speakers, moderated by Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director of TWAS, will include Max Paoli, coordinator of TWAS UNESCO programme (Academy of Sciences for the Developing World), Maria Cristina Fossi, professor of Ecology and Ecotoxicology at the University of Siena, who was the world’s first scientist to provide evidence of the effects of plastic on whales, Stella Koutika, from the Centre for Research on the Sustainability and Productivity of Industrial Plantations in Congo, Antonio Navarra, president of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, Sara Nowreen, researcher at the Institute of Water and Flood Management in Bangladesh, and Vania Torrez, from the Institute of Ecology at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in Bolivia.

In 2025, the University of Trieste is still one of the most reputable and dynamic Italian academic institutions, combining quality of education, international openness and concrete employment prospects for its graduates. 

The 27th AlmaLaurea Report attests to this, a report analysing the performance of students who graduated in 2024. 

The University of Trieste stands out in terms of employment rates, with results above the national and regional averages. One year after graduation, 84.8% of bachelor’s degree graduates who have not continued their studies are employed, compared to 78.6% as the national average and 84.6% in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The net monthly salary is €1,522, higher than both the national average (€1,492) and the regional average (€1,497).

The situation is particularly positive for master's degree graduates, who are reported as having significantly higher average salaries and rates of employment, especially compared to the national average. One year after graduation, the graduate employment rate is 86.9% (78.6% nationally), with an average net monthly salary of €1,607 (€1,488 in Italy). Five years after graduation, employment reaches 93.0%, exceeding the regional and national figures (92.7% and 89.7% respectively), while the average monthly salary reaches €1, 988 euros (1,923 in FVG, 1,847 in Italy), with peaks of 2,014 euros among two-year master's degree graduates and 1,949 euros among integrated master’s degree graduates.

The data of UniTS graduates paints a picture of a university capable of attracting students from beyond regional and national borders. In fact, 41.5% of graduates come from outside the region, compared to a regional average of 33.8% and a national average of 24.5%, while 4.8% are foreign nationals (3.6% is the regional average). This is even more prevalent in two-year master's degree courses, where 47.9% of students come from other regions and 6% from other countries.

The quality of the education offered by UniTS is also reflected in the widespread use of curricular internships, which are provided for and recognised by the degree programmes. This has benefited 62.9% of graduates (compared to 61% nationally), with participation reaching 75.8% among master's degree students and 87.6% if experiences during their bachelor’s degree are included.

The data on international mobility is also excellent: 13.2% of graduates participated in a study abroad experience recognised by their degree programme, which is higher than both the national and regional averages (10.3% and 12.1% respectively). The figure is 13.2% among three-year graduates and 13% among master's degree graduates, rising to 18.7% if experiences gained during their bachelor’s degree are also included.

Finally, students confirm the high quality of the academic experience in Trieste: 88.7% say they are overall satisfied with their university experience, with very positive evaluations of their relationships with teachers (87%), workload (79.6%) and teaching facilities (84.7%).

The 27th AlmaLaurea Report analysed the performance of over 305,000 graduates in 2024 from 80 Italian universities, including 3,226 from the University of Trieste: 1,842 bachelor’s degrees, 979 master's degrees and 405 integrated master’s degrees.

After a tournament played at the highest level, the men’s basketball team of the University Sports Centre (CUS) of Trieste secured a brilliant silver medal at the National University Championships (CNU), held in Ancona.

More than twenty years since their last podium finish and nearly thirty years since their last championship title in 1996, the University of Trieste has returned to the top tier of university basketball, thanks to the players superbly led by head coach Dejan Faraglia and assistant coach Matteo Filippone.

Over an intense week of competition, the UniTS team first dominated their group stage, defeating the CUS teams of Macerata, Pisa, and Insubria, before overcoming the Turin side in the semi-finals. In the final, despite an outstanding performance that saw them remain in contention until the final possessions, CUS Trieste’s campaign was brought to an end by the formidable Bologna team.

‘The boys were extraordinary,’ said coach Faraglia. ‘They played five matches at an exceptionally high level and came close to matching Bologna even in the final. I’m proud of this group for delivering such an important result for both CUS Trieste and the University of Trieste after so many years.’

CUS Trieste President Michele Pipan, in addition to thanking the staff for their crucial role in achieving this result, highlighted how ‘the group managed to become and act as a true team, both on and off the court.’ In fact, during the regular season, the ten players, with few exceptions, do not play together, as they compete in higher-level leagues with other clubs. For the CNU, however, they came together to represent the University of Trieste, demonstrating a strong sense of belonging to the UniTS academic community.

The silver-medal-winning CUS Trieste team was composed of: Paolo Scoleri (Naval Engineering), Federico Paganotto (Naval Engineering), Matteo Baissero (International Economics and Financial Markets), Luca Pauletto (Medicine and Surgery), Daniel Riccio (Electronic and Computer Engineering), Matteo Varesano (Business Administration and Management), Giacomo Comelli (Health Care), Mattia Gattolini (Medicine and Surgery), Federico Gallo (Marketing and Management), Giovanni Del Ben (Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics).

From 5th to 8th June 2025, the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Trieste will take part, together with Italian and Slovenian partners, in GOin4SAFETY, a large-scale cross-border exercise focused on environmental emergency management and disaster prevention. The event will take place across Gorizia, Nova Gorica and Šempeter-Vrtojba.

The initiative is part of the IN4SAFETY project, funded by the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Programme, and aims to strengthen joint response capacities in neighbouring areas across national borders. Through its Department of Engineering and Architecture, the University of Trieste contributes with research, education and technology transfer activities, particularly in the areas of environmental data georeferencing and the identification of target groups involved.

GOin4SAFETY will bring together over 500 participants from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Slovenia, Croatia and Germany, including civil protection personnel, security forces, organised volunteer groups and local authorities, who will operate in complex scenarios such as earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, hazardous materials incidents and climate change-related impacts.

The programme also includes training sessions for municipal staff, volunteers, students and members of the public, as well as a command post exercise simulating large-scale emergency situations.

GOin4SAFETY offers a tangible example of European cooperation at the local level, and promotes a shared culture of prevention, risk management and territorial safety. The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Ajdovščina and involves, among others, the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, the Metropolitan City of Venice, the International Institute of Sociology of Gorizia, the Nova Gorica Fire and Rescue Service and the University of Trieste.

For further information: 
Interreg Italia - Slovenija Site International
Institute of Sociology of Gorizia Site

Over 7,000 girls and boys from Friuli Venezia Giulia will face the summer with a greater awareness of the importance of sun protection: this is the outcome of the Occhio al Sole project, which took place during the 2024-2025 school year, involving 138 first-grade secondary schools across the entire regional territory.

The project, entitled “Occhio al Sole! Buone pratiche per stare bene all’aria aperta”, was created by FondoSviluppo FVG (the mutual fund of Confcooperative FVG) and promoted by the Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, with the patronage of the University of Trieste and the University of Udine. The activities were carried out in schools with the support of the Immaginario Scientifico, aiming to promote, from an early age, conscious behaviors to protect skin health.
Through interactive workshops lasting two hours, students explored the topic of ultraviolet rays, analyzing their effects on the body and the risks associated with unprotected sun exposure. Particular attention was given to the role of climate change, which increases the intensity and danger of UV rays. The program included experimental activities and moments of discussion, focusing on the skin and the correct use of sun protection.
The initiative saw a high level of participation: around 80% of first-grade secondary schools in Friuli Venezia Giulia – distributed across the four provinces – chose to participate. This result reflects the interest and value of the initiative and led to the confirmation of the project for the 2025-2026 school year.

Prof. Iris Zalaudek, Director of the Dermatology Clinic at the University of Trieste and the Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliana Isontina, emphasized: “Educational campaigns like the ‘Occhio al Sole’ project are essential for promoting healthy behaviors from childhood, reducing the risk of skin damage such as premature aging or the increased risk of skin cancer in the long term. Several studies show that targeted school interventions significantly increase the use of sun protection and the habit of staying in the shade among children. In Australia, melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer, particularly among young adults aged 15-25. However, in recent years, a decline in the incidence of melanoma in this age group has been observed for the first time, thanks to various public health initiatives, including the early education of young people on sun protection.”
Given the high level of participation and the success of the initiative, a second edition of the project has been confirmed for the 2025-2026 school year.

The University of Trieste took part in the presentation of the new Manifesto for Public Engagement, promoted by APEnet – the Italian Network of Universities and Research Bodies for Public Engagement.

The Manifesto, the result of a collaborative and open process involving the network’s 57 members – universities, research institutions, polytechnics and high schools across Italy – updates the Association’s identity and, for the first time, outlines a shared direction.

It calls for:

• the integration of Public Engagement into the strategic plans of universities and research institutions;
• recognition of its value in career pathways and research evaluation systems;
• the promotion of a culture of participation and collaboration among all stakeholders;
• support for lifelong learning, open science, and the active involvement of new generations.

The document sets out a crucial vision for strengthening alliances between research and civil society, with the aim of bridging the gap between science and the public.

Inspired by the latest European recommendations on the social role of research, the Manifesto underlines the urgent need to enhance the public value of knowledge by promoting processes of listening, dialogue, collaboration and co-creation as key elements for generating cultural, social and economic impact.

“The APEnet Manifesto,” explained Giulia Carluccio, outgoing President of APEnet and Vice-Rector of the University of Turin, “is a key step in accelerating a paradigm shift within the research institutions of our country. Universities and research bodies are committed to producing and enhancing knowledge through listening, dialogue and collaboration in order to address current and future challenges together with society.”

New APEnet Board of Directors

Alongside the presentation of the Manifesto, APEnet elected its new board of directors, who will lead the Association for the next three years.

The board includes:

• Irene Baldriga (University of Rome La Sapienza)
• Pier Andrea Serra (University of Sassari)
• Giorgio Chiarelli (Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics - INFN)
• Elisa Ascani (University of Florence)
• Elisabetta Bani (University of Bergamo)
• Andrea Attanasio (University of Calabria)
• Valentina Lomi (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
• Alessandro Zennaro (University of Turin)
• Monica Guerra (University of Milan Bicocca)

Pier Andrea Serra has been appointed President and will be supported by two Vice-Presidents: Irene Baldriga and Elisabetta Bani.

What is APEnet?

APEnet – the Italian Network of Universities and Research Bodies for Public Engagement – has been active since 2018 and was formally established as an Association in 2022 to consolidate and give visibility to the role of Public Engagement in Italy.

Public Engagement is a set of values and institutional actions undertaken by universities and research institutions to foster social, cultural and economic development in collaboration with all societal actors. It is a dynamic process of interaction aimed at progressively closing the gap between research and society, addressing new challenges that take local identities into account and recognising the contribution of all those involved, thereby amplifying the impact of their work.

APEnet serves as a space for dialogue, research and development of tools and actions, sharing and strengthening the knowledge and skills needed to drive the cultural transformation that sees universities and research bodies as key actors in promoting the country’s inclusive growth through listening, dialogue and collaboration with society.