The "Centenary Stamp" of the University of Trieste, included by Poste Italiane in the thematic series "Excellences of Knowledge," has been issued by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

With a standard value of €1.25, the stamp features a reimagining of the anniversary logo, set against a background with the institutional colors of the UniTS centenary. The logo depicts, in a line drawing, the central building of the university with the number "100" rising behind it like the sun.

Along with Trieste, the universities of Naples "Federico II" and Florence, which are celebrating their 800th and 100th anniversaries since their founding, have also commemorated their significant milestones with a philatelic issuance.

“These small works of art aim to celebrate the world of academia, science, and education,” commented UniTS Rector Roberto Di Lenarda. “The symbol depicted on our stamp points to a new dawn of knowledge and honors the significant cultural synthesis work of a complex region like Friuli Venezia Giulia, carried out by our university. A journey that culminated in the year of our centenary with the conferral of honorary degrees to President Mattarella and Borut Pahor, former President of Slovenia.”

The philatelic issuance is thus a tribute and thanks for the work and educational and research activities carried out by the three universities, whose history runs parallel to that of our country and intertwines with the fate of millions of students.

“Today, more than ever, we need to value who we are and where we come from,” stated Minister Urso. “Italians are recognized worldwide as great producers of culture for humanity, a differential that makes our Made in Italy competitive. Knowledge, study, and science are fundamental, as is the contribution provided by our universities and research centers.”

“There is a link between the symbolic value of the stamp and the real value of the universities. And this link serves as both a testament to the past and an anticipator of the future, of how we imagine the future,” said Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini. “But it’s not just that, just like higher education, the stamp is a symbol of connection between people. It has a unique value. It has a unique charm, which is to tell stories, commemorate and celebrate anniversaries and personalities. It has a historical, cultural, and artistic dimension,” Bernini concluded.

The philatelic cancellation ceremony, which marks the entry into circulation of the three new commemorative stamps, was attended by the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, the Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Undersecretary of State with a delegation for philately, Fausta Bergamotto. Also present were the Magnificent Rectors of the three universities involved: Roberto Di Lenarda for the University of Trieste, Alessandra Petrucci for the University of Florence, and Matteo Lorito for the University Federico II of Naples. Representatives from Poste Italiane and the Poligrafico and Zecca dello Stato Institute were also present.

The stamps are printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A., using rotogravure on white, neutral-coated, self-adhesive paper with optical brightener.

Print run: two hundred fifty thousand and twenty copies for each stamp

Designs: University of Trieste, Paola Russo; University of Naples “Federico II” and University of Florence, Maria Carmela Perrini.

The first-day cancellation will be available at the philatelic counter of the Roma V.R. postal office for all stamps.

The stamps and related philatelic products, postcards, cards, and illustrated bulletins will be available at postal offices with a philatelic counter, the “Spazio Filatelia” in Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Rome, Rome 1, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona, and on the website filatelia.poste.it.

An international study, co-ordinated by the University of Trieste, in collaboration with the local health services (Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina – ASUGI), and the National Amyloidosis Centre in London, may revolutionise the prospects for early treatment of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), a rare and progressive heart disease caused by the abnormal accumulation of a protein – transthyretin – that is deposited in cardiac tissue, compromising its structure and function.

The study, published in the prestigious journal JAMA Cardiology and presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Congress, analysed for the first time patients with transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloid infiltration who had not yet developed signs or symptoms of heart failure. Using an advanced imaging technique, the researchers demonstrated that patients with moderate to severe cardiac infiltration (scintigraphic grades 2 and 3) already exhibited typical features of amyloid cardiomyopathy, with abnormalities visible on both echocardiogram and serum biomarkers. In these patients, the disease progressed more rapidly, with over 50% developing signs and symptoms of heart failure requiring diuretic therapy within three years of diagnosis.

Aldostefano Porcari, research assistant at the University of Trieste and first author of the publication, explains: ‘Current European and American guidelines recommend treatment with the drug tafamidis only for patients who have already developed overt heart failure. However, our study suggests that even asymptomatic patients with advanced cardiac infiltration could benefit from early treatment, potentially slowing or even halting disease progression. These findings pave the way for a possible revision of therapeutic recommendations, with the aim of intervening before the onset of symptoms.’

This study represents a key starting point for future research into cardiac amyloidosis. The findings suggest that, in the early stages of the disease, amyloid deposits may bind less tightly to the heart’s extracellular matrix — the network of proteins that provides structural support to cardiac tissue. This phenomenon could make amyloid deposits more susceptible to potential treatments. As new therapies are developed to target amyloid removal, these insights will be crucial for improving treatment effectiveness, enabling more targeted intervention in the early phases of the disease.

THE DISEASE

The term amyloidosis refers to a group of disorders characterised by the abnormal and harmful accumulation of amyloid protein in the extracellular space. Amyloidoses are multisystem diseases, and one of the organs most commonly affected is the heart. The term ‘cardiac amyloidosis’ refers specifically to heart conditions associated with amyloidosis. These diseases primarily affect men over the age of 60. Risk factors include plasma cell disorders, chronic illnesses, and genetic mutations. Currently, treatment involves specific medications depending on the type of amyloidosis diagnosed, with the aim of eliminating or stabilising the source of the amyloid-forming protein.

Until a few years ago, this condition was typically diagnosed only at an advanced stage, when the heart was already severely compromised. Today, thanks to advances in non-invasive diagnostics, it is possible to detect the disease at an earlier stage, opening up new possibilities for intervention. Although overall mortality rates were similar across patient groups, the risk of death from cardiovascular causes in patients with grade 2 and 3 cardiac infiltration was found to be approximately five times higher than in those with grade 1, where deaths were more often attributed to non-cardiac causes.

A key role was played by the use of an advanced imaging technique – bone tracer scintigraphy combined with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) – to identify ATTR cardiac amyloidosis in asymptomatic patients and to study disease progression in this population.

THE TEAM

The study was led by a team from the University of Trieste and ASUGI, including Aldostefano Porcari, research assistant and first author of the publication; Gianfranco Sinagra, professor in the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences at the University of Trieste and Head of the Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Department at Cattinara Hospital; and Valentina Allegro, a medical resident at the University of Trieste.

The research project involved a total of twelve leading international cardiology centres.

Dr. Porcari was invited to present the study’s findings in the prestigious ‘Samuel A. Levine Early Career Clinical Investigator Award’ session, an honour reserved for young researchers who have made significant contributions to clinical cardiology.

Research in this field will continue at the University of Trieste with the involvement of Rossana Bussani, Professor of Pathological Anatomy and expert in the histological assessment of cardiac and extracardiac amyloid deposits, and Gabriele Stocco, Associate Professor of Pharmacology. Together with Gianfranco Sinagra, Professor Stocco promoted the acquisition of a mass spectrometer in Trieste for the advanced characterisation of amyloid deposits. Through these initiatives, the University of Trieste aims to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, with the goal of enabling earlier and more targeted interventions in the management of cardiac amyloidosis.

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Full study published in Jama Cardiology

Clinical Phenotype and Prognosis of Asymptomatic Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloid Infiltration

Aldostefano Porcari, MD1,2,3; Yousuf Razvi, MBChB, BSc1; Francesco Cappelli, MD, PhD4,5; et al

1. National Amyloidosis Centre, Division of Medicine, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
2. Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiomyopathies, Cardiovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano-Isontina, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
3. European Reference Network for Rare, Low Prevalence and Complex Diseases of the Heart, ERN GUARD-Heart, Trieste, Italy
4. Cardiomyopathy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
5. Tuscan Regional Amyloidosis Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Psychology Festival returns to Friuli Venezia Giulia: the fifth edition of the event, organized by Psicoattività APS with the partnership of the University of Trieste, will take place from March 7 to April 11, 2025. The festival will feature a traveling program, with six free-entry meetings across the region.

The 2025 edition, titled “Intelligences. From Natural Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence”, will explore, through expert presentations, new research and application areas in psychology that are central to current reflections, particularly those related to the study of the human mind and intelligence.

Topics will include natural intelligence and artificial intelligence; creative thinking and the relationship between creativity and science, and between music and AI; the latest developments in robotics and the ethical implications of its use; as well as an in-depth look at modern artificial intelligence tools, including the widely used Chat-GPT, to better understand their risks and opportunities. The festival will also conclude with a look at animal intelligence.

This year, the festival's scientific direction is entrusted to Claudio Tonzar, Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Urbino and President of Psicoattività, with the support of Tiziano Agostini, Professor of General Psychology at the University of Trieste.

The festival's traveling format is confirmed, with stops in Gradisca d’Isonzo, Tavagnacco, Palmanova, Cormons, and, in particular, the UniTS campuses in Trieste and Gorizia.

Notable international guests will participate, including Dario Floreano, full professor and director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland), a pioneer in evolutionary robotics, aerial robotics, and soft robotics, who will speak on Friday, March 28, at the Aula Magna (Building A) of the University of Trieste.

At the end of this event, the ceremony for the Third Prize for Innovative Research in Psychology will take place, awarded by Psicoattività APS to psychologists and researchers under 36. The competition aims to reward published research, master's theses, or doctoral dissertations to promote the psychological culture in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Credits will be awarded to students of the University of Trieste's Psychology Degree Program attending the events (further details on the festival website).

SCHEDULE

Friday, March 7, 6:00 PM, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Sala Bergamas (via Bergamas, 3) – “Teaching to Think: Is Artificial Intelligence an Enemy or an Ally?” with Alessandro Antonietti, Professor of General Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan).

Friday, March 14, 6:00 PM, Gorizia, Aula Magna of the Department of Political and Social Sciences (via d’Alviano, 18) – “Creativity and Science: A Brief Journey into the Study of Creative Thinking” with Sergio Agnoli, Associate Professor of General Psychology and Director of the Creativity Dynamics Laboratory at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste.

Friday, March 21, 6:00 PM, Tavagnacco, Teatro Immersivo “P. Maurensig” (Via Mazzini 1, loc. Feletto Umberto) – “Music and Artificial Intelligence: New Tools for Tomorrow’s Music” with Walter Coppola, Psychologist and Lecturer at the University of Trieste, in collaboration with Davide Coppola, Composer, Conductor, Pianist.

Friday, March 28, 6:00 PM, Trieste, Aula Magna, University of Trieste (Building A, Rectorate - Piazza Europa Unita, 1) – “Intelligences: The Role of Psychology in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Ethics” with Dario Floreano, Full Professor and Director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland); and Giuseppe Riva, Full Professor of Communication Psychology at the Università Cattolica di Milano and Director of the Humane Technology Lab.

Following at 7:30 PM: Ceremony for the Third Prize for Innovative Research in Psychology and presentation of the winning research.

Friday, April 4, 6:00 PM, Palmanova, Teatro Gustavo Modena (via Dante, 16) – “Human Cognitive Abilities and Generative Artificial Intelligence: Limits and Opportunities” with Giuseppe Sartori, Emeritus Professor of Forensic Neuropsychology and Forensic Neurosciences at the University of Padua.

Friday, April 11, 6:00 PM, Cormons, Teatro Comunale (via Nazario Sauro, 17) – “Animal Intelligences: Genius and Ingenuity in the Natural World” with Cinzia Chiandetti, Associate Professor of Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste.

The festival is supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region and made possible thanks to the collaboration of the municipalities of Gorizia, Cormons, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Palmanova, and Tavagnacco, with the partnership of the University of Trieste and the SASS of Nova Gorica.

The collaboration between the University of Trieste and Somali National University (SNU) has been renewed, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing the two academic institutions to continue developing collaborative projects until 2031.

Those who signed the agreement were Prof. Valter Sergo, Vice Rector of UniTS, and Prof. Hassan Osman Ga'al, Rector of the University of Mogadishu. 

The two universities have been involved in a large bilateral Italy-Somalia project for several years, which aims to support the growth of the Somali National University, contributing to the training of teachers and researchers. 

As part of this project, Prof. Ga'al himself, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Somali university, was a visiting professor at the University of Trieste. Subsequently, a number of students from Mogadishu attended a Master's degree course at the Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics at UniTS. 

Of those students, two are now researchers at the Somali National University and are actively collaborating on research and consolidating collaboration relations. 

The recently signed MoU intends to foster cultural, scientific and educational cooperation for the benefit of the students, teaching and research staff and technical and administrative staff of both universities. The areas in which the agreement will be implemented focus in particular on the development and sharing of good practices, which take into account the historical cultural ties between Somalia and Italy. 

Collaboration with Italian universities is, in fact, particularly valuable for Mogadishu, which is aiming to further develop its legal-administrative apparatus and education sector.

Still today in Somalia, administration, law, school and university are greatly influenced by Italy. In fact, they have absorbed procedures, organisational processes and sectoral terminology from Italy in the Italian language.

Within the Memorandum of Understanding, the collaboration between UniTS and SNU will involve the disciplinary areas of Italian language and literature, the comparison of legal, political and regulatory systems, economics and the environment, in particular with regard to sustainable growth models. The areas of international relations and development cooperation will also be involved, as well as institutional cooperation, without neglecting the consolidation of basic scientific disciplines, such as physics.

The signing of the MoU was preceded on Friday 28th February by a well-attended public event, the panel discussion ‘Quo Vadis Somalia?’. During the meeting, Rector Hassan Osman Ga'al discussed the future of Somalia and relations with Italy together with Professors Ilaria Micheli (IUSLIT), Federico Battera (DiSPeS), Giuseppe Borruso (DEAMS) and Federico Donelli (DiSPeS) and with moderation from PhD students Sara Cosatti and Beatrice Marchesini. 

Within the framework of international cooperation activities with Somalia, the project ‘Climate Change, Conflicts and Migration: the Ethiopian-Somali Corridor and the Possible Impacts of Infrastructural Development’, has also started, coordinated by Prof. Federico Donelli, Professor of International Relations at the Department of Political and Social Sciences. The project was co-funded by the University with an amount of €15,000, under the Call for International Cooperation Projects of the Departments - Year 2025.

Among the project's objectives is develop a way of monitoring the political-institutional situation in the Somali Peninsula, capable of providing recommendations to Italian and European NGOs active in fostering macroeconomic stability, increasing civil society's capacity to promote sustainable socio-economic behaviour, and developing the Italian public's awareness of the impact of climate change on the phenomenon of migration flows.

Preparations are already underway for Trieste Next – Festival of Scientific Research, whose fourteenth edition will take place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September.

The 2025 edition of the Festival will be dedicated to ‘Life Within: Dialogues Between Science and Technology.’

Since its first edition, Trieste Next has tackled key topics in scientific and cultural debate, from food and water to energy and the relationship between humans and technology, as well as the theme of sustainability. The 2025 edition will offer an opportunity to explore the scientific agenda for the coming years and to reflect on the new frontiers of research and innovation, along with their limitations, including ethical ones.

Trieste Next will feature three days of conferences, seminars and workshops, with over 100 events on the programme, 300 speakers and a distinguished lineup of guests. There will also be exhibition spaces in Piazza Unità d’Italia and activities dedicated to schools.

For the third consecutive year, the ‘Trieste Next Prize: Science Book of the Year’ will be awarded, celebrating the masters of scientific communication. Last year's winner was Piero Martin with ‘Storie di errori memorabili’ (Laterza).

https://www.triestenext.it/

Three years ago, Russia started its full-scale war on Ukraine, in blatant violation of international law.

 Among the countless acts of aggression and their consequences is the displacement of Mariupol State University (MSU), one of the universities forming the Transform4Europe alliance. 

Our friends and partners at MSU show, at great costs and personal risks, exceptional resilience, strength and courage in upholding and defending the European values and our common spirit of European transformation. 

Transform4Europe stands firm with our friends and colleagues at Mariupol State University.

The University of Trieste is once again taking part in M’illumino di meno, the Italian National Day of Saving Energy and Sustainable Lifestyles, celebrated on 16th February. As a sign of its commitment, the LED lights illuminating the façade of Building A (Piazzale Europa 1) will be dimmed from sunset on Friday 14th February until dawn on Monday 17th February.

The initiative, launched by the popular Rai Radio2 programme Caterpillar in 2005, was officially recognised by the Italian Parliament in 2022. It has since become an opportunity to promote environmental sustainability and the responsible use of resources nationwide.

The 21st edition highlights the environmental impact of fast fashion, a sector that has been at the centre of growing debate in recent years due to its high resource consumption and the massive production of textile waste. In response to these issues, various sustainable alternatives are emerging, such as clothes swapping parties, upcycling, and the second-hand market.

‘The role of consumers is crucial in driving this change,’ says Chiara Marinelli, a PhD researcher in Circular Economy at DEAMS. ‘Initiatives like M’illumino di meno are essential for raising awareness of the impact of fast fashion and the importance of sustainable alternatives. Talking about the issue is not enough—we need to take action. Consumers must realise that their everyday choices have a direct impact on the environment, and real change requires collective commitment.’

Significant progress is being made in tackling issues related to sustainability, environmental impact, and transparency. On one hand, institutions are introducing new regulations to promote and incentivise more sustainable practices. On the other, technological advancements continue to pave the way for innovative solutions that could transform how we produce, consume, and recycle textiles.

‘At a regulatory level, the European Union is developing its textile strategy, introducing a “European passport” for each garment. This initiative aims to increase transparency regarding the origin and sustainability of clothing, helping consumers make more informed choices. In terms of technological innovation, many companies are developing promising solutions. One example is Bio Fashion Tech, a start-up I had the opportunity to collaborate with. It has developed a biomechanical technology capable of breaking down the polymers in garments and converting them into sugars that can be used in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals,’ Marinelli concludes.

As part of this initiative, UniTS highlights the importance of local projects like Sartoria Lister, a social cooperative that has been upcycling discarded clothing and materials since 2009, transforming them into unique accessories such as bags and backpacks. Sartoria Lister has collaborated with UniTS on an initiative sparked by a simple question: what should be done with the PVC banners printed for various editions of the Researchers’ Night and Trieste Next, which had been stored in university warehouses awaiting disposal? This led to the creation of the Mis-Mas line of bags, each one a unique and sustainable piece. These bags are available for purchase at the National Museum of Antarctica, at the San Giovanni Park (on Via Weiss 21, near the church).