The University of Trieste today proclaimed 133 new PhDs, the highest number ever, during the Graduation Day ceremony held in the Main Hall of Building A in Piazzale Europa.

The 36th-cycle PhDs, who celebrated their proclamation with the traditional ‘tossing of the academic cap’, registered a further increase in the international presence – one in five is in fact from abroad – and witnessed the perfect gender balance achieved among PhD students. 

‘Graduation Day,’ says Prof. Alessandro Baraldi, Deputy for scientific research and Doctorates at the University of Trieste, ‘does not only celebrate the achievement of an extraordinary milestone for our young researchers, but it is also the moment when the University wishes to express its gratitude to the PhD students, who represent a fundamental part of our research activity. 

It is a recognition,' Baraldi concludes, ’that will culminate on 2nd December, with the awarding of the PhD Innovation Awards in the centenary year.’

The University of Trieste's initiative – an absolute novelty – will celebrate through the awarding of five prizes to young scholars a century of research, excellence, creativity and ingenuity, rewarding innovation in thought, knowledge, research methodologies and technologies.

The guest of honour at Graduation Day was Marco Gori, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Siena, who delivered a lectio magistralis entitled ‘Intelligent Machines that do not Accumulate Data’, in which he proposed a new approach to artificial intelligence and machine learning that is not based on the massive accumulation of data. 

Gori suggested that, as happens in nature, machines can develop cognitive skills through interactions with the environment, thus avoiding the centralisation of large collections of data. This approach would reduce privacy risks and concentration of power.

University of Trieste Vice Rector Valter Sergo has been awarded a prestigious academic honour by the University of Panama: the Faculty of Business Sciences conferred him an honorary professorship during the Congreso Internacional en Investigación y Ciencias Empresariales, which took place a few days ago in Panama City.

Prof. Sergo received the professorship ‘in recognition of his personal merit, his role as a researcher and his valuable contribution in the field of research and technology transfer, which supported the development of the Italian entrepreneurial ecosystem’.

Sergo, a chemist and lecturer in Chemical Foundations of Technologies at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, works in the field of spectroscopy and was awarded one of the very first industry-funded university chairs in Italy.

In addition, by appointment of the regional council he was the president of BIC incubatori FVG, and vice-president of the board of directors of Rachael, a technology consultancy company in the field of Big Data, in which UniTS, SISSA and SWG own a share.

On the day of the awards ceremony, Prof. Sergo delivered a lectio magistralis focused on the role of science in the decision-making processes and strategic management of companies.

‘This recognition,’ commented Pro-rector Sergo, ’transcends the individual, and is in fact the result of the University of Trieste’s long and dedicated commitment to the field of Science Diplomacy. It is no coincidence that the role of UniTS has been recognised and has been made to grow and mature, first and foremost by the Italian ambassador of Panama, Fabrizio Nicoletti, whose previous post was head of science diplomacy at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).’

After the conference and this prestigious award, the Vice Rector's trip to Panama is continuing through meetings with academic authorities, professors, researchers and students of the University of Panama, with the aim of further strengthening the ties between Italy and Panama and promoting new academic collaborations.

Subsequently, from 23rd to 25th October, also in Panama, Valter Sergo, Rodolfo Taccani (Fluid Machinery) and Giovanni Comelli (Experimental Physics of Matter and Applications) will take part in the 9th International Conference on Engineering, Science and Technology (IESTEC), which will be preceded by a visit to the Technological University of Panama, organiser of the event, on 22nd October. 

Panama is of central importance in Italy's scientific and technological cooperation programmes, and Italy will be the invited country of honour at the IESTEC Conference. The role of the University of Trieste therefore aims to consolidate relations with the Central American country, strengthening the exchange of knowledge and the promotion of Italian excellence in research and innovation. 

The collaboration process was launched last February, through the agreement signed between the University of Trieste and the University of Panama.

The 10th October marks the 33rd World Mental Health Day, promoted by the World Federation for Mental Health. The theme of the 2024 edition, ‘It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace’, highlights the importance of promoting mental wellbeing in professional settings, a priority supported by the scientific community and activists in the field.

People with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities also face reduced life expectancy compared to the general population, often due to issues with their physical health. A study conducted by the Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Trieste and lead by Prof. Umberto Albert, President of the Italian Society of Psychiatry (FVG section), revealed that a significant proportion of patients from Trieste’s Mental Health Centres do not regularly participate in regional cancer screening programmes, risking late diagnosis and serious consequences.

Stigma remains a significant obstacle, limiting access to essential care and negatively affecting its quality. Discrimination and harmful stereotypes within families, schools and workplaces can prevent people from forming healthy relationships, hinder social interaction and block inclusive environments necessary for the well-being of every member of society.

It is crucial that the right to optimal mental health is recognised as a basic human right and that all countries commit to ensuring universal access to mental health services. Additionally, access to better living conditions, safety, food and shelter are necessary for people's mental health and a universal right for all citizens of the world.

The University of Trieste participates in World Mental Health Day by lighting the façade of the Central Building in green, the symbolic colour of good mental health. This initiative is part of a nationwide network of solidarity and awareness-raising that will see the illumination of monuments and important public buildings across Italy, many of them institutional headquarters, thanks to the mobilisation launched throughout the country by the Italian Society of Psychiatry.

The University of Trieste ranks once again in the 501-600 range among the world’s top universities according to the prestigious THE 2025 ranking published by Times Higher Education.

The ranking evaluates universities based on five main indicators, each with a specific weight: teaching quality (29.5%), research environment (29%), research quality (30%), knowledge transfer to industry (4%), and international outlook (7.5%).

Compared to the previous year, the University of Trieste achieved higher scores in teaching quality and research environment, two key areas that together represent 60% of the overall evaluation. Specifically, the teaching quality score rose from 31.9 to 33, while the research environment score increased from 25.1 to 26.4.

This achievement reflects the university's strength in the global academic landscape, placing it in the top 28% of the world’s best universities ranked by THE, which reviews only 2,092 institutions among over 20,000 worldwide.

Il 7 settembre è mancata improvvisamente la prof.ssa Anna Rita Bacinello, Professore ordinario di Metodi Matematici dell’Economia e delle Scienze Attuariali e Finanziarie presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche, Aziendali, Matematiche e Statistiche dell’Università di Trieste, Ateneo che ha prima frequentato come studentessa e poi, a partire dal 1981, come ricercatrice e docente, fino a diventare professoressa ordinaria nel 1995 dopo una breve parentesi presso l’Università di Cassino.

La notizia della sua prematura scomparsa ha suscitato profonda commozione e cordoglio all’Università di Trieste e in tutta la comunità scientifica nazionale. La prof.ssa Bacinello si è sempre dedicata al suo lavoro con entusiasmo, impegno e dedizione. È stata docente di grande spessore e studiosa di fama internazionale.

L’attività didattica è stata ampia e variegata e ha riguardato diversi insegnamenti di ambito finanziario e attuariale. Le sue eccellenti capacità didattiche e scientifiche ne hanno fatto un’apprezzatissima docente non solo presso l’Università di Trieste, ma anche presso altre università italiane e straniere. 

Studiosa di fama internazionale nel campo delle assicurazioni sulla vita, si è in particolare dedicata alla valutazione di mercato di prodotti assicurativi sulla vita, integrando le moderne tecniche della finanza matematica con quelle tradizionali in ambito attuariale. Speciale attenzione è stata rivolta alla valutazione delle garanzie a protezione degli assicurati, alla modellizzazione del comportamento dinamico degli assicurati e alla modellizzazione stocastica della mortalità. I suoi lavori sono sempre stati caratterizzati per la loro eleganza, generalità e flessibilità nell’approccio utilizzato.

È stata autrice e coautrice di numerosi articoli pubblicati su riviste internazionali, nonché membro dei comitati editoriali di diverse riviste scientifiche rilevanti negli ambiti attuariale e della finanza matematica. Alcuni dei suoi lavori hanno ricevuto autorevoli riconoscimenti. Ha tenuto numerosi seminari presso prestigiose università italiane e straniere ed è stata plenary speaker in diversi convegni nazionali ed internazionali. La sua improvvisa scomparsa interrompe un’intensa attività di relazioni internazionali che la vedevano attesa, proprio nei prossimi giorni, prima a Lisbona e poi a Bruxelles.

Ha ricoperto vari ruoli. In particolare, è stata membro del Comitato Scientifico del CISA (Comitato scientifico di Centro Inter-accademico per le Scienze Attuariali e la gestione dei rischi) e del Collegio Universitario di Merito “Luciano Fonda”. È stata Coordinatore e Membro del Collegio dei Docenti di diversi Dottorati di Ricerca, membro del Consiglio di Reggenza della Banca d’Italia con funzioni di censore, per la sede di Trieste. È stata membro di molte commissioni di Ateneo e, nel Dipartimento, era referente dell’area matematica. Era, inoltre, membro di diverse associazioni scientifiche internazionali.

La sua scomparsa lascia un grande vuoto e una profonda tristezza. Chi l’ha conosciuta la ricorderà sempre per la sua genuinità e disponibilità a condividere il proprio sapere con colleghi e studenti. Una persona brillante ma al contempo estremamente semplice, nonostante i numerosi successi che hanno coronato la sua carriera.

Matteo Parenzan ha conquistato la medaglia d'oro nel tennistavolo classe 6 alle Paralimpiadi di Parigi.

È una giornata straordinaria per l'Università di Trieste, che gioisce e si commuove vedendo Parenzan, studente di Scienze Politiche e dell'Amministrazione, salire sul gradino più alto del podio al termine di un torneo perfetto, senza sbavature, in cui non ha concesso neanche un set agli avversari.

L'atleta triestino è stato protagonista di un percorso inarrestabile che lo ha visto anche detronizzare in semifinale il campione paralimpico in carica Seidenfeld e successivamente travolgere in finale il pongista thailandese Thainiyom, davanti a 4500 spettatori.

A 21 anni Matteo realizza con il trionfo paralimpico una sorta di Grande slam del ping pong, dopo essere diventato campione del mondo a Granada nel 2022 e campione europeo a Sheffield nel 2023.

Una storia sportiva fantastica fatta di determinazione e impegno davanti ai quali restiamo ammirati.

In piazzale Europa sventola idealmente la bandiera paralimpica con i tre agitos blu, rosso e verde, simbolo in movimento attorno a un punto centrale che rappresenta lo spirito degli atleti che costantemente ispirano e smuovono il mondo con le loro performance, lottando senza arrendersi alle proprie disabilità.

Questa sera anche la nostra Minerva vuole condividere la gioia e il dolce peso al collo della medaglia d'oro, grazie Matteo per le emozioni che ci hai fatto vivere in queste Paralimpiadi.