Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Unimore takes part in the ninth edition of the Festival of Sustainable Development with initiatives in Modena and Reggio Emilia

Unimore is participating in the ninth edition of the Festival of Sustainable Development, the largest Italian initiative aimed at raising awareness and mobilising citizens, younger generations, businesses, associations, and institutions around issues of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The festival takes place in various Italian cities throughout May, with a series of events in Modena and, for the first time, in Reggio Emilia as well.

The festival is an opportunity to promote a culture of sustainability and foster a cultural and political shift that will enable Italy to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda and achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“During the ASviS Festival, universities showcase good sustainability practices within their institutional activities and promote a culture of sustainability beyond academia, within their areas of expertise and engagement. Unimore’s participation in the Festival, an annual event for several years now, is a chance to connect with and engage the local community on environmental sustainability and social responsibility, as well as an opportunity to share research and educational initiatives aimed at advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda Goals,” commented Professor Grazia Ghermandi, Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability.

On 14 May in Modena, free guided tours (by reservation) will be held at the Modena Geophysical Observatory, managed by the Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari" at Unimore. The observatory staff will guide visitors between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., offering an overview of the site’s evolution over the years—from meteorological to geophysical observatory.

On 15 May, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Reggio Emilia Technopole, Unimore lecturers and researchers will present their sustainability research across various areas during the free-entry event “Close Encounters with Sustainability.” Aimed at students and the general public, the event will include exhibition stands and seminars. Among the highlights: innovative food coatings made from tomato skins, sustainable breadsticks with algae, circular projects such as coffee waste turned into bioplastics, and strategies for sustainable agriculture. There will also be insights into advanced technologies, including numerical simulation and hydrogen use, as well as interactive workshops on tardigrades and educational inequalities. An engaging journey through research that shapes a more sustainable future.

On Monday 19 May, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., La Polveriera in Reggio Emilia (Piazzale Oscar Romero, 1/O) will host the free-entry event “Invisible Traces – Pollen and the Hidden Secrets of Climate.” Participants will join Professor Assunta Florenzano, expert in Systematic Botany at Unimore, to discover one of the most valuable traces we have to understand both past and future climates. In nature, many species respond to temperature changes by altering their flowering periods or shifting to more suitable environments, such as areas at different altitudes. These shifts are reflected in pollen production. Tiny yet resilient, pollen can be preserved for millennia in soil and seabed deposits.

Later the same day, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., La Polveriera will also host “Cultivating Tomorrow: New Agricultural Practices and Environmental Sustainability .” Modern agriculture is challenged to meet growing food demand while minimising environmental impact. The event will feature a talk by Professor Enrico Francia, expert in Agronomy and Herbaceous Crops at Unimore’s Department of Life Sciences. It will explore how agriculture can balance innovation, traditional practices, and sustainability, addressing environmental challenges while ensuring food security.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng