On the occasion of Circle U. Climate Day, promoted by the European University Alliance Circle U. to celebrate Earth Day, the University of Pisa is organising an event at the Certosa di Calci aimed at fostering dialogue between the research community and local stakeholders, including public administrators, technical experts, and local practitioners.

At the heart of the discussion are the challenges posed by climate change in more fragile and less urbanised areas, with the aim of sharing knowledge, experiences, and possible strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

The aim: from research to action

Climate change is a global challenge that affects the most fragile territories with particular intensity. This event, organised by the University of Pisa within the framework of the European Alliance Circle U., has a clear objective: to move beyond analysing the problem and focus on solutions. The day is conceived as a space for direct and operational dialogue between academia, local institutions, and territories. We aim to facilitate genuine matchmaking between the concrete needs of administrations (adaptation, mitigation, prevention) and innovation, research across all scientific fields, and the technologies made available by researchers at our University.

Who is the event for?

The event is designed as a multidisciplinary and inter-institutional meeting, aimed at:

  • Mayors, local administrators, and technical staff of municipalities (particularly from inland and vulnerable areas), who are on the front line of climate challenges
    (Please note: participation is limited to a maximum of 50 representatives from public bodies.)

  • The academic community: researchers, academic staff, doctoral candidates, and students of the University of Pisa

  • Territorial stakeholders and local development actors

Programme

The day will alternate between plenary sessions and highly interactive working sessions.

From 08:30
Registration and welcome coffee

09:00–09:30
Climate change and extreme weather events
Keynote lecture by Prof Roberto Buizza
(The lecture will also be live-streamed for partner universities of the Circle U. Alliance)

09:30–10:00
Are rural inner areas part of the solutions to climate change? Why, who and how?
Keynote lecture by Prof Francesco Di Iacovo
(The lecture will also be live-streamed for partner universities of the Circle U. Alliance)

10:00–11:00
Round table with territories and administrations
A session dedicated to listening to the challenges, needs, and experiences shared directly by representatives of local authorities.

11:00–11:30
Coffee break

11:30–13:00
Thematic working groups
Operational sessions in small groups where the “supply” (UNIPI innovation and research) meets the “demand” (municipal needs) in order to co-design interventions and future collaborations.

13:00
Plenary feedback session
Presentation of the outcomes from the working groups, summary of identified solutions, and definition of next steps.

13:30–15:00
Light lunch and poster session: the matchmaking
A structured networking lunch designed to connect researchers and administrators as they move among the posters, exploring and discussing proposed scientific solutions.

Call for posters: propose your solution

We invite the research community of the University of Pisa to actively contribute to the event. We are looking for contributions that go beyond illustrating the impacts of climate change and instead propose concrete strategies, technologies, models, and solutions applicable to inland and vulnerable areas.

  • Who can participate: Academic staff, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral candidates of the University of Pisa

  • What to present: Research projects, case studies, best practices, and applied proposals focused on mitigation, adaptation, and territorial resilience

  • Abstract submission deadline: 30 March

To submit your proposal, please fill out this form.

Contacts and information

For further information about the event or the Call for Posters, please contact:

Kindly send a single email including both recipients in the same message.