The contribution from the UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan began on 6th October 2021, during “Scientific Relay: the Top 10 Scientists in the world hand over their unanswered questions to promising young researchers” organized by the University of Milan-Bicocca. This meeting aimed to bring together great scientists and young researchers to talk about issues concerning the sustainable development of mountains, urban contexts and marine environments. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT
The next day – Thursday 7th October – the University of Milan with its UNIMONT Centre took part in the International Forum on the mountains “Reaching for the Stars: Sustainable and Climate Resilient Mountain Development” co-curated by the Italian General Commissioner at Expo 2020 Dubai, by FAO – Mountain Partnership and by the international association Aga Khan Development Network.
On this occasion, the contribution of Prof. Anna Giorgi – Rector’s Delegate of the University of Milan for the promotion of teaching, research and third mission activities for the enhancement of mountain areas – highlighted the experience of the UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan as an effective “model” and good practice for the enhancement of mountain territories, a particularly dynamic and active organization, able to promote specific teaching for the enhancement of the human capital of mountain territories and to create collaboration networks and win-win cooperation between Italian and European mountains in order to facilitate their sustainable development. During the Forum, Dr. Stefano Sala – UNIMONT Project Officer – also underlined the importance of the participation of young people in promoting sustainability in mountain areas.
The participation of the UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan ended on Friday 8th October with the organization of the event “Connecting Youth and Mountains, Creating a Lively Future” which took place at the Italian Pavilion, and examined the importance of training, innovation and networking to promote the sustainable development of mountain areas together with representatives of various universities, international networks and national institutions.
The morning session represented the last moment of the Youth4Mountains consultation and was started by Prof. Antonella Baldi, Vice-Rector for Internationalization of the University of Milan who presented the value of this path as a moment of comparison and sharing of ideas on key issues such as climate change and youth entrepreneurship to promote a vibrant future in mountain areas around the world. The consultation involved more than 100 young people from 28 countries around the world who worked together to create the Mountain Education and Innovation Manifesto (MEIM). In addition, during the morning, Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, intervened, underlining the importance of this event, which has focused on young people.
The afternoon session, on the other hand, was a moment of institutional discussion and debate on the role of research and the need to relaunch new models of sustainable development for mountain areas, focusing on the training and enhancement of human capital.
The meeting was opened by Prof. Marina Carini, Vice-Rector’s delegate for Third Mission, Cultural Activities and Social Impact of the University of Milan who underlined the importance of third mission and specific training initiatives for the sustainable growth of mountain areas and the commitment that the University of Milan has been making for over twenty years with the UNIMONT Center in Edolo, in Valle Camonica. The role of universities in facilitating the settlement of young people in mountain areas was reiterated by Paolo Glisenti, Italian Commissioner General Expo 2020 Dubai.
Next, various representatives of European and international universities and networks took part, including Rosalaura Romeo – FAO-Mountain Partnership, Marie Clotteau and Blandine Camus of EUROMONTANA – European Association for Mountain Areas, Bernat Claramunt López coordinator of the network NEMOR Network for European Mountain Research, Researcher of CREAF – Autonomous University of Barcelona, Raffaella Balzarini – University of Grenoble Alpes – LABEX ITTEM, Giorgio Vacchiano – University of Milan, Irene Bollati – University of Milan, Guglielmina Diolaiuti and Maurizio Maugeri – University of Milan, Corrado Camera – University of Milan, Andrea Zerboni – University of Milan, Lino Zani – Mountain Expert, Communication Coordinator of the Adamello 270 project (ADA270)and Member of the Scientific Technical Table for the Mountains recently established by the Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies, who presented the initiatives and strategic projects carried out in their respective mountain territories, highlighting how collaborative networks are crucial to generate impact on local communities.
The event continued with the greeting of Prof. Claudia Sorlini, Vice President of the Cariplo Foundation and Professor Emeritus of the University of Milan, who introduced the session on the role of training and policies to give equal opportunities also to young people who want to study, work and live in mountain areas. The discussion moderated by Antonella Baldi and Marina Carini saw the intervention of Alessandro Panza, Member of the Regional Development Commission of the European Parliament who highlighted the urgency to bring a new vision of mountain areas to Brussels by implementing strong, cognizant policy able to enhance strategic assets and encourage young people to live in the mountains; Raffaele Cattaneo, Councilor for Environment and Climate of the Lombardy Region and Coordinator of the Italian Regions participating in EUSALP – EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, who emphasized the role of mountain areas for the implementation of the European Green Deal and presented the commitment of the Lombardy Region within the EUSALP Strategy and Marcella Gargano, Director General for university education, inclusion and the right to study – Ministry of Education, University and Research, who emphasized the value of training and specific education in order to activate innovative, sustainable processes and virtuous supply chains in mountain areas. Finally, before the launch of the manifesto, conclusions were made by Prof. Anna Giorgi, Rector’s Delegate of the University of Milan for the promotion of teaching, research and third mission activities for the enhancement of mountain areas and Member of the Scientific Technical Table for the Mountains recently established by the Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies, who underlined the importance of the experience of the UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan as evidence of how it is essential to work at a local level but in close synergy and connection with a regional, national and European dimension in order to open up mountain territories to innovation for a sustainable and fair future.
At the end of the meeting, Magda Ciullo, a student of the UNIMONT Centre presented the Manifesto drawn up by the young people during the consultation process.
Hon. Mariastella Gelmini, Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies with delegation for the enhancement of mountain areas, assured that the Italian Government will take this Manifesto into great consideration since the active participation of young people is essential for the implementation of new models of sustainable development. Furthermore, the Minister congratulated the University of Milan with its UNIMONT Centre for the work conducted for the development of mountain areas. The Minister declared in conclusion: “There is nothing more naturally within the scope of the Green Deal than the Italian mountains and with your help, your precious suggestions, I am sure that we will be able to make these territories extraordinarily dynamic and attractive”.