Yesterday, Monday 8th of July, the event dedicated to the theme of young people who choose the mountain to study, live and work was held at UNIMONT – center of excellence of the University of Milan located in Edolo (BS). The importance of the research, networking and territorial development activities carried out by the detached pole was underlined.
More than 90 people attended the event organized at the UNIMONT detached pole, to reaffirm the importance of the training and research activities specific to the mountains that the Ge.S.Di.Mont. Research Center carries on the local, national and European territory. The meeting was attended by prof. Elio Franzini, Rector of the University of Milan and by the representatives of local authorities who invested in the human capital for the development of the mountain territory, since the birth of the pole in 1996. Numerous Italian mountains stakeholders participated in the event.
Prof. Elio Franzini, Rector of the University of Milan, underlined the importance of the work carried out on the territory by UNIMONT, renewing the commitment of the University of Milan to consolidate its reality. The role of the pole for mountain territorial development was at the center of the interventions of the representatives of local authorities: Luca Masneri, Mayor of Edolo; Guido Galperti, Vice President of the Province of Brescia, and Gigliola Spelzini, President of the Mountain Special Commission – Lombardy Region. Lastly, prof. Claudia Sorlini, Vice President of Fondazione Cariplo, emphasized the development model carried out over the years by UNIMONT and the increasingly evident need for capitalization of this unique experience on the Italian territory.
Subsequently professors, researchers, students and UNIMONT graduates presented objectives, scenarios and new opportunities for the mountain, emphasizing the ability of the detached pole to become the “center” of networking processes by focusing on its uniqueness and its ability to establish “communities” and innovative processes through the use of technology. Prof. Anna Giorgi – coordinator of the Research Center Ge.S.Di.Mont.- illustrated the main projects and activities carried out by UNIMONT, starting from the local level to reach the international level. A pioneering experience to be consolidated and strengthened in order to create a national platform for the defense of the country’s mountain areas. Prof. Gianbattista Bischetti, president of the Degree Course in Protection and Enhancement of the Mountain Environment, also presented the results achieved through the training offered by UNIMONT – unique on the Italian territory.
During the event the University-School alliance and the initiatives of the #FuturaItalia project carried out by the Ministry of Education of the University and Research – MIUR in collaboration with UNIMONT within the Italian Mountain Lab project was also presented. Specifically, the hackatons of the Italian school dedicated to mountain development. The initiative will end with an international “MOUNTAIN-HACK # EUSALP_2019” marathon that will take place within the EUSALP Annual Forum which will take place in Milan in November.
Prof. Stefano Bruno Galli, Councilor for Autonomy and Culture – Lombardy Region; Alessandro Panza, Member of the European Parliament; Giulio Centemero, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the XVIII legislature and Giuseppe Donina, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the XVIII legislature concluded the event and outlined the future scenarios for the development of the mountain territories.
