TEN Program on Sustainability

COALESCE-EUPRIO Spring School for Communication Officers - 2nd edition 

Venice International University, through its Science Communication unit, organizes an intensive Spring School open to Communication Officers from EUPRIO, the association of higher education communicators in Europe. The Spring School is proposed in the framework of the European Competence Centre for Science Communication that COALESCE project is establishing, as part of its Training offer.

The 2026 edition is devoted to INTERNAL COMMUNICATION: FROM STRATEGY TO POLICY with the goal to identify and overcome communication challenges within higher education institutions, to support and encourage change processes.  

The School is based on Introductory Talks, Mutual-learning Labs and practical Tools, with sessions offered by experts joining both from COALESCE and EUPRIO network.  

The School provides

• Cutting-edge strategies for exploring internal communication issues
• Practical tools for addressing and developing internal communication policies and strategies

Objectives

• Clarify aims, priorities of internal communication processes
• Manage tensions and expectations
• Create a platform for participants to share problems and experiences
• Support effective internal communication 
• Provide tools and strategies for managing internal communication

Program available here.

For further information
Alessandra Fornetti: alessandra.fornetti@univiu.org

Organized in cooperation with 

In a time where reporting about COVID-19 is no longer merely a prerogative of science journalists, the importance of empowering and training journalists, including those without specialist scientific knowledge is more relevant than ever.

Among the several outputs to be released by the QUEST Project in the second half of 2020 is JECT.AI, a tool for journalists based on AI support. This tool has been created to allow journalists to report about science more effectively.

The development of JECT.AI is led by QUEST partner City, University of London. JECT.AI takes advantage of a variety of automation systems in order to support journalists incorporating writing practices generally associated with good science journalism.

International PhD Academy
VIU Global Challenges Initiatives

May 13 – 17, 2019

Applications
December 15, 2018 – January 20, 2019 via VIU website

Between 2008 and 2010 the TEN Center, together with the TeDIS Center, worked with the Veneto Region Environmental Protection Agency – ARPAV on the modellization of the SIMAGE, an integrated system for environmental monitoring and emergency management, developed by ARPAV in collaboration with the Industrial Association of Porto Marghera (EZI).

Workshop of QUEST Advisors and Stakeholders

Monday, September 30, 2019, 4 - 6 pm
Venice International University, Isola di San Servolo, Venezia 

We start from the assumption that there is an increasing need for communication of research findings to different publics outside universities and research institutions. In this workshop we will share views and experiences on how these organizations could incentivize, promote, and at the same time ensure a quality and professional communication of their scientific findings. What should they expect from their staff and scientists in terms of communication? On the other hand, what scientists should ask from their institutions, in supporting their needs and will to reach out to the broader public? Are there positive models that could help institutions to improve communication by their staff?

We will address these and other questions in a moderated discussion among professionals with different backgrounds, but still sharing an expertise on dialoguing with the public. At the end of this workshop we hope to distill a set of recommendations for research institutions.
Such recommendations should help them in designing or improving their staff’s communication actions.

Participants:

Brian Trench (PCST President), Ignazio Musu (Venice International University), Ana Godinho (CERN), Vincenzo Napolano (INFN-Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare), Rebecca Asher (Sense about Science), Enrico Balli (SISSA MediaLab), Jan Dries (University of Antwerp, EUPRIO-European Association of Communication Professionals in Higher Education), Christine Legrand (CPE Lyon, EUPRIO), Gian-Andri Casutt (ETH Zürich, EUPRIO), Paola Scioli (AICUN-Associazione Italiana Comunicatori d’Università), Francesco Fiondella (IRI Columbia), Margot Bezzi (APRE – Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea), Neil Maiden (CITY University of London), Rebecca Wells (CITY University London), Enrico Costa (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), Roberta Villa (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), Carlo Giupponi (Venice International University), Ilda Mannino (Venice International University), Alessandra Fornetti (Venice International University), Elisa Carlotto (Venice International University).

Moderator: Jacopo Pasotti (VIU)

The Workshop is part of the activity included in WP5 of QUEST project, investigating policy and incentives that can support Science Communication within the research world.
The Workshop gathers QUEST Stakeholders, Partners and Advisory Board Members in a co-design process to reach the objectives of the project.
QUEST is a H2020 – SwafS project that aims to promote Science Communication quality from researchers to citizens.

QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication 
www.questproject.eu
twitter: @quest_eu

When well communicated, science and research offer a number of potential benefits to society. But how can we recognize valuable scientific dissemination? When is it effective? How can we promote and incentivize science communication?

QUEST - QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication is a 2-year H2020 project funded with € 1.2 million by the EU Commission within the SwafS action - Science with and for Society.

VIU, through its TEN Program on Sustainability, is Coordinator of a consortium of 8 partners which include Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), City University of London (CITY), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE), Tallinn University (TLU), WAN-IFRA FR, Trinity College Dublin-Science Gallery (TCD), Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE).

VIU has been awarded a Horizon 2020 grant for QUEST - Quality and effectiveness in science and technology communication, a € 1.2 million project which will be funded by the EU Commission within the SwafS action - Science with and for Society, the first ever call launched by the EU on re-examining the role of Science Communication.

'SciComm Conversations' is the official Podcast series of COALESCE project, regularly issued on all platforms since March 2024. 

In this first season of SciComm Conversations, the Podcast episodes focus on the topic of Science Communication in the age of artificial intelligence. 

Each episode explores roles, opportunities and challenges of dealing with and using AI in different domains, such as in education, in communication of science and research, and more widely in engaging with the publics. 

Distinguished international speakers are invited by COALESCE team to address the different perspectives of Science Communication in the age of artificial intelligence. 

Please refer COALESCE podcast page for the full list and complete transcript of the different episodes. 

All podcasts are available in the main platforms: just search for “SciComm Conversations” in your apps! 

Focus
All stakeholders, from researchers to professionals, policy makers and citizens must contribute to achieve sustainable development and the SDGs.  Researchers have to provide the acquired knowledge, whereas professionals and policy makers need the capacity to face and manage complex issues. Citizens’ engagement is necessary in order to promote a constructive dialogue that supports both research and policy.

Course for PhD students of the University of Padua

Second edition, February-March 2025. Padova, Room RL, Vallisneri Complex

The course is open to PhD students from all departments (2nd year on) of the University of Padua, to develop the necessary awareness, knowledge and skills to effectively communicate research to different audiences and through different media.

Composed of two modules and based on weekly 3-hour classes in person in Padua, the course offers an overview of the key principles of communication of research, including aims, publics and impact, and a series of Lab meetings, exploring skills as storytelling, visual communication, social media and journalism. 

The course is developed in cooperation with the University of Padua in the framework of its Third Mission and allows PhDs to get 2 CFU with 70% attendance. 

Program available here.

For further information
Alessandra Fornetti: alessandra.fornetti@univiu.org

https://www.unipd.it/dottorato/insegnamenti-trasversali 

Organized in cooperation with 

The Sino-Italian Advanced Training Program on Environmental Management and Sustainable Development is a capacity-building program for Chinese policy makers and professionals involved in local and transnational Sustainable development actions.

The Program, implemented in Italy and China between 2003 and 2016, offered training courses on key topics of Environmental Management with the aim of fostering the promotion of Sustainable Development among decision makers, civil servants and researchers of the People's Republic of China.

Chinese Partners:
CASS - Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (since 2003)
MOST - Ministry of Science and Technology (since 2004)
MEP - Ministry of Environmental Protection (since 2005)
BMEPB - Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau (since 2005)
SEPB - Shanghai Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau (since 2005)
TSTC - Tianjin Science and Technology Committee (since 2007)
NDRC - National Development and Reform Commission (since 2009)
MIIT - Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (since 2013)

The Program was developed within the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection (SICP) of the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, in cooperation with Agroinnova-University of Turin.

Are you an artist passionate about sustainability? 

The S+T+ARTS4WATERII Residencies call is now open for applications till June 26!

Check the call in the official website of S+T+ARTS 4 Water II project, and follow the guideline.

Within the area Green Economy, in 2009-2011 the TEN Center was involved in a research of the Corila – Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities concerning the Venice Lagoon, aimed at studying redevelopment opportunities for the industrial Area of Venice, Porto Marghera, taking into account also the environmental issues.

The TEN Center contributed to identify the effects of different management alternatives on ecosystem services within the project on the definition of Sustainability Scenarios for the Venice Lagoon, carried out by Thetis in 2009.

October 8 - 12, 2018

Leading Universities
KU Leuven (Prof. dr. Paul Schoukens and Prof. dr. Danny Pieters)
Università degli Studi Roma Tor Vergata (Prof. dr. Michele Faioli)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (Prof. dr. Ulrich Becker)

Applications open: April 6 – June 15, 2018 via VIU website (deadline extended).

December 16, 2020 | Webinar | 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm CET

Professor Luc Steels, MUHAI project Scientific Coordinator for Venice International University, will hold a session entitled “History Lessons for the Future: Toward a Human-centric governance of AI” at the 2-hour online symposium organized by the initiative “RRI in Horizon Europe”.

Workshops and seminars are important ancillary activities of the TEN Program on Sustainability, designed to disseminate the knowledge acquired, to further strengthen the network and to initiate new cooperation programs.

In this respect, the TEN Program is conceived as a knowledge-sharing platform promoting international dialogue and exchange of know-how on Sustainabile Development.

In recent years, Chinese Economy, Waste Management, and Environmental Security have been central topics in a series of workshops and seminars promoted by the Program.

TEN also hosts international seminars and conferences on a variety of topics linked to Sustainable Development and promoted by outstanding institutions (e.g. Harvard University, IWWG - International Waste Working Group, Banca d'Italia).

This activity aims to establish new networking opportunities with important institutions in the field of Sustainable Development.

Recent experiences include:

> Sustainable Consumption & Production International Conference, in cooperation with the International Society for Business Innovation and Technology Management

> Sustainable Waste Management Winter School on Anaerobic Digestion, in cooperation with...

> Greening the Green Revolution: Food Security, Safety & Quality, in cooperation with...

...

Food, energy, water security and agricultural development are currently high on the agenda of international development agencies and national governments. With a growing world population, increasing demand for food and (renewable) energy, and competition for land and water, international land acquisitions have increased substantially within the last years and all over the world. The Worldwatch Institute estimated that 70 million hectares of land have been sold or rented to private parties, in the last 10 years, with a peak in 2009. These acquisitions involve land use changes to commercial uses and are pursued by private and public investors with different aims, the most relevant of which are food production, agrofuels production, forestry, tourism, conservation, renewable energy production.