NanoValbruna is the first NanoGreen Festival of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Focused on the application of nanotechnologies for the solution of environmental and energy issues, this event promotes a double perspective: identifying innovative solutions to support the Green Economy and putting the economic and social resources of this territory and its community on the line.

Alongside the scientific panels, with the attendance of international leaders, the program foresees numerous interactions and exchanges with the local community, and two days of activities dedicated to school-aged children (NanoPičiule), directed by young researchers, experienced teachers, and designed with the collaboration and presence of senior scientists.

exclusive interviews

We made it easier for you to catch up with the Chief of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Chantal Line Carpentier! Normally, you would need to bike up the Alps, compete in the Iron Women competition, or try to secure a meeting at the UN HQ in Manhattan. We were lucky enough to catch a (bumpy but brilliant) car ride with Chantal Line on her last day @NanoValbruna in Italy. 

Chantal Line Carpentier, Chief UNCTAD, on the People’s Sustainable Goals

The collated social media data form current information around wildlife, poaching (illegal hunting and capturing of animals), trading wildlife products, serves to better protect animals and nature and thus in the end us, humans. 

Enrico Di Minin on Using Social Media for Wildlife Conservation

Twenty years ago, Massimo Rossetto, on a mountaineering adventure stumbled on a small school in Kathmandu, Nepal. Making good on a promise to help, today, he has supported hundreds of young people and their families. 

Massimo Rossetto on 20 Years of Connecting Communities in Italy and Nepal

Saba Nabavi Tafreshi is originally from Iran, today lives and works as an architect in the Netherlands. Saba spoke with Paksy, founder of impactmania, about the famous Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam (which happens to be Paksy's birthplace), the future of living, and social sustainability. 

Architect Saba Nabavi Tafreshi on Social Sustainability

Lorenzo Pradella, Co-Founder and CEO, GreenBone Ortho, spoke about science and tech transfer from lab to commercialization, entrepreneurship, and how to create more unicorns for Italy. 

Lorenzo Pradella, Co-Founder & CEO, GreenBone Ortho on Bone Regeneration

Summer is over! We worked in the Julian Alps, Italy for a second time with the students of Messaggero Veneto Scuola and NanoValbruna on a series about the delicate balance between human and nature. Architect Luca Beltrame shares how he moved from building with steel and concrete to natural resources.

Architect Luca Beltrame on Building More Sustainably

This collaboration between NanoValbruna and impactmania, which was born during the inaugural edition of the Festival, clearly demonstrates some of the silver linings of the event, which

impactmania featured on radio show: RAI GIOVANI E COMUNICAZIONE

As a matter of fact, we developed a relevant awareness of the world, which is now — more than ever — required to understand contemporary issues and their dynamics. And it was precisely this aspect which thrilled our editorial staff of teenagers from Friuli Venezia Giulia, forced to stay at home due to the pandemic, but focused on diverse nations, using technology to interview the ones we would had never imagined reaching.

Italian Newspaper Features impactmania’s Student Internship Program

Mauro and Paola Ferrari_Founders L_Accademia di Gagliato delle NanoScienze

Paola and Mauro Ferrari: Let Serendipity Open up Avenues for New Common Ventures

The sustainable economy is the future of work. It can be developed in an area like this, from tourism, building houses, and environments using the wood that surrounds our territory. This paired with good management of the woods and an enhancement of all architectural and natural heritage that surrounds us.

Dr. Rinaldo Comino: Sustainable Economy is the Future of Work

Rather than a solution per se, I have presented a ‘shift in attitudes’ that place sustainability at the centre of business strategies, framing sustainability as a value rather than a burden, which sadly is how the majority of businesses currently view it.

Daniela Arroyo-Olson: Encouraging a Green Reset

The Professor at the University of Udine researches the relationship between economics and environmental impact, thus arriving at the main theme of sustainable development. Marangon is the rector's appointee for sustainability, and therefore brings the global objectives of sustainable development 2020/2030 within the university world and broader region.

Francesco Marangon: Revive the Beauty of your Region

Giulia Grancini: Bring Science into Realities and Motivate New Collaborations

People have a really one-sided view of what's happening in the world. That breeds polarization. Plus, when they want to do something, they feel hopeless. They think, “I can't. What am I going to do?” They don't know there are people making a difference, let alone connecting with the people who are driving change.

Paksy Plackis-Cheng: A Beautiful Dialogue Between Science and Humanities

Communication has a fundamental role in making people understand the importance of research and the complex topics covered. Women who are working in these fields are stirring up stereotypes by demonstrating their skills. They are an example for all of us to follow.

Giulia Grancini : Opportunity to Communicate Science

It's not my generation that will change the world, but you! We need to start sharing ideas and collaborate beyond our immediate networks of people to achieve goals together.

Nils Bunnefeld: Sharing to Achieve Goals Together

NanoValbruna collaborated with impactmania and the young editorial staff at the Messaggero Veneto, a daily newspaper in Friuli collaborated on making scientific research more accessible to the public-at-large. 

messaggero veneto

“In redazione con noi” is unique in the Italian media landscape. The initiative was born 20 years ago from an idea shared by the newspaper and the Friuli Foundation. It involves the creation of a newspaper entirely written by students of all levels studying in the provinces of Udine and Pordenone. In particular the high school- and university students make up the two editorial offices of the Messaggero Scuola. The purpose of the project is the growth of young people in terms of information and above all, knowledge of the reality in which they live in and of the opportunities that the surrounding world offers them. The analysis of the problems related to our times also allows them to develop an independent and critical thinking approach. This experience allows them to better orient themselves in their study and work choices.

impactmania

impactmania features people and projects that drive cultural, social, and economic impact. This is to inspire, involve, and connect the current and next-generation’s impact makers.

impactmania’s work have been featured in international media, a number of universities presses, the UN, and the U.S. Consulates. impactmania’s Women of Impact program was awarded the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy grant (2019). 

Contributors

founder LMK and communications director impactmania

Pakley Cheng is a Marketing Communication professional specialized in (re)branding, communication and promotion of sustainable products and companies. She traded in her extensive commercial background maximizing the value of highly recognized brands to support positive social projects. In 2017, she founded the agency LMK. With LMK she takes on engaging community projects and spends her time mostly giving back to society through producing (inter)national projects to benefit vulnerable and underserved communities.

organizer NanoValbruna & NanoPičiule

Annalisa Chirico is the Vice-Dean of the high school Liceo Percoto in Udine and lecturer in Law. Annalisa is an expert in innovative didactic projects and former lawyer of the Udine bar. For years she directed the Department of the Liceo Economico Sociale and collaborated with Pearson for the drafting of the didactic texts. She was a member of the Board of “European Dialogues” and she collaborated in the implementation of various school-related socio-economic development initiatives. Annalisa co-leads the team NanoValbruna as part of Accademia di Gagliato Globale

student

Federico Del Col (16) participated this year in the project of the Messaggero Veneto School, for which he conducted mainly interviews, both for the paper and on YouTube during the recent quarantine period. Federico has been part of a Scouting group in his hometown (Pordenone) for several years where he became passionate about the outdoors activities. He attended the classical high school for three years, a school focused on the study of Latin and Ancient Greek languages. This year he will begin an experience abroad, studying two years at the United World College in Maastricht, an international school in The Netherlands.

president, accademia di gagliato globale

Paola Ferrari co-founded Accademia di Gagliato (nanogagliato.org), the precursor to NanoValbruna. The platform NanoGagliato helped revitalize the small village of Calabria, Italy and has received mention by UNESCO. The science community festivals are now being replicated in several countries. Paola is among the founders of the Equality Moonshot, an initiative aimed to balance global wealth allocation as a requisite to achieve the SDGs. Paola is also a member of FAB, Lamborghini’s Female Advisory Board, and a consultant for Automobili Lamborghini on matters of global sustainability

impactmania and NanoValbruna Liaison, PhD candidate

Francesca Milocco was born in Udine, Italy 1991. After obtaining the master in Chemistry at the University of Trieste, in 2016 she moved to The Netherlands to pursue the PhD in Chemistry at the University of Groningen. Her research is in the field of coordination chemistry and the homogeneous catalysis with a focus on sustainable issues, such as CO2 utilisation or the replacement of scarce toxic metals with non-toxic earth abundant one in catalytic transformations.

founder impactmania, US Embassy Public Diplomacy grant recipient

Paksy Plackis-Cheng is an award-winning creator of programs around identity and community building. She produces and leads an innovative interdisciplinary mentorship program — springboard to career — at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her work has been cited in numerous media and university presses, U.S. Consulates, and the UN. She is partnering with NanoValbruna to make cultural, social, and economic impact more visible and connect those who drive change with the next generation of impact makers.

 

student

Anna Previt was born in Gorizia, Italy in 2001. In June 2020, she obtained the high school diploma in “International Relations for Marketing” at the technical institute “Zanon” at Udine. Anna has been collaborating with the local newspaper “Messaggero Veneto” for two years. She loves sports and plays basketball, volleyball, and beach volley. Recently, she also started kitesurfing. Anna is a volleyball- and beach volley referee at regional level and she is an assistant coach of a mini volleyball team. Her goal is to attend the university of physical education.

journalist and coordinator of the young editorial staff at the Messaggero Veneto School

Gabriella Scrufari graduated from the classical high school in Udine before her degree in Literature and Philosophy. Since 1991 she has been a professional journalist. Since 2003 she has coordinated the young editorial offices of Messaggero Veneto as part of the project “In Redazione Con Noi”. From 2003 to 2006, Gabriella was press officer of the Provincial Committee of the Italian Red Cross. She has held journalistic theory and technique courses developed for high schools in the province of Udine and managed a similar course for the university based in Gorizia.

Student

Emanuele Quagliaro was born in Udine, Italy in 2002. He is currently attending the fifth year of classical high school “Jacopo Stellini” in Udine. He is actively taking part in the MV Scuola for two years. MV Scuola’s project involves the young student in the world of journalism both in print and on other media, including the internet and radio. Passionate about history since his childhood, he was awarded a special mention for his historical work in the first edition of the “Friuli Scuole” prize in 2018.

student

Chiara Zanella was born in Palmanova (Udine), in 2001. She graduated in 2020 at the Jacopo Stellini High School in Udine. She is currently a student of nursing and aspiring journalist.