Public engagement

Events

DAIS has worked alongside institutions, businesses, and organizations for many years to enhance research and education in DESC’s core areas. Public events are regularly organised to disseminate DESC’s findings and encourage discussion with the community, public institutions, businesses, and citizens.

Sustainability and Territory Paths: Public Engagement Initiatives by DESC

The goal was to foster open dialogue between data-centric academic research, institutions, businesses, and citizens on highly topical environmental and social issues. Specifically, the 2025 autumn seminar series aimed to:

  • analyze the relationship between pollution, risk perception, and public health (seminar "The Risk Factor" as part of the "Fuori Festival della Politica [ITA]", 11/09/2025: a dialogue at the M9 Museum between experts in analytical chemistry and public health, inspired by the themes of data culture (from the book "Factfulness");
  • promote technological innovation and sustainable resource management in the agri-food sector (Seminar "Green Transition in the Wine Sector" on 14/11/2025: a roundtable discussion at the M9 Museum between academia (DAIS) and industrial players (Consorzio Vini Venezia, SerenaWines 1881), followed by a technical tasting of sustainable wines and a guided tour of the M9 Identitalia temporary exhibition);
  • enhance local natural heritage through synergy with third-sector organizations, promoting environmental awareness (the "Sentieri delle Barene" (09/11/2025): active participation of DESC staff in the guided excursion with scientific-informative interludes at the Lazzaretto Nuovo Island, organised by the Lazzaretti Veneziani Association).

Webinar series for the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR)

Since 2020, Veritas and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice have organised a series of webinars [ITA] on sustainability models for water management, waste recovery, and biohydrogen research, to mark the European Week for Waste Reduction.

The seminars are free and open to the public.

"Caffè delle Scienze"

Various events [ITA] are held at the M9 Museum in Mestre every autumn and spring, covering topics related to environmental sciences, nanotechnology, informatics, and cultural heritage.

These events are promoted by the MestreMia Cultural Association.

I Caffè delle Scienze - La divulgazione scientifica di Mestre Mia nel 10mo anniversario del Campus Scientifico di Ca' Foscari

Outreach activities within the Horizon Bauhaus of the Seas Sails project

The activity “Regenerative Menus” centres on rebuilding the relationship between Venice and its lagoon, while raising awareness of the city’s evolution. A series of field trips and public discussions were organised with contributions from elderly residents who shared their memories, becoming co-authors of the event. The focus is on food, explored through knowledge of the plant and animal species inhabiting the lagoon, promoting responsible and regenerative consumption (hence the name “Regenerative Menus”).

The project is part of initiatives being developed in a pilot area, aimed at testing methodologies and solutions that could later be replicated in other areas of Venice, in participating European cities, and more broadly across Europe. 
Here is the link to the public kick-off event [ITA] that took place in June 2024 at Ocean Space in the Church of San Lorenzo (Venice), where DESC professor Fabio Pranovi, along with other project partners, presented the Bauhaus of the Seas Sails pilot project.

Bauhaus of the Seas Sails

Workshop on "Sustainable strategies for integrated management of urban and industrial metabolism in inner areas"

This one-day workshop [ITA] centred on analysing the current situation and possible innovations in managing environmental services in low-density areas. In a regional sustainability strategy, managing secondary liquid and solid flows cannot be limited to intercepting large volumes from high-density urban and industrial areas.

The workshop consisted of two sessions:

  • An academic session, where applied engineering research groups presented solutions for improving production chains and urban metabolism.
  • A case study discussion, where professionals in urban and industrial services shared their approaches and potential developments for tackling these challenges.