by Staff | Apr 22, 2025 | Aware
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – BOOTCAMP 2025
The Puglia System for Just Sustainable Innovation
📅 May 14, 2025 | Bari & Castellana Grotte
💡 Water. Food. Innovation. Regulation. A future shaped by you!
Are you passionate about sustainability, innovation, and shaping the future of food and water management? Join us for an exclusive one-day Bootcamp where science meets policy, business, civil society organizations, innovators to generate solutions for real-world challenges by exploring their technical, legal, social, institutional, and economic dimension.
What’s at Stake?
Water is one of our most critical resources—yet climate change, urbanization, and overconsumption threaten its availability. The AWARE-EU.EU project is pioneering aquaponics and water reuse, turning wastewater into a valuable resource to grow fish and vegetables sustainably. But we need bright minds like yours to co-design solutions that make these innovations replicable, scalable, and impactful.
Why Should You Join?
Hands-on Challenge: Work in multidisciplinary teams to solve real sustainability problems.
Site Visit & Field Experience: Get behind the scenes at AWARE’s pilot aquaponics farm and Acquedotto Pugliese’s Palazzo dell’Acqua.
Mentorship & Networking: Collaborate with top experts, institutions, and industry leaders.
Impactful Opportunity: The best idea will be presented at the Common Home Event at Luiss in Rome on June 26, 2025, with the chance to receive funding for a start-up/spin-off.
Be Part of Change: Gain insights into water reclamation, food sustainability, and circular economy innovations.
Who Can Apply?
We are selecting up to 50 outstanding students from diverse backgrounds:
✔ students from high schools & hospitality institutes (Castellana area).
✔ university students from UniBa, Politecnico di Bari, UniSalento, UniFoggia.
✔ students from IAMB – CIHEAM.
✔ students from Luiss Graduate School (e.g. MSc in Strategic Management, MSc in Law, Digital Innovation and Sustainability).
Hurry up, space is limited!
#JSIBootcamp 🚀 ✨
How to apply?
Interested candidates should apply by filling out the form available at this link: ENG: ENGLISH VERSION FORM
The deadline for submission is May 5th at 18:00 PM. Selection will be based on merit, motivation, and diversity. Selected candidates will be informed by May 7th.
Contacts
Mail mkrstic@luiss.it and staff@labgov.it
Link website https://www.aware-eu.eu/the-project/
by Staff | Apr 8, 2025 | Aware
We had the pleasure of engaging in a rich and forward-looking dialogue focused on the future of sustainable water management, innovation, and territorial cooperation within the framework of the AWARE project and beyond.
Grateful for the constructive exchange and the shared commitment to fostering circular water solutions and integrated governance models that serve both people and the planet.
Onward together toward resilient and inclusive water futures!
by Staff | Apr 8, 2025 | Aware
At LUISS Guido Carli University, we are proud to be partners in AWARE, a pioneering project that brings together 20 organizations from eight countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Greece, and Chile) to develop Europe’s first aquaponic farm using reclaimed water.
While the technical quality of the AWARE system is already proven, the real challenge now lies in navigating regulatory and policy frameworks to enable broader adoption. That’s where our expertise in sustainable innovation law and governance comes in.
Last week, LUISS had the pleasure of hosting a dedicated event on the AWARE project, featuring valuable contributions from Professor Christian Iaione, Dr. Anna Berti Suman, and Dr. Marijana Krstić from our Department of Law – Sustainable Innovation Law, alongside the Mayor of Castellana Grotte, Domi Ciliberti, and Dr. Fabio Ugolini, AWARE’s project coordinator.
Together, we explored the interdisciplinary dimensions of reclaimed water aquaponics—examining environmental sustainability, social acceptance, and the legal and institutional frameworks needed to scale this innovation across Europe and beyond.
We extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Domi Ciliberti for joining us and for his continued commitment to sustainability and innovation in Castellana Grotte.
Check out the Municipality of Castellana Grotte’s full interview and coverage on their social media channels:
Facebook | Instagram
by Staff | Apr 7, 2025 | PUI - Santa Maria della Pietà
On March 17, 2025, Santa Maria della Pietà (SMdP) opened its doors to students from IIS Domizia Lucilla and LUISS-LabGov researchers as part of the Neighborhood Laboratories Project under the Urban Integrated Plan (PUI), funded by the PNRR, aimed at redeveloping the SMdP Complex. Representing LUISS-LabGov were Drs. Allegra Eusebio, Rubina Michela Galeotti, Marijana Krstic, and Stella Scocco, as well as Drs. Adriano Contardi, Mario Manna, Antonio Persico, and Flavio Petrocelli, who promoted the co-design activities of an innovative laboratory aimed at enhancing the historical and agricultural heritage of SMdP. Contributions included testimonies from representatives of the Cobragor cooperative and the association Ortisti Storici Cura Valle Fontana, as well as Dr. Alvisi from ASL Roma 1. Students from the institute participated actively as potential users of the Complex.
The event began around 10:00 am in Sala Basaglia, attended by students from three different classes of the institute, representing agricultural and hospitality studies.
Dr. Manna opened the event, briefly greeting participants on behalf of LUISS-LabGov and thanking the speakers. Subsequently, the school’s principal, Dr. Ada Maurizio, emphasized the educational value of the project, highlighting the area’s need for redevelopment due to existing socio-economic difficulties. She expressed appreciation for both the institute’s involvement and the symbolic value of the hall hosting the event.
Next, Dr. Baldini from the Department of Urban Planning of Roma Capitale recalled with satisfaction the earlier meeting held at IIS Domizia Lucilla on January 23, 2025, which produced original and interesting proposals. Dr. Baldini emphasized that Rome is Europe’s largest agricultural municipality, presenting significant opportunities for local agro-food production and consumption. He introduced the agricultural potential of Rome, particularly focusing on the SMdP area, which is set to host Europe’s largest urban garden.
Dr. Sabri, Vice President of the XIV Municipality, introduced an anecdote from Rome’s Etruscan era, emphasizing land as a common mother, providing sustenance yet requiring care. This care of the land, he stated, enhances well-being through the efforts and experiences involved in cultivating high-quality products.
Following institutional greetings, Dr. Eusebio outlined the day’s agenda and objectives, urging students to carefully consider testimonies about preserving the memory of agricultural heritage, seeking a balanced approach between urban and agricultural development in a complex city like Rome.
Subsequently, a joint presentation was delivered by Michele Mansi from Ortisti Storici and Emanuele Manta from Cobragor, which included historical and contemporary photographs of the SMdP area and Casal del Marmo. This presentation focused on the historical evolution of SMdP’s agricultural system from the Etruscan period to the present, emphasizing its agricultural and health-oriented legacy. It was highlighted that the adjacent area of Valle Fontana has recently become Europe’s largest urban gardening area, thanks to recent interventions by the Metropolitan City.
Following this presentation, a preliminary discussion and reflection involving researchers and students, divided into four groups, took place shortly after 11:00 am.
Around 11:30 am, a guided outdoor tour led by Dr. Alvisi showcased rehabilitative gardening and horticulture activities performed by users of the complex.
After the guided tour, researchers and students returned to Sala Basaglia for a concluding brainstorming session to formulate project proposals. Students were again divided into four groups, each appointing a spokesperson. The feedback phase yielded interesting proposals aimed at regenerating the SMdP complex through enhancing its historical and agricultural heritage: establishing partnerships with nearby schools for developing organic crops, creating seasonal urban gardens, setting up a center within a pavilion for processing products, organizing public courses on product processing for diverse age groups and individuals with disabilities, and promoting on-site agricultural practices through social media.
The event concluded on schedule (1:00 pm) with a group photo of researchers and students.
by Staff | Apr 4, 2025 | PUI - Santa Maria della Pietà
On April 2, 2025, Professor Christian Iaione and Drs. Adriano Contardi, Mario Manna, Marijana Krstic, Antonio Persico, and Flavio Petrocelli from the LUISS-LabGov Team visited the Santa Maria della Pietà to inspect the ongoing construction work at various pavilions within the complex. They were received by Dr. Paola Casali from ASL Roma 1, who provided a summary of the progress of the ongoing works. The inspection, conducted in the presence of ASL Roma 1 General Director Giuseppe Quintavalle and the President of the XIV Municipality, Marco della Porta, spanned the entire morning and covered the whole area of the park. The group had access to several pavilions currently under renovation. Particularly noteworthy was the discussion concerning future perspectives and challenges, including the management of shared services, park opening hours, improvement of internal mobility and external accessibility, potential new access routes and parking areas, the yet-to-be-determined use of certain pavilions, and the use of the central square as a social and community gathering space.
