CAROVIGNO – The project Dove Comincia il Mare? aims to raise awareness among young people about the relationship between daily behaviors and environmental conservation. Four volunteers will have the opportunity to explore and protect areas of great natural value, participating in activities ranging from information dissemination and community engagement to the development of educational pathways for schools and awareness events for the local community. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for participants to gain one year of work experience, training, and adventures close to nature.
The project will take place at the Riserva di Torre Guaceto, a location of wonder where respecting natural balances is fundamental for preserving the area and its inhabitants. The Cooperativa Thalassia, which has been actively involved for over 20 years, engages in activities related to environmental education, ecotourism, and awareness through nature-based events. Volunteers will be engaged across various domains: providing information and support for tourism, collaborating with the school community to create thematic educational pathways, and actively participating in environmental events alongside local stakeholders and tourists.
Applications for the project, promoted by Cooperativa Thalassia in collaboration with Legacoop Puglia, have been extended until February 27, 2025, at 2 PM. The initiative is targeted at four volunteers aged between 18 and 29, offering monthly economic support of €507.30. For those wishing to participate, more information can be accessed through official channels.
Meanwhile, Foggia is lighting up with science as the Festival della Scienza kicked off on February 22, under the theme "Orizzonti." Angelo Bricocoli, the festival's organizing committee president, beautifully articulated, "The horizon is something you see and cannot reach, just like science: every time we see something, we get closer and discover there is something else pushing us to seek more." This year’s festival, running until March 8, features 56 events and involves 13 schools across various municipalities.
Lucia Aprile, the vice mayor of Foggia, emphasized the local government's commitment, stating, "The municipality of Foggia is part of this beautiful event and seeks to contribute even more to the festival in the coming years." Supported by numerous institutional partners, including the Regione Puglia and Politecnico di Bari, the festival has also drawn involvement from the University of Foggia, which contributes through student volunteers and educators involved in various workshops and public engagements.
Symbolizing this edition of the Festival della Scienza is the artwork ‘Eos’ by artist Nicola Liberatore, unveiled at the February 22 conference. "The Greek goddess of dawn set forth to reach new horizons, just like this initiative," explained Liberatore, capturing the festival's spirit of exploration and discovery.
Founders Antonio Milazzi and Marco D’Alessandro expressed satisfaction with the festival's growth, especially the increased outreach to younger students. Milazzi noted, "This year, we expanded our outreach to students, particularly focusing on younger age groups, as we believe it is important to engage children early on with science to spark their curiosity." D’Alessandro added, "We are present not only in Foggia but also extending to Carlantino, Cerignola, Lucera, San Severo, and Apricena. Schools are increasingly reaching out to us, which is one of our greatest achievements."
The festival has already kicked off with archaeological trekking and will host several significant events, including the presentation of Arnaldo D’Amico’s book La memoria del nemico, centered on the human immune system, on February 24. The event titled Future Foods on February 26 will address enriched foods made with insect flour, creating anticipation among participants who seek innovative solutions to food sustainability amid climate challenges.
Finally, attendees can look forward to engaging discussions with prominent figures such as Antonio Lo Campo, Lucrezia Cilenti from the CNR, and experts on the sustainability of the agro-food system posed by climate change. The diverse range of topics from space exploration and artificial intelligence to medical research and new technologies highlights the vast horizons being explored during this engaging festival.