The ceremony for the signing of the renewal of the Cooperation Agreement between the CNR and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) was held on September 18, 2025, in Tokyo, at the residence of the Italian Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti. With this renewal, the National Research Council has once again taken significant steps to intensify and internationalize Italian research, consolidating the collaboration with important scientific institutions in Japan. The agreement was signed by the Director of the Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technology, Lidia Armelao, representing the CNR President Andrea Lenzi. Among those present were also the Director of the Department of Earth System Science and Environmental Technologies, Francesco Petracchini, and the CNR’s International Relations Office, as well as the Director of IRBIM, Gian Marco Luna. The Scientific Attaché and Ambassador Benedetti opened the ceremony, praising the agreement as an effective tool for promoting research exchanges between our countries and opening new perspectives for the future. Director Armelao recalled how the partnership between CNR and JSPS is a ‘reference partnership,’ founded on crucial values such as mutual respect and the training of young researchers. This appreciation was reiterated by the President of JSPS, Tsuyoshi Sugino, who expressed the hope that the collaboration can further expand in the future. Further solidifying the Italian presence and commitment, another significant bilateral agreement was finalized on the occasion of EXPO 2025 in OSAKA: the one between the CNR and JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology). The agreement for Italy was signed by the Department Director DSSTTA Francesco Petracchini, sealing an important collaboration in the scientific sector. These recent successes testify to the CNR’s constant commitment to the internationalization of research and the support and full participation of IRBIM in these activities.
Category: Messina
IRBIM Day 2024
From 7 to 9 October 2024, Milazzo hosted the sixth edition of IRBIM DAY, the annual conference that brings together the staff of the four CNR IRBIM Institute’s Mazara, Messina, Lesina and Ancona locations. The main objective of the event is to promote the sharing of research and operational activities between the different locations, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and uniformity of objectives, despite the geographical distance. The first day was dedicated to an internal discussion on administrative and planning issues. Representatives of the administrative offices, the Grant Office and the competition office intervened, illustrating the news and future challenges of the Institute. IRBIM DAY was not only a moment of internal discussion, but also an opportunity to involve the local community. The Municipality of Milazzo sponsored the event and the students of the Majorana Higher Technical Institute participated in the institutional greetings. The inaugural evening took place at the MuMa, Museum of the Sea in Milazzo, thanks to the collaboration of the founder and colleague Carmelo Isgrò. The following days were dedicated to plenary sessions with internationally renowned experts, such as Rainer Froese and Geert Wiegertjes, who addressed highly topical issues in the field of marine science. A round table on “Research and Training on the Sea” saw the participation of Paola Del Negro (OGS-Trieste) and Teresa Romeo (Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn” and Alessandro Sarro (Captain of the Coast Guard). The poster session offered young researchers the opportunity to present the results of their research and finally the IRBIM Poster Prize 2024 was awarded to Pamela Lattanzi. The organization of the IRBIM DAY was possible thanks to the valuable work of a group of collaborators coordinated by Gian Marco Luna, director of the Institute. To learn more: Detailed agenda and video of the works:
IRBIM course on scientific writing and management of bibliographic elements
From 28 to 30 May 2024, the IRBIM-Lesina hosted the first edition of the “Practical course on scientific writing and management of bibliographic elements” designed and dedicated to members of the Institute. The course, lasting a total of 16 hours, combined theoretical lessons (4 hours) with practical exercises (12 hours), offering participants a complete and up-to-date overview of best practices for the effective management of bibliographic sources and citations in the drafting of scientific reports and articles. The course was divided into three main modules, structured to provide participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to deal with each phase of the scientific writing process:
- pre-writing, with research and management of the bibliography, use of keywords and Boleani operators to make the search effective;
- writing, with the creation of a solid and original bibliography, Cite-while-writing in word and Latex, plagiarism self-assessment;
- post-writing, evaluation of scientific journals and selection of the most suitable publication venue, analysis of metrics and impact indicators.
In addition to lectures and practical exercises, the course included moments of sharing and discussion among the participants, with lunches and coffee breaks organized by the staff of the Lesina office, to encourage interaction between participants from different IRBIM locations, creating a collaborative and stimulating learning environment. The Scientific and Organizational Committee was composed of: Manuela Coci, Andrea Miccoli, Paolo Pezzutto, Antonella Specchiulli, Primiano Schiavone, Marco D’Adduzio and Gian Marco Luna. The course was a valuable opportunity for IRBIM researchers to deepen their knowledge and skills in the field of science communication. The course also provided participants with the necessary tools to produce high-quality scientific articles, compliant with international publication standards and to increase their chances of success in the competitive research landscape. It is possible to download the program and contact the organizers for interest, information and any other editions.