Put together four state excellences (all short of funding), let them work in their research field and discover that Italy has nothing to envy from other countries, apart from investments. Indeed, foreign researchers often come to visit our laboratories to share experiences and projects. The culture of the environment (to stay at the politically correct ) moves briskly around the world and that's good. But we, beyond the solemn and welcome speeches of the head of state, prizes, academic recognitions , we still have to put it in the right gear. To date, Italy receives 8,7% of support for research in the Framework Programs from Europe, where it pays 12,8%. State spending is just 1,4 of GDP. 29 professionals work in state research centres, forced to make a virtue of necessity due to the scarce funds available. Yet in the environmental field, in that of the protection of the natural and artistic landscape, of field research, Italians are among the most popular in the world. In difficulties they manage to sell patents and publish studies in the best specialized journals.
Researchers from ENEA, CNR, INGV and the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy (IIM) – the four excellences mentioned above – have been at the center of attention in recent weeks for having created the first submarine laboratory in the Ligurian Sea. At a depth of 600 meters and 6,5 miles from the coast, off the wonderful Cinque Terre park, they started study the effects of climate change, a mitigate natural hazards and protect marine ecosystems from water acidification. Teamwork on a platform based on the "Levante Canyon Mooring" project, funded by the Liguria Region and launched by the Ligurian District of Marine Technologies. A scientific mission that deserves to be included in the list of international environmental experiments and which in the waters of eastern Liguria makes use of the support of the oceanographic vessel Dallaporta.
The laboratory is located near a submarine canyon and will gradually carry out geophysical and oceanographic monitoring of the seabed and the water column for the detection of some important parameters. Basically a' iadvanced multidisciplinary infrastructurea with features world techniques but till now absent in Liguria. In a Region overlooking the Mediterranean in a warming and rising phase studied in turn by other teams. In particular, Enea has made two probes available for the project to measure the temperature and salinity of the water. Technically the currents at the bottom of the sea and the contribution of sediments and organic substances create the environment favorable to the development of valuable ecosystems. They will be able to have, then, results exceptional in front of one of the most fascinating Italian sites, tortured however since the 2011 flood. The researchers also know that in this area there is a good presence of cetaceans threatened by trawling. Other previous investigations in the area have also ascertained the presence of white corals at a depth of about 600 meters, arousing further scientific interest.
The conditions of the experimentation are highly attractive for the contemporaneity with the other studies on the lime changes. Italy needs to redeem the value of its institutes on a scientific level, which are losing the race with private research centers. The latest CNR report on research and innovation states that the success rate of Italian projects presented at European level is 7 percent "when the EU average is 13". In addition, the average age of Italian researchers is 49, with hundreds of young people employed abroad, or ready to pack their bags for universities that welcome them with open arms. It's not a pretty sight, but teamwork with the Ligurian infrastructure can grow trust.
Cover image Aeneas
