Author: sara.marchetti1@unimib.it

MEETmeTONIGHT 2025

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it Air quality and health, News and Events , , ,
MEETmeTONIGHT 2025

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night, the event promoted by the European Union that annually brings science to the general public, involving hundreds of cities across Europe. This year’s edition, scheduled for September 26 and 27, will see the participation of over 460 cities in 25 countries.

For the occasion, MEETmeTonight returns to Milan, two days of activities, meetings, workshops, and shows, open to everyone, hosted this year by the University of Milan, at Via Festa del Perdono 7 – in the heart of the city.

Join us for a face-to-face encounter with research and its protagonists!

Find out more about the planned activities and consult the complete program.

Heart of the program are the 5 European Missions – adaptation to climate change; fight against cancer; protection of oceans, seas, lakes and rivers; climate-neutral and intelligent cities; soil health – expressed in numerous activities involving professors, researchers and young PhDs.

Among the thematic pavilions dedicated to the 5 Horizon Europe Missions, on September 27th there will also be researchers from the POLARIS Research Centre, with a thematic pavilion entitled “Smart Cities and Health: Discover the Air We Breathe“.

The proposed activity aims to explore the topic of air quality from different points of view. The stand includes various instruments for measuring air pollutants, from scientific-level instruments to low-cost instruments, such as ‘smart’ sensors used by the POLARIS Interdepartmental Centre within the Open-Living lab of the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, PNRR Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Creation and strengthening of “innovation ecosystems”, construction of “territorial R&D leaders” (Spoke 1 – Urban Regeneration. City of Tomorrow, WP1).

From smart sensors that measure air quality to optical microscopes for close-up exploration of cells and tissues: an interactive participatory science experience to discover how pollution affects our breathing and daily well-being.

We look forward to seeing you at our pavilion!

RESPIRO

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it Air quality and health, Research Projects , ,
RESPIRO

Real-time Environmental Sensing for Personal Intelligent Risk Optimization – RESPIRO

In a world where the quality of the air we breathe is increasingly at the center of attention, the idea of ​​RESPIRO was born: an innovative, portable, intelligent and economical device, designed to help every citizen to monitor the surrounding environment and make informed decisions in real time.

RESPIRO is more than just a sensor: it is a knowledge and awareness platform that puts the power of science in the hands of every citizen

Born from an idea of ​​the POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre of the University of Milan Bicocca, RESPIRO was developed within the MUSA project, by the University of Milan-Bicocca and by ROAD – Rome Advanced District, in collaboration with a specialized company in the sector, XEarPro Srl.

RESPIRO was designed to allow everyone to know in real time the air quality of every place, even inside buildings.

It is a device capable of detecting the presence of air pollutants such as fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1), carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) and integrating the data with information on temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. Being physically compact and wearable, it can check the characteristics of the air in multiple points, attaching to backpacks or jackets. Each number is georeferenced, transmitted to a central server in real time and projected on an LED display, where it provides the user with a detailed and immediate picture of the air quality of the environments in which they live.

The practical innovation of RESPIRO lies in the fact that the device can be used not only by scientists who are experts in air quality, but by anyone who wants to evaluate more conscious choices about their exposure to pollutants. By enabling participatory science approaches, it aims to improve the well-being of all through the active involvement of citizens, students and researchers who move around the neighborhoods. The data collected are integrated into a broader monitoring network, useful both to the scientific community and to the territory.

The final goal is not only to measure pollution, but to understand how urban policies and lifestyles can concretely improve public health. It is therefore an important step forward in the protection of health and urban sustainability, offering citizens an advanced tool for analyzing the surrounding environment.

Already tested in prototype form, the tool will thus allow everyone to have reliable data on risk areas available and identify behaviors for which more incisive interventions are necessary.

As part of a participatory science project, researchers from UNIMIB and ROAD have recently designed and implemented pilot campaigns in which workers and students monitored the air quality of the Bicocca district (Milan) and the Ostiense district (Rome) using the device.

The campaigns involved several phases:

Identification of routes and points of interest in the neighborhood under study
Collecting memberships and engaging the public
Repeated monitoring along the routes identified within the neighborhood
Data Analysis: integration and analysis of collected data

We gave each volunteer a device, assigning a route and time slot in which to perform at least three repetitions of the dynamic monitoring (lasting approximately 1 hour) in the neighborhood of interest. Through guided routes, the volunteers were able to appreciate the spatial and temporal variations of the concentrations of pollutants in the neighborhood, actively contributing to the research.

At the end of the campaign, data analysis allowed us to create maps representing the air quality of the neighborhood under study in different time slots and to appreciate any differences between days or time slots with different concentrations of particulate matter or meteorological situations.

The image below shows an example of the campaign carried out in the Bicocca district with data collected on two days with different weather conditions: sunny vs. rain.

Seminar_May 2025

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it News and Events , ,
Seminar_May 2025

On Tuesday, May 27 2025, the POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre will host the seminar of Dr. Lucie Hochvaldova, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic), entitled:

“Silver-based nanoparticles in antibacterial therapy: Synergistic effects with antibiotics and mechanisms of resistance in E. coli and S. aureus“

The seminar will be held at 11:30 in room U1-07 Marchetti of the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences (University of Milan Bicocca).

Host: Prof. Paride Mantecca.

The event is organized by POLARIS, in collaboration with the Nanomedicine Center (NanoMiB).

The seminar is sponsored by the European project INTEGRANO – Progetto EU Horizon Europe (GA No. 101138414).

The seminar is open to students, PhD students, Postdoc, Researchers and all the interested colleagues.


Join us to monitor the air quality in Bicocca!

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it News and Events
Join us to monitor the air quality in Bicocca!

The POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre is organizing, within the MUSA project, a monitoring campaign to evaluate air quality in the Bicocca district of the city of Milan.

The Project involves the use of low-cost sensors capable of estimating the concentrations of PM₁, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, CO and CO₂ to evaluate the personal exposure of citizens within the Bicocca district and during travel to and from the University based on the environments frequented and their lifestyles.

The measurements carried out will allow to obtain a spatial and temporal representation of air pollution in the Bicocca district. Furthermore, they will also allow the study of the relationships between outdoor and indoor pollution.

Join the University monitoring network and participate in the research, we will involve you as soon as the activities start!

To join the initiative fill out the form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsu9lE55slyNDfc53BFfXGwCESJ9HpVE5gcMLaRboNwsUoBQ/viewform

For more information on the project and the activities that will be carried out in the coming months, contact Luca Pagliarulo (luca.pagliarulo@unimib.it) or Sara Marchetti (sara.marchetti1@unimib.it).

VINNY

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it Research Projects , ,
VINNY

Advanced nano encapsulation of bio-based pesticides and fertilisers for a circular and sustainable viticulture

VINNY is a highly innovative 4-years European funded project focused on sustainable viticulture. 
The project aims to develop eco-friendly nanobiopesticides and nanobiofertilizers from grapevines and industrial by-products to reduce agrochemical use and promote healthier soils. 

The ambition is to reduce the use of conventional agrochemicals by 50% by employing novel and bio-nanoprocessing ttechnologies to develop and encapsulate novel bioactives into biodegradable matrices, making them more effective and bioavailable.

The consortium is powered by 19 partners from Portugal, Spain, Austria, Italy, Denmark, United Kingdom, Israel, Belgium, Romania, and France. This partnership brings together the expertise of universities, research centres, SMEs, and large industries to create innovative solutions for viticulture.

The human and environmental safety of the newly developed nanobiopesticides and biofertilizers will be assessed with a focus on nanotoxicology and risk assessment, providing critical data to ensure the formulations are safe and sustainable, in line with EU regulations and Safe-by-Design (SbD) principles.

UNIMIB is leader of WP5, which aims to evaluate the safety assessment starting with studies of nanotoxicology, followed by LCA studies and the development of a Safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) platform to support the entire project.

Call: HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01-34 – Advanced (nano and bio-based) materials for sustainable agriculture (RIA)

Grant Agreement:  101130039

Project Coordinator: University of Minho

UNIMIB WP leader: WP5 Leader

Further information can be found on the official project page or facebook page.

Discover Biomat Project results!

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Discover Biomat Project results!

BIOMAT Project UCLM led by María Luz Sánchez Silva and a consortium of 25 entities developed sustainable bio-PUR foams with nanotechnology, ready to transform construction, automotive, and furniture industries. Innovation for a greener future.

A big step towards innovation! 🚀

For the past four years, BIOMAT has been at the forefront of sustainable innovation, transforming bio-based materials into game-changing solutions for industries across Europe. This video is a heartfelt look back at BIOMAT’s journey: four years of dedication, collaboration, and remarkable achievements.

Discover all the details of the results from our BIOMAT project and see BIOMAT’s Final Results Video here!

Visit our dedicated page to learn more about the project.

 

Work with us – Post Doc position

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it News and Events
Work with us – Post Doc position

Post-doctoral position available!

Project Title: New Integrated Methodological Approaches for the Assessment of the Safety and Environmental Sustainability of Advanced Nanostructured Materials

The procedure, based on titles and examinations, is called for the award of no. 1 Research Grant for cooperation in research activities, with a duration of 12 months, in the field of Environmental science (SDS BIO/06), for the following activities: evaluation of the toxic effects of new advanced nanomaterials using in vitro and in vivo biological models alternative to the use of mammals (zebrafish); development and application of new nanospecific characterization factors for determining the human and environmental hazard in LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) applications; implementation of quantitative methodologies in the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for new advanced materials.

The position will be based at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Milan, Italy)

The position is well suited to a recent doctoral graduate with skills and interests in nanosafety and environmental impacts of new advanced materials, to sustain the SSbD framework.

The research is within the EU project INTEGRANO (Multidimensional Integrated Quantitative Approach to Assess Safety and Sustainability of Nanomaterials in Real Case Life Cycle Scenarios Using Nanospecific Impact Categories), HORIZON CL 4 2023 RESILIENCE 01 22 (GA n 101138414).

Supervisor: Paride Mantecca (paride.mantecca@unimib.it)

Application deadline: 12:00 on 30/1/2025.

Please visit the Calls for Application section to get more information.

Sustainability and the City – Listen to the podcast

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Sustainability and the City – Listen to the podcast

To disseminate the research carried out by the researchers of the MUSA project, the podcast “Sustainability and the city” was created, which aims to create a widespread and participatory culture on sustainability in the territory.

What does the MUSA project deal with?

MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action, finanziato dall’Unione Europea – NextGeneration EU was born as a response to the challenges that our metropolitan reality faces and will face in the transition towards environmental, economic and social sustainability.

The project involves universities, companies and local authorities.

The podcast, curated by the Open Air Lab research team of the University of Milano-Bicocca, aims to answer the following question:

What is urban sustainability? And what can be done to achieve it?

The podcast brings together the voices and ideas of a large panel of experts to discover how Milan, an urban laboratory par excellence, can become a model city in terms of livability, economic sustainability, environmental responsibility and social justice.

The first season of the podcast involves biologists, economists, physicists, sociologists, lawyers, geographers and engineers from the following universities: Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca, Università degli Studi di Milano, Politecnico di Milano e Università Bocconi di Milano.

The various episodes discuss biodiversity and urban greenery, but also “access to the sky” to promote scientific education, social equity and inclusion to build a more democratic future, as well as active participation by citizens, for example in the design of squares and public spaces.

In the episode “Breathing Sustainability” Paride Mantecca, associate professor of Applied Biology at the University of Milan-Bicocca and Scientific Director of the POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre, intervenes.

Mantecca explains how, starting from the study of human biology in its relationship with environmental factors, the quality of air in urban environments has an impact on the health and well-being of citizens. In particular, he illustrates how research aims at the transformation of urban environments and how important citizen awareness is with respect to collective health and well-being.

Listen to the podcast!

For more information about MUSA, visit the website.




Research

sara.marchetti1@unimib.it Research

This page provides an overview of the main research areas in which the POLARIS Interdepartmental Research Centre is involved.

AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH

Monitoring of air quality in indoor and outdoor environments and study of the impact on human and environmental health, with focus on the presence of air contaminants and the spread of pathogens.

Recent Projects:

INNOVATIVE, SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES

Support for the development of safe, sustainable and innovative (nano)technologies, with assessment of their safety during the entire life cycle (circularity). Study of emerging contaminants, their impact on health and risk prevention and mitigation strategies.

Recent Projects:

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY

Evaluation of the environmental, economic and social impacts of products and processes; development of environmental policies with a view to sustainability and circularity.

Recent Projects:

XEarPro – Workshop

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XEarPro – Workshop

On Wednesday 9 October 2024 from 09:30 to 16:30 at the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences of the University of Milan Bicocca, the workshop “Nanoparticles and automatic dust monitoring: instrumental solutions and applications for air quality” organized by XEarPro Srl will be held. The event is open to all interested researchers, technicians and sector specialists.

The program includes oral presentations with specific insights on the topic, and dedicated sessions with demonstration instrumentation to address operational issues related to maintenance, management, use, calibration, QA/QC procedures for measurements.

The event is organized by XEarPro Srl, in collaboration with Centro di Ricerca Interdipartimentale POLARIS, Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e della Terra UNIMIB, MUSA (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action) – Progetto Next Generation EU e PNRR, INTEGRANO – Progetto EU Horizon Europe (GA No. 101138414) and GRIMM AEROSOL TECHNIK.

The workshop will take place at the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences of the University of Milan Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano. Participation is free, upon registration (max 40-50 participants).

Check out the website for more information.