USI's 29th Dies academicus celebrated

The 29th Dies academicus of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) was held this morning at the West Campus Lugano Aula magna. The event opened with a welcome address by USI Rector, Luisa Lambertini, followed by the President of the University Council, Monica Duca Widmer, and a speech by State Councillor Marina Carobbio Guscetti. One of the morning's highlights was the conversation between Claude Nicollier, Swiss Astronaut, and Giovanni Pellegri, Head of USI's L'ideatorio. The discussion was rich in ideas and reflections, addressing topics such as science, education, and the human experience of space. This was followed by the presentation of traditional honours: Maurice Herlihy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate, Arturo Licenziati was appointed as an Honorary Member, Michele Parrinello received the USI Medal, Giacomo Brenna was honored with the USI Alumni Award, and Ilaria Espa and Adriano Fabris were both recognised with the USI Raiffeisen Award for Best Teaching.

"Università della Svizzera italiana confirms its commitment to responsible, sustainable and open growth." This is how Luisa Lambertini, Rector of USI, began her speech, recalling how USI is undergoing a phase of development, with the launch of new educational paths, including the Bachelor's degrees in Data Science and Economics in English, and with the recent birth of the EOC-USI and OMCT and DSS Institute of Family Medicine, aimed at responding to the growing shortage of local doctors. The Rector also emphasised the commitment to differentiate funding sources, recalling the "Together for the Future" event, organised as part of the Locarno Film Festival, as a key moment to strengthen the link between the university and the community. Two important anniversaries were also remembered: the 20th anniversary of the Faculty of Informatics and the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB). Looking to the future, the Rector illustrated the potential of three USI proposals for National Research Poles (NCCRs) on ageing, augmented intuition and future energy landscapes, which are currently being evaluated. She also reiterated the importance of academic autonomy, especially in today's geopolitical context, and of trust in the university world in a period marked by federal cuts and uncertainties related to bilateral agreements.

Following this, the President of the University Council, Monica Duca Widmer, stated that USI "will grow in areas of strategic importance and consolidate the positions acquired, to continue to be a strong point for the region and the economic fabric." A speech that touched on central themes such as digital transition, collaboration between academic institutions in Ticino, and firm opposition to the planned federal cuts to higher education. The President of the USI Council highlighted the significance of the Swiss AI Initiative, in which USI is a partner, along with the pivotal role played by the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre and the Alps supercomputer. She stressed the urgency of adapting quickly to current changes in a strategic, sustainable, and ethical manner.

State Councillor Marina Carobbio Guscetti, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport (DECS), pointed out, "Now more than ever, we must invest in education, training, and research. Failing to do so would be a serious mistake that could set our country and canton back decades. By ensuring sufficient funding and resources, we acknowledge that investing in knowledge and research is an investment in our youth and the future. This creates skilled jobs and opportunities for everyone, fostering an open canton rather than an insular one."

One of the key moments of the ceremony was the dialogue between Prof. Claude Nicollier, the first and so far only Swiss Astronaut to have gone into space, and Dr Giovanni Pellegri, Head of USI's L'ideatorio. The interview - accompanied by very evocative images - retraced the milestones of the astronaut's life and career, interweaving science, emotion and reflection.

Claude Nicollier shared insights from his early childhood dreams, the value of viewing Earth from space, and the importance of international cooperation in space exploration. He emphasised the connection between the space sector and USI, highlighting the collaboration with Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS), the activities of the IRSOL solar research institute, and the university's planetariums. Nicollier also discussed the personal and symbolic significance of observing the sky, encouraging the audience to reflect on our cosmic condition and collective responsibility to care for the planet. In closing, he addressed questions on a range of current topics, including colonising Mars and the role of private individuals in space exploration.

Honours

As per tradition, the Dies academicus was the occasion to confer the Università della Svizzera italiana's honours.

Professor Maurice Herlihy received an honorary doctorate in Informatics "for his fundamental contributions, both practical and theoretical, to the programming of concurrent and distributed systems, including his pioneering work on shared memory consistency models and the development of innovative concurrent programming techniques that have been widely adopted in industrial practice".

The USI Raiffeisen Best Teaching Award was presented to Professor Ilaria Espa and Professor Adriano Fabris, "for the quality of their teaching".

The USI Alumni Award was presented to Giacomo Brenna "for a successful career in the field of architecture."

Arturo Licenziati, President and CEO of IBSA Group, was named USI Honorary Member "for his decisive and generous support for the development of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at Università della Svizzera italiana."

Professor Michele Parrinello received the USI Medal in recognition "for his important contribution to the university's development."

Art installation and music by Compagnia Finzi Pasca

During the 29th Dies academicus, USI's Aula magna hosted Firefly Forest, an immersive art installation by Compagnia Finzi Pasca. Designed by Hugo Gargiulo and accompanied by original music by Maria Bonzanigo, the work transformed the space into an evocative environment, inspired by "Teatro della Carezza", the company's poetic signature. Featuring 348 sound-sensitive light bulbs and five musical segments from iconic shows, the installation provided the audience with an emotionally impactful experience of stunning visuals and sound.

"Universo" participatory street art work

At the end of the ceremony, the work Universo by Yuri Catania was inaugurated, an unprecedented participatory street art project depicting over a thousand faces of the USI academic community: students, lecturers, researchers and staff. A large black and white visual collage, enriched by symbolic flowers and butterflies, reflecting the value of inclusion, shared identity and diversity as wealth. The work is part of the Play Your Future campaign, which blends art and augmented reality to tell the story of the university experience in a creative and contemporary way.

Space, art and scholarships: USI puts ten works up for auction

Ten exclusive artworks titled "Lvgaxy Astro Flowers," donated to USI by artist Yuri Catania, have been auctioned off to support scholarships for informatics students at USI. These prints are part of a limited edition of only 10 pieces, each autographed by both Yuri Catania and Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier, who is featured in the artwork. This makes each piece unique and imbued with significant symbolic value.

How to take part in the auction

The starting bid for each artwork is set at 300 CHF. To place a bid, please fill this form https://usi.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2gz9ztHWy8iFMuG by Friday, May 30 2025. In June, at the conclusion of the bidding, USI will select the 10 highest bids.

Photos of the ceremony can be downloaded free of charge on the following link: www.copyrightfree.ch/home