Historical notes

In general, the institutional function of inter-university consortia, as provided for by Italian law, consists of select qualified, related academic research units to form or consolidate specific inter-university research networks, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity.

The idea behind the establishment of research networks was to make the most of different skills in an interconnected system, stimulating discussion and coordination between universities on aspects that are of particular interest for the development of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer and, in general, for the development of the country’s competitiveness in the international scene.

Thanks to the initiative of its founder, CoNISMa Prof. Francesco Maria Faranda was founded in 1994 on these premises and on the conviction that Marine Sciences, in particular, are the result of the cultural interest of scholars from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines who carry out scientific and technological research in the fields of biology, geology, sedimentology, geophysics, physics, chemistry, meteorology, etc. The list can never be complete because it is also open to the legal, economic and social sciences, engineering and anything else that can contribute to a better understanding, and therefore better use, of such an important part of the territory.

Today, we can say that this interdisciplinary approach to Marine Sciences has proven to be more valid than ever in correcting a course taken following a significant increase in the need for specialisation in many scientific disciplines. While this is essential for technological progress, a correct approach to environmental sciences requires a holistic vision on the part of the researcher, continuous dialogue with colleagues to make the most of their different skills.

This comparison is not limited to Italy, but extends to the rest of Europe and the world, with the aim of creating networks of excellence that promote the circulation of ideas and knowledge and, above all, the transfer of these to young people.

Thanks to CoNISMa, even the smallest universities can participate in large research projects based on their actual expertise. This avoids duplication and guarantees projects of high scientific value. They can count on efficient centralisation of administrative and management functions that require specific professional skills, and finally, they can count on shared research infrastructure through the possibility of acquiring equipment and infrastructure available to the entire scientific community, which can be challenging from a financial point of view. In this way, operational activities can be carried out in the field and/or in the laboratory, extended to more users and therefore serving more topics.