1926-2026. One hundred years after the Bari flood: two days of study, 5 and 6 November

Preserving memory, building resilience

The initiatives are promoted by the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority, the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the Polytechnic University of Bari 

Bari, 4 November 2026 – One hundred years after the devastating flood that struck Bari and its surrounding area on the night of 5–6 November 1926, the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority, the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the Polytechnic University of Bari, together with the Apulia Region, the Government Commissioner for Combating Hydrogeological Instability in the Apulia Region, the Municipality of Bari and the Metropolitan City of Bari, are jointly promoting two days of discussion and in-depth study to reflect on the relationship between historical memory, technical and scientific knowledge, district and territorial planning, and community resilience, in a context in which the effects of climate cycles make the issues of prevention and risk management increasingly relevant. 

The first day is scheduled for 5 November at the Palazzo della Provincia di Bari, with a conference organised by the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority entitled “One Hundred Years since the 1926 Bari Flood: The Value of Memory in Hydrogeological Risk Management”. Proceedings will begin at 9:30 a.m. with institutional greetings from representatives of the national government, the Apulia Region, local administrations, academia, and civil and religious institutions. Speakers are expected to include Vannia Gava, Deputy Minister for the Environment and Energy Security; Raffaele Piemontese, Apulia Regional Councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility; Rossana Riflesso, Prefect of Bari; Roberto Bellotti, Rector of the University of Bari Aldo Moro; and Umberto Fratino, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari, as well as other invited institutional representatives. 

Proceedings will be opened by Vera Corbelli, Secretary-General of the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority, with an introductory presentation on the integrated management of water and land resources. This will be followed by the technical, scientific and institutional panel “Planning and Programming for the Mitigation and Management of Hydrogeological Risk at District Level”, bringing together institutions, the research community and leading national and international technical and scientific bodies. The proceedings will examine district planning which, based on a robust integrated knowledge framework covering soil, water and the environment, on the central importance of the exposed asset, and on participatory processes, defines a comprehensive programme of measures for risk mitigation and management. 

In the afternoon, the round table “Hydrogeological risk management: past, present and future” will bring together representatives from the professions, research, local government and the business community. The discussion will focus on the value of memory in strengthening risk awareness, the implementation of district-level measures in municipal planning, a culture of safe construction, and prospects for integrated, shared land management at every level. 

The events will continue on 6 November 2026in the Aula Magna of the Polytechnic University of Bari, with the study day “Preserving the memory: the Bari flood of 6 November 1926. A century after the flood: lessons, adaptations and resilience”, promoted by DiSTeGeo of the University of Bari Aldo Moro and DICATECh of the Polytechnic University of Bari. 

in the Aula Magna of the Polytechnic University of Bari, with the study day “Preserving memory: the Bari flood of 6 November 1926. A century after the flood: lessons, adaptation and resilience”, promoted by DiSTeGeo of the University of Bari Aldo Moro and DICATECh of the Polytechnic University of Bari. 

Proceedings will open at 9:30 a.m. with institutional addresses by the Rectors of the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the Polytechnic University of Bari, together with representatives of the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority. During the morning, participants will examine the geological and geomorphological features of the Apulian territory, the climate context and extreme events, urban planning, and the assessment of flood hazard. In the afternoon, attention will turn to education and public awareness, digital decision-support tools, adaptation and restoration strategies, flood events and coastal risk, concluding with an analysis of risk to the population of the Metropolitan City of Bari. Secretary General of the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority, Vera Corbelli. “The memory of the 1926 flood, like that of many other disasters, can help keep risk awareness alive in communities, an essential condition for its prevention.

Advanced hydrogeological risk management requires in-depth knowledge of the physical system, an appropriate analysis of landslide and flood hazards, and an assessment of the exposed assets and their vulnerability. Only a thorough understanding of these issues can make it possible to develop comprehensive, systemic and integrated programmes of structural and non-structural measures to protect public safety, defend the territory and safeguard the ecosystem. Recognising the role that all those involved in land management can play in pursuing this goal, the conference revisits events that took place in the distant past and presents advances in technical and scientific fields, highlighting their potential contribution to prudent risk management that meets the expectations of everyone who cares about the fate of this exceptionally beautiful territory.” Umberto Fratino, Rector of PoliBA. “Preserving memory is a prerequisite for looking to the future with awareness. Protecting the land today requires expertise and technology that keep pace with the times, but above all a shared vision that must emerge from dialogue among institutions, research centres, businesses, professional bodies and the education sector. The land, like culture, is a common good whose protection requires care and foresight.” 

Roberto Bellotti, Rector of UniBA. “The proper management of the land, understood as a physical and socio-economic unit, stems from a thorough understanding of the dynamics that have shaped it into its present form and those driving the changes currently under way, marked by intense human pressure and significant climate change. The events organised over these days serve society as a whole and those who administer it, helping to optimise management processes for the common good and to safeguard all aspects of the land.”

Press release.

Designed and presented by: Boeing, FIRST Scandinavia, Avio Aero, in collaborazione con partner. 

Teenagers take their place in the cockpit at the Newton Room at Politecnico di Bari

An aviation-focused educational project delivered by Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia in collaboration with Aeroitalia, Avio Aero and Ryanair. Politecnico di Bari faculty members and PhD students involved in 10 days of STEM education.

Bari, 3 November 2026 - Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia are bringing the Newton Room to Bari for the second time, giving students from schools across the Apulia region the opportunity to take part in a hands-on STEM education experience. The Newton Room will be hosted at Politecnico di Bari for almost two weeks, welcoming around 250 students from schools across the region. Four faculty members from Politecnico di Bari will be trained as Newton Educators, while four PhD students will support the programme as flight simulator instructors.

During their visit, school classes will take part in the Newton Up in the Air with Numbers module, where mathematics, technology and aviation come together in a hands-on learning experience. Students will use mathematical calculations to plan and carry out an observation flight using flight simulators.

The Mobile Newton Room is a fully equipped, expandable classroom housed in two specially designed containers. It was developed to bring high-quality STEM education directly to students, regardless of their geographical location or local infrastructure. Since its first-ever opening in the city of Lugo, Spain, in 2019, the Newton Room has travelled throughout Europe, stopping in Italy, Spain, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, and reaching thousands of students. This is the second Newton initiative in Bari. In 2021, a Pop-up Newton Room was hosted at Politecnico di Bari.

The Newton Concept was developed by the Norwegian non-profit foundation FIRST Scandinavia. Since 2003, more than 600,000 children and young people in 19 countries have taken part in Newton programmes. Today, Newton Rooms are located in Norway and internationally. The Bari project was made possible through collaboration between Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia. Boeing has been a global STEM partner of FIRST Scandinavia since 2018, supporting efforts to make the Newton Concept available to children and young people in different countries. In Bari, the project is being delivered in close collaboration with Politecnico di Bari, Aeroitalia, Avio Aero and Ryanair.

Statements

Boeing
“A passion for aviation can emerge at any age, but it is particularly inspiring when it is rooted in curiosity, discovery and hands-on learning. Through our collaboration with FIRST Scandinavia and our other aviation partners, we promote direct learning experiences across Europe, where young people can understand, plan and test flight. We are particularly proud to bring the Newton Room to Bari, an area of strategic importance to Boeing and the Italian aerospace sector, as part of an initiative that brings aviation and STEM education together to inspire tomorrow’s innovators,” said Anna Clementina Veclani, Managing Director, Southern Europe, Boeing.“Hosting the Newton Room at the Polytechnic University of Bari is an example of how a university can take us into the future by giving new generations the opportunity to experience science and technology first-hand. We believe the most important educational challenge is not merely to impart knowledge, but to spark curiosity, nurture passions and help young people discover their talents. Initiatives like this show that architecture, design and engineering are not abstract disciplines, but extraordinary tools for understanding and transforming the world. Our collaboration with international organisations such as Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia, together with the industrial partners involved, also demonstrates the value of an open university model that can connect education, research and business. If even one of the young people who enters the Newton Room leaves with the desire to become an engineer, researcher or astronaut, we will have helped create something far more important than a classroom lesson: a new ambition for the future.”

Polytechnic University of Bari
“We are delighted to bring the Newton Concept back to Bari, this time with our Mobile Newton Room. Through engaging, hands-on activities, students will explore STEM subjects and see how what they learn in the classroom can be applied in real life. Using modern equipment and flight simulators, they will put their maths skills to the test in an aviation context. Together with our partners, we look forward to welcoming students to Bari and offering them a Newton learning experience they will remember,” says Per-Arild Konradsen, CEO and founder of FIRST Scandinavia.
Prof. Michele Ruta, Prorettore.

FIRST Scandinavia
AeroitaliaFor Massimo Di Perna, Chief Commercial Officer of Aeroitalia:

Aeroitalia
According to Massimo Di Perna, Chief Commercial Officer of Aeroitalia: “We are proud to support an international project such as Newton Room, a travelling initiative that brings innovation, science outreach and guidance to different communities, building a bridge between schools, businesses and younger generations. Its value lies in its ability to travel, reach diverse communities and offer students an immersive experience in STEM subjects. For Aeroitalia, being part of this journey means contributing to a broad vision of education, in which the mobility of ideas, skills and opportunities becomes a tangible driver of growth. The stop at the Polytechnic University of Bari is therefore particularly significant, as it provides the people of Puglia with a high-calibre educational space capable of bringing more and more young people closer to the worlds of science, technology and innovation.”

Avio Aero
“Projects such as Newton Room support the mission we have been pursuing at Avio Aero for years: making a tangible contribution to educating today’s and tomorrow’s aerospace talent. We are grateful to Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia for involving us in this initiative and choosing to bring it to a region of strategic importance to us. We have always had a presence in Puglia, with our facility in Brindisi, and have built a strong and fruitful partnership with the Polytechnic University of Bari, which has led, among other things, to the creation of two joint research laboratories. By bringing business, universities and younger generations together, we can shape the aerospace sector of the future.”, ha dichiarato Ylenia Berardi, Government Relations and External Communications Director di Avio Aero.

Ryanair
Rossella Amato, Head of Communications Italy: Ryanair is proud to support the Boeing Newton Room at the Polytechnic University of Bari, offering students from across Puglia a unique opportunity to discover how STEM skills are applied in real-world aviation.
As Europe’s and Italy’s number one airline, we are committed to developing the next generation of aviation talent. Ryanair employs more than 35,000 aviation professionals across its network and recruits more than 1,000 pilot cadets and over 1,000 engineering trainees every year, as we continue to grow with the goal of carrying 300 million passengers by 2034. Through our Engineering Training Academy and partnerships with Part 147-approved aviation schools, including the Aircraft Engineering Academy in Bergamo, we help create pathways to careers in aviation, engineering and technology.
Bari and Puglia have a strong academic and aerospace tradition, making them an ideal location for initiatives that bring education and industry together. We are delighted to support a project that inspires young people to explore STEM subjects and consider careers that will help shape the future of aviation.

Press contacts
Boeing: Armida Balla armida.balla@boeing.com
Polytechnic University of Bari: Leonardo Legrottaglie leonardo.legrottaglie@poliba.it
Aeroitalia: Gioia Tagliente gtagliente@italcommunications.it
Avio Aero: Matteo Acciaccarelli matteo.acciaccarelli@avioaero.com
Ryanair: Rossella Amato amatoro@ryanair.com

Boeing
A world-leading aerospace company and the largest exporter in the United States, Boeing designs, manufactures and provides maintenance services for commercial aircraft, defence products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing’s workforce and supplier network in the United States and around the world drive innovation, economic opportunities, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture grounded in its core values of safety, quality and integrity.
Boeing has been present in Italy for 75 years and has a long-standing relationship with the aerospace and defence industry, the armed forces and airlines. This collaboration includes partnerships with Leonardo on the 787 Dreamliner and 767 programmes, and the supply of CH-47F Chinook helicopters operated by the Army Aviation. Other collaborations across the supply chain include, among others, its partnership with GE Aerospace through Avio Aero – a GE Aerospace Company – on the GEnx and GE90 engines, and with UmbraGroup, whose ball screws are installed on all Boeing passenger aircraft. Boeing works with 30 direct suppliers and numerous indirect suppliers. The Italian Air Force’s four KC-767A aerial refuelling aircraft, which distinguished themselves in major missions during the COVID-19 emergency and Operation Aquila Omnia, have nearly reached 50,000 operational flight hours. The Italian Navy operates the ScanEagle remotely piloted aircraft, which, thanks to its light weight, long endurance and precision, enables long-range reconnaissance missions, significantly increasing the surveillance capabilities of naval units. Boeing has approximately 150 direct employees in Italy—based in Rome, Pratica di Mare (RM), Pomigliano d’Arco (NA), Foggia, Grottaglie (TA), Milan, Lonate Pozzolo (VA), Vergiate (VA), Viterbo, Brindisi and Sigonella (SR)—working in partner and supplier relations, operational services, commercial activities, marketing and communications.
For further information: www.boeingitaly.it

Polytechnic University of Bari
The Polytechnic University of Bari is one of the Italian universities with a scientific and technological focus, recognized as a center of excellence for education and research in the fields of engineering, architecture, and industrial design. Poliba stands out for its strong ties to the local area and for its commitment to sustainable development and technological innovation. The university promotes teaching oriented toward practical experience and collaboration with businesses and local, national, and international institutions.
It trains, according to high-quality standards, professionals in the fields of engineering, architecture, design, and territorial planning, awarding academic degrees of university diploma and degree (old system, being phased out), bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctoral degree, with the corresponding academic qualifications, as well as first and second level university master's degrees.

FIRST Scandinavia e il Newton Concept
The Newton Concept is developed and managed by the Norwegian non-profit foundation FIRST Scandinavia, in collaboration with teachers, academic institutions and industry partners. A Newton Room is a specially equipped STEM classroom designed for hands-on, exploratory learning. Newton programmes aim to provide children and young people with both strong learning outcomes and positive experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Since 2003, more than 600,000 children and young people have participated in Newton programmes.

Aeroitalia
Aeroitalia S.p.A. is now Italy’s second-largest airline by passenger numbers. Founded in 2022, it rapidly reached the milestone of 3 million tickets sold in 2025. Aeroitalia serves a total of 26 airports (22 of which are in Italy), offering 43 routes across Italy and Europe. Through its connecting flights and strategic partnerships with global airlines such as Air France, KLM, Delta Airlines, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, Aeroitalia connects passengers from around the world with flexible, cost-effective travel options, supporting domestic mobility, particularly at regional airports. The airline has also announced plans to expand its fleet with 5 new-generation Boeing 737-800 MAX aircraft, with the first deliveries expected from March 2027. Discover all destinations and the latest news at https://www.aeroitalia.com

Avio Aero
Avio Aero is part of GE Aerospace and operates in the design, production and maintenance of components and propulsion systems for civil and military aviation. The company provides its customers with innovative technological solutions to respond quickly to the evolving demands of the market, including additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and technologies for the production of transmissions, turbines and combustors. The company’s headquarters are in Rivalta di Torino, which is also home to its largest production site, while other major facilities are located in Brindisi and Pomigliano d’Arco (Naples). In total, approximately 4,900 people are employed in Italy. Abroad, the company has a facility and a test centre in Poland, as well as a production plant and engine test facilities in the Czech Republic, with approximately 1,100 employees in total. Through ongoing investment in research and development, and thanks to a well-established network of relationships with leading universities and international research centres, Avio Aero has developed technological and manufacturing excellence recognised worldwide—a milestone demonstrated by the partnerships it has established with the world’s leading players in the aeronautics sector.

Ryanair
Ryanair Holdings plc, Europe’s largest airline group, is the parent company of Buzz, Lauda, Malta Air, Ryanair and Ryanair UK. Carrying approximately 214 million passengers a year on around 3,800 daily flights from 95 bases, the Group connects more than 220 airports in 35 countries with a fleet of almost 650 aircraft and 300 new Boeing 737s on order, enabling the Ryanair Group to grow traffic to 300 million passengers a year by financial year 2034. Ryanair has a team of 30,000 aviation professionals who deliver Europe’s best operational performance and an industry-leading safety record spanning 41 years. Ryanair is one of the most efficient large EU airlines. With a young fleet and high load factors, Ryanair aims to reach 50 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre by 2031 (a 27% reduction).

Environment. A Polytechnic University study on environmental sustainability in the judicial offices of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani 

The results of the agreement between the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani, the Apulia Region and the Polytechnic University of Bari presented at Poliba

Bari, 21 October 2026 – This morning, at the Rectorate of the Polytechnic University of Bari, an initial assessment was presented of the actions carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani, the Apulia Region and the Polytechnic University of Bari under the Cooperation Agreement for the implementation of activities of common interest relating to the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Sustainable Development, signed in March 2025.

Those present included the Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari, Umberto Fratino, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Trani, Renato Nitti, the Apulia Region’s Councillor for the Environment and Climate, Debora Ciliento, together with the Director of the Regional Department of Environment, Landscape and Urban Quality, Pompeo Colacicco, and thePolytechnic University of Bari’s Sustainability Delegate, Michele Dassisti.

The Agreement strengthened the parties’ institutional commitment and cooperation on environmental sustainability, supporting the adoption of organisational models for the offices of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani aimed at reducing environmental impact and establishing measurable targets. This cooperation builds on the path embarked upon by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani with the protocol signed in 2024 with MASE, and by the Apulia Region with the approval in 2023 of the Regional Strategy for Sustainable Development.

Under the Agreement signed in March 2025, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani and the Apulia Region’s Department of Environment, Landscape and Urban Quality drew up the Public Prosecutor’s Office Sustainability Plan 2025-2027, presented a year ago at “Ecomondo” in Rimini. With precise indicators, the plan translates the objectives of the Regional Strategy for sustainable development into the activities of the judicial office.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani and the Polytechnic University of Bari entered into an agreement for a training and orientation internship to prepare a study assessing the environmental sustainability of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which was subsequently incorporated into two degree theses. By applying the Itaca Protocol to the Public Prosecutor’s Office building—a regulatory reference for measuring the environmental and energy impact of non-residential buildings—it was possible to achieve an adequate sustainability rating, also thanks to infrastructure improvements already carried out, such as replacing the windows. Users and staff also have a positive perception of the sustainability of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to surveys and interviews conducted.

Together with the Department of Environment, Landscape and Urban Quality of the Apulia Region, the Trani Public Prosecutor’s Office subsequently drew up the new “Guidelines for Good Environmental Practices in Judicial Offices”, a document offering practical solutions, often at no cost, to be adopted by both employees and the administration. These good practices aim to optimise energy consumption, reduce water use, introduce sustainable and responsible management of waste and resources, promote sustainable mobility among staff, and pay attention to digital sustainability as well. The document also recommends a monitoring system to verify the proper implementation of the sustainable activities identified and the resulting environmental benefits, as well as the sharing of these results and further objectives through internal communications.

Cooperation among the three institutions does not end here. Their future goal is to define replicable good practices and create a model to share with other public administrations, thereby strengthening the community’s environmental, social and economic sustainability education, starting with those who work in or visit public offices. The Polytechnic University of Bari, under the guidance of prof. Michele Dassisti, will continue its study on the assessment of the environmental sustainability of the Trani Public Prosecutor’s Office, setting ambitious targets to improve performance indicators.

“The agreement with the Trani Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Apulia Region is to conduct a careful technical and scientific analysis of how a public institution operates, focusing on offices that provide services to citizens and apply good environmental practices,” explained the Rector, Umberto Fratino -. In essence, this concerns the environmental sustainability of judicial offices—measures that could be replicated in any other public institution or office—to build awareness and accountability among industry professionals, public employees and service users themselves. Sustainability is now a topical and central issue. The Polytechnic University is supporting this process, which stems from the commitment expressed by Trani Chief Public Prosecutor Renato Nitti, together with the Apulia Region, which has produced a manual of good practices. This is a virtuous process whose results we are presenting today, and which also demonstrates a method we would like to apply in other settings.”

“Public administration in general, and judicial offices in particular, need to ask themselves what impact we are having on the environment, and beyond. The Trani Public Prosecutor’s Office has provided concrete answers to this question,” commented the Chief Public Prosecutor of Trani, Renato Nitti -. We have established and mapped out a process and sought help from leading experts, the Polytechnic University and the Regional Government, including the Department specifically responsible for environmental issues. We have achieved results beyond those already attained. It is now possible to consult environmental best-practice guidelines that any public office can follow. It is now possible to assess and identify the type of impact generated by each office. We need to take a few more steps forward, but I must say that the results are already particularly significant. We cannot think that environmental sustainability concerns everyone else but not public administration and public offices.”

“Today we presented the results of a collaboration with the Trani Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Polytechnic University of Bari, aimed at making the objectives of the Regional Sustainable Development Strategy tangible and turning them into measurable actions,” said the Councillor for the Environment and Climate, Debora Ciliento -. Environmental sustainability is a strategic priority for public administration, which is called upon not only to provide efficient services but also to set an example in protecting the environment and responsibly using public resources in its offices. With this agreement and the documents produced, we are demonstrating that sustainability can easily be translated into simple everyday actions, making public employees and public administration itself more accountable.”

The new director Pompeo Colaccio highlighted the distinctive nature of the work underway: “We have managed to develop a process that, starting from the general strategic policy document on sustainability, has led to a practical document: guidelines setting out best practices for application in the day-to-day running of a public office. This demonstrates that habits can be changed through simple gestures and a strategy capable of translating objectives into action.”

Press release.

 Link video dichiarazione Ciliento

https://rpu.gl/aSYKJ

Link video dichiarazione Fratino

https://rpu.gl/GQM1B

Link video dichiarazione Nitti

https://rpu.gl/8LfQg

Link video immagini conferenza stampa

https://rpu.gl/nhRWQ

2026-2029. Framework Agreement Formalized Between Poliba and Federmanager Puglia

Building the Future of Skills and Innovation

The collaboration, already underway, will develop along three main lines: innovative educational pathways aligned with the needs of the production system; the design and support of professionally oriented degree programmes; and joint initiatives in technology transfer, continuing education and the promotion of research. A schedule of topics and meetings is planned for the coming months.

Bari, 20 October 2026 – Poliba has signed a new framework agreement with Federmanager Puglia, the association representing industrial executives, middle managers and highly skilled self-employed professionals.

The three-year agreement, running from 2026 to 2029, was signed by the Rector, Umberto Fratino, and the President of Federmanager Puglia, Eng. Vincenzo Marucci. It was established in response to the need to integrate academic knowledge with managerial expertise. 

In the view of both parties, this collaboration is a strategic factor for innovation, business competitiveness and the sustainable development of the region. 

At the same time as the agreement was formalized, the two organizations appointed their representatives: Prof. Riccardo Amirante for the Polytechnic and Eng. Antonio Arvizzigno for Federmanager Puglia.

The collaboration will develop along three main lines: innovative educational pathways aligned with the needs of the production system; the design and support of professionally oriented degree programmes; and joint initiatives in technology transfer, continuing education and the promotion of research. 

With the involvement of managers affiliated with Federmanager Puglia, students, researchers and businesses will benefit from practical experience, professional insights and expertise gained in the most advanced industrial settings, strengthening the link between universities and the world of work. 

The agreement is intended as a further step towards creating a regional ecosystem capable of generating value, promoting the employability of young talent and supporting the transformation of businesses in Puglia through knowledge, innovation and managerial expertise. 

The agreement is already in effect. A schedule of topics and meetings involving faculty, students, SMEs and managers is planned for dates yet to be determined: “Safety Project” (late November 2026, at the Polytechnic); “Energy Sustainability as a Key Driver of Competitiveness”; “Future Automotive Scenarios and Their Impact on the Region of Puglia”; “Training: Identifying Areas for Collaborative Teaching with the Greatest Added Value”.

Press release.

Press briefing. Wednesday, 21 October, 10:00 a.m., Rectorate, Polytechnic University of Bari

A New Model. Implementing the Regional Sustainable Development Strategy 

Review of activities of common interest to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani, the Apulia Region and the Polytechnic University of Bari. Areas covered: promoting sustainability within the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani; environmental guidelines and best practices; training; study of performance indicators and technologies. New perspectives. The initiative stems from the collaboration agreement signed in 2025, which is nearing its expiry

 Bari, 19 October 2026 – A review of the collaboration agreement for carrying out activities of common interest to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trani, the Apulia Region and the Polytechnic University of Bari, relating to the implementation of the regional sustainable development strategy, will be the focus of a dedicated press briefing scheduled for Wednesday, 21 October, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rectorate of the Polytechnic University of Bari (University Campus). 

A presentation of past and future activities follows from the agreement signed by the parties on 4–5 March 2025, which is nearing its expiry (31 December 2026), entitled: “Collaboration Agreement for carrying out activities of common interest relating to the implementation of the regional sustainable development strategy”.

Speakers: 

The Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari, Prof. Umberto Fratino

The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Trani, Dr. Renato Nitti

The Apulia Region’s Councillor for the Environment and Climate, Dr. Debora Ciliento

The Polytechnic University of Bari’s Delegate for Sustainability, Prof. Michele Dassisti.

Press release.

Opening. Promoted by the Polytechnic University of Bari and the University of Bari “Aldo Moro”

The Water That Comes Unexpectedly. Bari’s Historic Floods 

1926–2026. Photographic exhibition marking the centenary. 40 photographs documenting the tragic devastation that struck the Apulian capital on the night of 5–6 November 1926

  Tuesday, 20 October, 4:00 p.m. Auditorium Andidero Palace, Bari. At 6:00 p.m., exhibition opening at Fondazione Puglia, Starita Palace, Bari

Bari, 16 October 2026 – On Tuesday, 20 October, at 6:00 p.m., the photographic exhibition “Water That Comes Unexpectedly – Bari’s Historic Floods, marking the centenary of the 1926 event” will open at Palazzo Starita (Piazza del Ferrarese 23, Bari). The initiative is promoted by DICATECh (Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building and Chemical Engineering) at the Polytechnic University of Bari, supported by DiSTeGeo (Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences) at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, and hosted by Fondazione Puglia.

The opening will be preceded by a meeting at 16,00 at theAuditorium of Palazzo Andidero a Bari at Viale Venezia 13 (Muraglia, Bari Vecchia), attended by representatives of institutions and local authorities, including the Polytechnic University of Bari, the University of Bari Aldo Moro, and the Southern Apennines District Basin Authority.

On the occasion of the opening event, a degree award will also be announced, established by the Polytechnic University of Bari in memory of Prof. Eng. Antonio Rosario di Santo (formerly Full Professor of Hydraulic Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Bari and, for many years, Secretary General of the Apulia Basin Authority). The award is for dissertations on topics related to the event.

One hundred years after the flood that struck Bari on the night of 5–6 November 1926, the city looks back on the most significant floods in its history and their impact on the population and the area. Torrential rains swept through the city centre, flooding streets and homes.

The exhibition brings together 40 photographic records of the floods of 1905, 1915, 1926, 1954 and 2006, alongside historical information materials and an overview of key technical and scientific developments in risk-mitigation activities. The images convey the scale of these events and allow visitors to appreciate their impact on the city, offering an opportunity to understand the relationship between Bari’s urban fabric and its ravines.

The exhibition aims to help recover and preserve historical memory and to share with the public the knowledge gained through research and collaboration among universities, organisations and institutions. The centenary thus offers an opportunity to reflect on changes to the area, the impact of weather events at the urban scale, flood risk and flood-defence works.

The exhibition, excluding the opening day (20 October at 18:00), will be open every day until 30 October from 14:00 to 20:00. Admission is free and booking is required. 

They said. “Urban areas are constantly evolving and are exposed to increasing flood risk due to a range of factors, from meteorological to technical and social ones,” says Umberto Fratino, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari. “Now more than ever, we need to work to develop and share knowledge and experience, improve advanced training in the technical skills needed to operate wisely and effectively in the area, and ensure the collaboration of all the institutional stakeholders involved.”

 “The history of flooding in Bari, especially over the past century, tragically demonstrates that a territory retains its memory and that, in Bari, water may return suddenly even after years of absence,” explains Michele Mossa, Professor of Hydraulics at DICATECh, Polytechnic University of Bari. “Photographic records of the floods of 1905, 1915, 1926, 1954 and 2005 convey the scale of these events and make it possible to appreciate their impact on the city. They provide an opportunity to understand the relationship between Bari’s urban fabric and its lame, and to emphasise the importance of urban planning in flood-risk management.”

 “Historical memory of events and knowledge of how they occur are the first tools for defining the risk to which a territory is exposed,” notes Giuseppe Mastronuzzi, Professor of Physical Geography and Geomorphology at the University of Bari. “In a historical period marked by rapid climate change, made evident by the increase in extreme weather events, knowledge of the territory, physical processes and their recurrence over time is a fundamental tool for sound territorial planning in the service of protecting the environment, people and their activities.”  

“The exhibition we are hosting at Palazzo Starita is not intended merely to celebrate an anniversary, but to turn it into an opportunity for learning and reflection,” says Antonio Castorani, President of Fondazione Puglia. “This is a memory that belongs to the whole community, and we have a duty to preserve it and pass it on to future generations. Only in this way can we better understand the past and look with greater awareness at the vulnerabilities of our territory.”

Press release.

Marie Curie Actions. A European challenge from Puglia. Research examines coastal defence structures

Erosion: protecting our changing coastlines PRO-ARMOUR is the winning European project, developed at the Polytechnic University of Bari in collaboration with the prestigious Delft University of Technology

Artificial intelligence, probabilistic design and 3D experimentation for new methods of designing coastal protection breakwaters and seawalls. The ultimate goal is to turn research into a practical, applicable tool. The project’s winning researcher, funded by “Marie Curie Actions”, is Giulio Scaravaglione of Poliba. Meanwhile, in Puglia, Manfredonia, Margherita di Savoia and Barletta are the municipalities at highest risk from coastal hazards. 

Bari, 8 October 2026 – With around a thousand kilometres of coastline, Puglia has one of the longest coastlines in Italy. This environmental, scenic and economic asset is also particularly exposed to erosion, storm surges and the anticipated effects of climate change and rising sea levels. The latest regional studies highlight the widespread presence of erosion along the coast of Puglia and the need to identify mitigation measures suited to different coastal dynamics. In 2026, the Puglia Region launched a €26.4 million programme to protect the coastline from erosion, landslides and shoreline retreat—phenomena described as being exacerbated by climate change and the intensification of extreme marine weather events.

The problem and Puglia. Vulnerability affects numerous sections of the regional coastline, from the Gargano to Salento, albeit in different ways. The stretch between the Gulf of Manfredonia, Margherita di Savoia and the mouth of the Ofanto is particularly significant: regional planning documents extensive erosion and the presence of numerous coastal defence structures in this area. Manfredonia, Margherita di Savoia and Barletta have also been identified as among the Puglia municipalities at highest risk from coastal hazards, owing to the combination of eroding sandy shorelines, low elevations and high exposure of built-up areas. In settings such as these, the design of breakwaters, groynes and rubble-mound seawalls is about more than protecting the shoreline: it is also about the safety and resilience of towns, infrastructure, economic activities and coastal ecosystems. 

Research and studies have been underway at the Polytechnic University of Bari for some time. A recent, promising project is taking on the challenge of erosion and proposing new solutions. The project is called “PRO-ARMOUR” and is the winner of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, considered one of the most prestigious and selective awards in Europe. The idea originated at the Polytechnic University of Bari from research by Giulio Scaravaglione, a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Bari affiliated with the Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh). Rated 96.8/100 and awarded over €217,000 for the 2026–2028 two-year period, the project will be carried out in collaboration with the prestigious and historic Delft University of Technology (Netherlands). At Poliba, studies and scale models will be developed at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory (LIC), the largest of its kind in Italy. The research will involve Poliba professors Alessandra Saponieri, Leonardo Damiani and Michele Mossa.

The project. PRO-ARMOUR – “AI-driven probabilistic method for response-based design of rock armour slopes” – is dedicated to developing new tools for designing breakwaters and rubble-mound dams made of natural rock. Moving beyond an exclusively deterministic and predictable approach, the project aims to assess the response of individual armour stones to wave action and the consequent probability of reaching different damage conditions. The challenge is not simply to build larger structures, but to better understand how they respond to waves and design them to the level of safety actually required, limiting overdesign, costs and environmental impact.

Artificial intelligence and probabilistic design. The new design method will be based on a probabilistic approach that accounts for the natural variability of waves, water levels, rock properties and hydrodynamic forces, as well as the associated uncertainties. Artificial intelligence will be used to make simulations more efficient through data-driven models informed by the physics of the phenomenon, combining computational efficiency with interpretability. The goal is to develop tools capable of quantifying the risk of instability and supporting more informed design choices, including under future climate scenarios.

The experimental work. A central part of PRO-ARMOUR will be carried out at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory (LIC) of the Polytechnic University of Bari, where three-dimensional tests will be conducted on scale models of rubble-mound structures under shallow-water conditions. Sensors, optical systems, video tracking and 3D surveys will make it possible to observe the movement of armour-layer elements and the onset of damage, generating a new, high-resolution experimental dataset for model calibration and validation. International collaboration will thus also involve experimental activities conducted in Apulia and the enhancement of the Polytechnic University of Bari’s research infrastructure.

The results. The ultimate goal is to translate the research into a practical, applicable tool: open-access Python software for assessing the risk of armour layer instability and comparing different design solutions. More risk-aware design can help reduce the consumption of stone material, costs and CO₂, while also improving structures’ ability to adapt to future climate scenarios.

Who is the winner. Giulio Scaravaglione, 30, from Bari, is a hydraulic civil engineer and researcher in the field of coastal and maritime engineering. He graduated with honours in Civil Engineering, specialising in Hydraulics, from the Polytechnic University of Bari, and subsequently earned a PhD in “Environmental, Territorial and Building Risk and Development” at the same university. His research focuses in particular on the design of coastal and port defence structures, physical experimentation, modelling coastal processes and wave–structure interactions, and developing probabilistic methods for risk assessment. Alongside his studies at the Polytechnic University of Bari, Scaravaglione has undertaken several research placements abroad: at Imperial College London (UK); at the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, United States; and at Delft University of Technology (NL). 

Press release.

The P.A.C.T. Project At Poliba, Provinces working together to foster the growth of their territories 

Experiences, good practices and operational guidelines for road infrastructure in the regions of Southern Italy

A total of 29 Provinces in Southern Italy are involved in the PACT project, representing the seven beneficiary regions: Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. The Polytechnic University of Bari, the scientific partner for interventions on road infrastructure, will present the final report of the survey conducted across all the Provinces

Bari, 5 October 2026 – The P.A.C.T. Project is bringing the Provinces of Southern Italy to the Polytechnic University of Bari. It will do so on Thursday, 8 October, at 10:00 a.m., with the workshop “Provincial road infrastructure: experiences, good practices and operational guidelines.” 

The initiative, organised by the Union of Italian Provinces (UPI) in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Bari, aims to promote the project “P.A.C.T. (Provinces Working Together to Foster the Growth of Their Territories), funded by the Complementary Cohesion Action Programme to the 2014–2020 PON “Governance and Institutional Capacity” ERDF-ESF, which will conclude at the end of 2026, with a total duration of 12 months.

The specific objectives of the Project are: strengthening the role of the Single Contracting Authority in the Provinces involved; supporting the Provinces in revitalising investment, with particular regard to the design, management and implementation of road projects; and assisting the Provinces in carrying out their strategic planning role in support of the local area. These objectives involve 29 Provinces located in 7 regions of southern Italy: Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. 

The meeting, to be held in the “Attilio Alto” Main Hall at Poliba (university campus), will bring together road network representatives and technical directors from the 29 Provinces in Southern Italy involved in the project, representing the seven regions benefiting from the 2021–2027 National Programme for Capacity for Cohesion.

In the four working sessions scheduled, the Polytechnic University of Bari, scientific partner for the Road Infrastructure Action Line, will present the final report of the survey conducted across the 29 Provinces. This will cover the condition of road networks, organisational capacity, and management and maintenance models. These findings will be complemented by a dedicated analysis of OpenBDAP data for the 2020–2024 period. The data for this period are particularly important because they capture public spending and investment during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recovery phase linked to the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

Considerable space will be devoted to local experiences. An open discussion session with provincial representatives will address practical issues: investment planning using PNRR funds, cohesion policies and ordinary resources; the status of the road cadastre and prospects for digital innovation; and relations with the MIT, the Single ZES and the Regions in securing funding for projects.

The concluding round table will present the tools made available to the Provinces: the Specialist Support Unit and the tool for prioritising road works according to technical and functional, territorial, planning and financial criteria. 

Program. The opening institutional session will include at 10:00 a.m., greetings from the Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari, Umberto Fratino; the Puglia Region’s Councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility, Raffaele Piemontese; and the President of UPI Puglia and the Province of Taranto, Gianfranco Palmisano.

Four sessions are scheduled. The first, 10:30 a.m. , features two presentations: “The Polytechnic University of Bari in the P.A.C.T. Project”; Michele Ottomanelli, Poliba e “The P.A.C.T. Project and the Road Action Line: objectives and approach”; Andrea Pacella, Head of the Projects Area, Union of Italian Provinces. The other three sessions will follow.

Press release.

The proceedings will also be accessible via streaming by connecting to seguente link

ISMAR 2026.  With contributions from Poliba, mixed and augmented reality from 5 to 9 October 

The Realities We Want. The Global Future on Display in Bari: Research and Applications 

More than 650 experts and researchers from universities, research centres and industries around the world are expected to attend. The organisation also involves more than 900 people in the scientific paper review process.

Bari, 2 October 2026 – The combined effects of immersive technologies, artificial intelligence and sensors, multiplied by their rapid development, are bringing the future—with all its countless possibilities—within reach in our time, ready to be put into practice. One example? The success of Smartglasses: intelligent, connected glasses that are set to succeed ordinary smartphones and can integrate miniature screens, minicomputers and other sensors capable of analysing the wearer’s surroundings. 

Smartglasses free the user’s hands and can automatically display useful information when needed, even overlaying it on the real world. One application? Road navigation and safety: there will no longer be any need to look away while driving. Other examples and applications of this technology span very different fields, such as industry, museums, exhibitions, medical wellness, sport and video games. Other highly multidisciplinary applications range from applied sciences such as engineering and computer science to the humanities, including cognitive ergonomics, psychology and interaction design. 

One catalyst behind these rapid changes is the global scientific community working in the IEEE field of (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 500 mila aderenti, 160 Paesi), mixed and augmented reality, the world’s largest technical professional organisation. 

Amid this technological ferment, with wide-ranging implications that also raise ethical questions, IEEE will bring the 25th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, known as ISMAR 2026, to Bari for a week, from 5 to 9 October. It is one of the world’s most prestigious scientific events in this field. 

More than 650 researchers, students, professionals and innovators from universities, research centres and industries around the world are expected to attend. The organisation also involves more than 900 people in the scientific paper review process, 70 chairs and 50 international student volunteers.

ISMAR 2026 was organised by an international committee coordinated by the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (DMMM) at the Polytechnic University of Bari (Poliba scientific contacts: Profs. Antonio Emmanuele Uva and Michele Fiorentino). It is sponsored by the Polytechnic University of Bari and the Municipality of Bari, with support from leading industrial and research organisations: Google, MTM Project, Khronos Group, HIT Lab and the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). 

The Polytechnic University of Bari is particularly closely involved in research in this field, with a large group, “Vr3Group”, comprising more than 26 faculty members and researchers from the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (coordinator: Prof. Uva), which has built a solid international reputation over three decades, 

The programme for the event in Puglia, available on the website (www.ieeeismar.net/2026), is packed and varied: the first two days (5–6 October) are introductory and dedicated to tutorials, thematic workshops and activities for young researchers. 

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for 7 October at 9:00 a.m. The organisers will open proceedings and announce the best contributions among the 345 scientific papers already selected through a rigorous peer-review process. The schedule includes three days of parallel sessions on topics such as perception, tracking and 3D reconstruction of environments, intelligent and adaptive interfaces, accessibility, privacy, collaboration, well-being, education and social impact. Each day will include poster and demo presentations, as well as a talk. 

All activities will take place in Bari, at the conference centre of the Nicolaus Hotel.

Press release.