Voices from biodiversity

Italian biodiversity is a still largely unexplored treasure , capable of offering innovative solutions for human health and environmental sustainability. This is the context for the work coordinated by Flavia Guzzo, professor of botany at the University of Verona, who leads a team of more than 100 researchers within the NBFC project. At the center of their efforts is the enhancement of native and allochthonous Italian plants through careful chemical and biological analysis to identify properties useful in the development of nutraceuticals, natural medicines and tools for a more ecologicalagriculture. Through a rigorous, multidisciplinary approach, also supported by artificial intelligence, the group is paving the way for new applications of plant biomolecules, while promoting biodiversity protection and basic scientific research.

Marine restoration is a key activity to restore ecosystems damaged by human activities or natural events. The goal is to restore the biodiversity, functionality, and resilience of these vital environments.

When it comes to assessing the health of everything that lives in the sea, marine ecologists come into play. Gennaro Ucciero is one of them, and his doctoral project (carried out between the University of Palermo, the NBFC office in the Sicilian capital, the Laboratory of Marine Ecology at the Federico II University of Naples and the PRISMA Lab at the same university) puts a twist on traditional survey methods.

Is it possible to welcome exotic plants into urban greenery without causing harm, and if so, which ones is best to choose? This is one of the strands of research by Chiara Montagnani, a botanist specializing in the complex field of alien or exotic species.

In the second year of her doctorate in drug science, Teresa De Rosa, at the Federico II University of Naples, studies cyanobacteria, single-celled organisms without which the world as we know it would not exist. Some of the oldest bacteria on Earth, with fossil records dating back at least 2.1 billion years, these microscopic organisms are the focus of her research for several reasons: De Rosa studies their biodiversity, prevalence and potential.

In spy films, satellites are often used to uncover illicit trafficking and monitor the movements of enemy agents. In reality they can serve something monto different but equally fascinating: monitoring the health of marine biodiversity. Marzia Cianflone, a molecular biologist, does just that.

Studying the biodiversity of Italy’s coasts required, until yesterday, suitable boats, large teams, sophisticated machinery and substantial funds. The development of a small, low-cost autonomous vehicle changes the scenario and opens the door, potentially, to more frequent campaigns and more accurate data, within the reach (even) of small administrations.