Andrea Rinaldo
Emeritus Professor of the University of Padua and at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Opening Ceremony of the 2nd Semester 2025-26
Thursday, February 19, 2025, at 9.30 am
Aula Magna
Opening Remarks
Amb. Umberto Vattani, President of Venice International University
Prof. Carmelo Marabello, Dean of Venice International University
Venice International University is honored to welcome Prof. Andrea Rinaldo as the distinguished speaker for the Opening Ceremony of the Second Semester.
Lectio Magistralis
The Arctic and Venice. Consequences
The lecture will examine the consequences of developments in the Arctic region for the city of Venice and its environment. As a concrete and globally visible example of the impacts of the Anthropocene, Venice’s fate encapsulates the challenges faced by coastal zones and transitional environments where the built environment cannot be relocated. Venice therefore becomes a central episode in the crisis of the modernity, for several reasons. One concerns the role of social discounting in public policies aimed at preserving both built and natural environments, which calls for robust science, engineering, architecture, and social awareness capable of producing convincing quantitative assessments. Related issues include the predictability of the future of natural capital, the challenges of urban maintenance, and the fair distribution of privileges and resources. Time is ripe to rethink distributive justice in resource management and in evolving models of social and economic development, potentially outlining a general path toward reducing global inequalities, viewed through the magnifying lens of Venice’s fate. Prompt and vocal action is required: the future of the city is at stake, and the necessary tools to seek solutions are already available.
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Prof. Andrea Rinaldo (Venice, 1954). Emeritus Professor of the University of Padua and of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, >350 journal papers, four books,~35,000 citations, h-index=111. Research associate: MIT (1993-2001), Princeton (2004-2008). Fellow: Hagler Institute of Advanced Studies at Texas A&M University. Among recognitions: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, US National Academy of Sciences, US Academy of Engineering, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Istituto Veneto di Scienze Lettere ed Arti (currently its president). In 2023 he received from HM the King of Sweden the STOCKHOLM WATER PRIZE
The Opening Ceremony of the 2nd Semester 2025-2026 will be held in conjunction with the Arctic in Venice Conference.
This conference explores the polar regions as critical observatories of planetary change and global responsibility.
Scholars and scientists from VIU member institutions, including leading experts in ocean science, climate research, environmental humanities, and emerging technologies, will meet at VIU for a one-day conference to exchange perspectives across disciplines and geographies.
The program highlights Italy’s scientific presence in the Arctic and examines why the poles are central to climate regulation and sea-level dynamics.
It addresses future challenges in ocean science, reflects on the symbolic link between Venice and the North Pole, and emphasizes shared vulnerabilities in water-shaped environments.
The Globalization Program this semester offers students of the member universities the opportunity to take courses on intercultural communication, global governance and critical aspects of globalization, which will provide insights into the complexities of cultural exchange and identity in a globalized world. Specialization tracks focus on environmental sustainability and the use of resources, covering topics such as sustainable business models, food systems, policies for biodiversity conservation. Urban studies courses analyze city development and heritage, while environmental humanities investigate the evolving relationship between humans and nature. This dynamic curriculum equips students with a global perspective, critical analytical skills, and a deeper understanding of pressing contemporary issues. Every semester of the program there is a core course offering through which students can study Venice’s history, architecture, and artistic heritage, and examine Italian contemporary history through film, while language learners can enhance their proficiency in Italian at various levels.
