The 2019 edition of the Forum organized by AIGU took place in Trieste from April 5 to 7. Open to all young Italians and a cornerstone event for AIGU’s organizational life, the second international forum was entirely dedicated to UNESCO’s major themes.
The young participating members, aged between 18 and 35, were the key protagonists of the event. By exchanging ideas and immersing themselves in various UNESCO themes, they sparked discussions on the enhancement, development, and transmission of Italian cultural heritage.
The Themes
Following Roma, Naples, and Matera, in 2019 the Italian Youth Forum focused on the themes of science, the environment, protection of the sea, and all the applications of science and culture to society and the sustainable development of the planet.
Each year, the Forum takes place in one of the most significant locations relative to the topic being addressed. Trieste—home to internationally renowned scientific and research institutes and European City of Science 2020—represented the ideal location in this regard.
The Protagonists
Numerous contributions were planned featuring speakers from institutions, science, culture, and the third sector. Among these were the President of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO Franco Bernabè, Pia Pietrangeli (UNESCO Office – MIBAC), the UN Youth Delegate, Casa Surace, and Diva Tommei (founder of Solenica).
Through this event, civil society, as well as the scientific and cultural communities, are engaged on a specific UNESCO theme to contribute—via discussions between AIGU members and leading industry experts—to the development of campaigns, strategies, and contributions valuable to the public debate.
The 2019 Forum was also part of the proESOF activities, the program of events curated by the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) held in July 2020.
