The aim of Vincenzo's project is to collect and analyse data on the presence of different cetacean species in the waters off the Tremiti Islands and the Island of Giglio. Cetaceans are key species within an ecosystem, whose presence determines the balance between other species and the entire ecosystem, and can therefore be used as bio-indicators, i.e. indicators of the health of the ecosystem itself.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Using an anthropological methodology, Francesca intends to explore the relationships between school, culture and education in Lampedusa. The research aims to actively involve the local community, families and teachers in identifying the criticalities and opportunities that affect growth on Lampedusa and the educational contexts in which people grow and which we can define as educating communities.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Simone's project is to catalogue, study and promote Ischia's "palmenti rupestri", ancient structures for transforming grapes into wine, by creating ad hoc tourist itineraries. The aim, apart from the archaeological one of getting to know these structures better on a typological and topographical level, is to promote the island's viticultural history by bringing these production structures dug out of the rock to the attention of the general public, also with a view to a hopefully better protection, now that they are an integral part of Ischia's agricultural landscape.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Mirko will be collecting morphological data on two species of lacertid, Podarcis muralis and Podarcis siculus, on the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, in order to understand their adaptive capacity - in particular that of the common lizard, an invasive species not only nationally but internationally - and to assess the potential impact of its presence on congeneric species. The ultimate aim of Mirko's project is to create a support network for other conservation projects aimed at protecting other species threatened by the field lizard.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Melissa is a great enthusiast and scholar of archaeology and her project aims to study the finds made in the waters around the island of Ischia. The intention is to contribute to the research carried out in previous years for a detailed reconstruction of the underwater landscape of the island in order to understand its historical, environmental and economic role. Through this analysis, Melissa will try to reconstruct the circulation of the materials studied, establishing or rejecting a possible contact between the islands of the Gulf of Naples and the Aeolian Islands. The final aim of her project is to give back to the community a part of the historical and material tradition and to promote awareness through dissemination.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

The small islands of the Mediterranean are true biodiversity hotspots, and among them fireflies are of particular interest, as their systematics is very confused and many island species may represent point endemics. Alessandro will attempt to resolve the taxonomy of insular fireflies, with particular reference to the Tuscan and Circumsolar Islands, using DNA barcoding techniques. A complete understanding of their genetics is crucial for the development of targeted conservation strategies, which are essential for the preservation of these ecologically important insects.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Jan's project consists of sampling the vocalisations of certain bird species on the Pontine Islands, with a particular focus on the island of Ventotene. The aim of the project is to verify possible differences in the vocalisations of sedentary species compared to the other islands and the mainland, and to highlight peculiarities in the vocalisations of migratory species that use the Mediterranean islands as a resting place during their spring and autumn migrations. With his research, Jan wants to increase interest in bioacoustics at the ornithological level, which is sorely lacking in Italy but very present abroad.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Silvia will carry out anthropological research on the built and lived space of Lampedusa. She will work with the inhabitants of the island on a variety of themes: rootedness to the territory and the perception of community, the presence of migrants, the presence and absence of the state, and finally the needs, necessities and imaginaries of the future. The result will be an account of the island through the voices of its inhabitants. The aim of the research is to give voice, in a broad, structured and complex way, to those who inhabit the territories affected by incoming migration processes, in order to be able to imagine trajectories of coexistence that are open to all.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Vincenzo's project aims to sequence the entire genome of Podarcis siculus coerulea, a particular species of blue-bellied lizard endemic to the Faraglione di Capri Scopolo. The aim is to understand the evolutionary processes and thus contribute to the conservation of this unique species. For Vincenzo, this is the first step towards taking an active part in the preservation of our planet, through the active protection and study of Italy's small islands, fragile habitats but rich in beauty.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Writing has always been a part of Beatrice's world. Ever since she was a child, she has used her tireless pen to create countless stories and tales. Thanks to the support of the Sanlorenzo Foundation, Beatrice will have the opportunity to live in Rome and attend a master's degree course in creative writing, so that she can develop her skills and realise her dream of writing a novel!

Passionate about nature, biodiversity and the animal world in particular, Giulia will carry out research on the Pontine and Parthenopean islands to study the 'small island' effect on pollinating insects. The objectives of this research include understanding the ecosystem complexity and the relationships between flowering plants and pollinators in order to design targeted interventions to improve community resilience, ecosystem protection and biodiversity conservation. The study conducted on the islands will provide insight into phenomena that would be much more complex elsewhere, and at the same time, will allow important lessons to be learned about how island ecosystems function and how they are best managed by humans.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Ludovica is a student at the University of Catania and thanks to a grant from the foundation she will be able to conduct a microbiological investigation into the fermentation of Passito di Pantelleria DOC wine for her thesis project. The accurate study of the heterogeneous microbiome, which is resistant to particular stress conditions, could become an important resource from the perspective of the Sicilian economy, but also, by isolating and banking the strains, a great possibility to protect local biodiversity.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Thanks to the support of the Sanlorenzo Foundation, Wiktor will be able to explore the impacts on sustainable territorial development of the Tuscan Islands following the UNESCO Man and Biosphere recognition, with the aim of verifying how this recognition has affected key aspects of sustainable development such as territorial governance, economy, society and environment. In turn, Wiktor's project aims to become a driver for the sustainable development of the territory, proposing an innovative approach to the actions undertaken following the recognition that takes into consideration an accurate definition and constant detection of the impacts.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

The biodiversity of the Minor Islands is at high risk of extinction as a consequence of limited species abundance, small populations and low genetic diversity that increase the fragility of ecosystems. With the support of the Sanlorenzo Foundation, Gioele will develop a multi-taxonomic database of invasive alien and native species on the Italian Minor Islands. At the end of the development, the database will be accessible through a web page and will allow for the identification of the areas - islands or archipelagos - with the highest density of invasive alien species, allowing for the proper development of local and national management projects that focus on the conservation of native biological richness.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

The island of Ischia is rich in history and not only on land! With her project Michela will have the opportunity to immerse herself in Ischia's past at the site of Aenaria, an ancient and submerged Roman settlement. With her research in the field of underwater archaeology, Michela will thus have the opportunity to acquire all the data - archival and bibliographic - to systemise an initial reading of the main historical and archaeological dynamics that will contribute to its valorisation in the broader territorial context of the island of Ischia.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Thanks to the support of the Sanlorenzo Foundation, Alberto will be able to deepen his knowledge of the economic consequences of climate change on the agricultural sector of the small Mediterranean islands, in particular the Aeolian Archipelago. By quantifying the economic impacts that Aeolian agriculture may suffer as rainfall and temperature changes, Alberto will be able to provide useful indications for the definition of long-term strategies capable of minimising the archipelago's vulnerability.

The project is realised in partnership with Fondazione Cecilia Gilardi

Great ambition and a spirit of initiative are the qualities that distinguish Edoardo, a brilliant young man who is confident that each of our actions can make a difference to improve society! Thanks to the support of the Sanlorenzo Foundation, Edoardo will be able to attend the bachelor course in Economics and Management at Oxford University, so that he can get the best possible education and return to Italy to realise his dream: to help young Italians discover and seize all the opportunities our country has to offer!