Monday, July 22, 2024
By: Jori Rzepecki
The University of Florida’s College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) hosted an event in southern Italy last month, showcasing its commitment to global collaboration and climate resilience.
On June 19, UF’s Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) partnered with Fondazione ENI Enrico Mattei (FEEM) for an event supported by the U.S. Mission Italy Annual Program Statement 2023, funded by the U.S. Department of State.
The day began with a workshop, followed by the International Symposium ReclaiMEDlanD. The symposium focused on climate adaptation, design and community participation, with a focus on learning from local communities in Basilicata and Romagna about their environmental challenges.
“The collaboration between FIBER and FEEM brought attention to the UF community through social media acknowledgement and public streaming,” FIBER Assistant Director and Assistant Scholar Carla Brisotto said. “The exchange developed a reflection on how starting from the study of place is essential in understanding future changes.”
Faculty from UF’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management, School Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture and other departments on campus presented a unified front on climate issues (Carney, Saldana, Bean, Schroder, Brisotto, Calle, Galinski, Von Meding).
“By developing content with faculty across DCP and UF, we managed to deliver a comprehensive presentation on climate adaptation,” Brisotto explained. “Our panel was presented as one narrative answering four questions tackled from different expertise and disciplinary knowledge.”
The symposium’s success has opened doors for future collaborations.
Brisotto noted, “We already have started a collaboration with the Matera UNESCO chair that might lead to future endeavors. We have also connected with Italian individuals, scholars and organizations that could lead to future collaborative work.”
By engaging with local stakeholders, UF faculty and students gained valuable insights into how different communities are facing climate challenges. Looking ahead, the collaboration between UF and its Italian partners shows promising potential.
“This collaboration is a seed for future research and collaboration,” Brisotto said. “The first outcome will be a detailed paper summarizing the symposium results.”
As climate change continues to pose global challenges, international partnerships like this one may prove crucial in developing innovative solutions. The UF-FEEM collaboration serves as a model for how academic institutions can work across borders to address pressing environmental issues.
