by InTrieste
For the first time, the University of Trieste will host its Ph.D. Graduation Day not within the traditional confines of academia, but in the open air of Piazza Verdi. On the evening of Monday, July 14, the city’s central square will transform into a stage where academic achievement, scientific outreach, and music converge in a public celebration.
Beginning at 9 p.m., the ceremony will mark the conferment of doctoral degrees to the university’s newest researchers. The event is part of Triestestate, the city’s summer cultural program, and seeks to bridge the gap between the university and the wider community by spotlighting the role of research in shaping the future.
The evening will feature scientific storytelling, musical interludes, and the traditional gesture of graduates tossing their caps — an academic ritual now reimagined as a civic moment. Organizers say the format is designed to make science more accessible and to highlight the accomplishments of young scholars whose work contributes to the region’s intellectual and social development.
The ceremony will also carry personal significance for University Rector Roberto Di Lenarda, who is set to conclude his term at the helm of the institution. Di Lenarda will address graduates and citizens alike, offering a message that underscores the university’s mission beyond its walls.
“This is not just a graduation,” said a university spokesperson. “It’s a celebration of knowledge, of community, and of the vital role science plays in our daily lives.”
The event is free and open to the public.
