UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI SASSARI
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI SASSARI
The origins of the University are linked to Alessio Fontana, who in 1558 left his assets to the municipality for the establishment of a college of studies entrusted to the Society of Jesus, whose courses began in 1562. In 1612, a papal bull granted the Jesuits the authority to award academic degrees in philosophy and theology, while on February 9, 1617, King Philip III granted, exclusively for the faculties of Philosophy and Theology, the status of a university under royal law. A second founder was Antonio Canopolo, who provided the University with new classrooms, the majestic Great Hall (Aula Magna), and substantial financial contributions. His coat of arms is still visible in the entrance hall. A further step occurred in 1632, when a royal charter authorized the granting of degrees in law and medicine; the University was later restored in 1765 in accordance with reforms introduced by the Savoy government. In 1765, internal regulations were approved, officially recognizing four faculties: Philosophy and Arts, Theology, Law, and Medicine. Through cultural exchange, professors from Piedmont were appointed, guiding the University of Sassari toward a European academic culture and expanding scientific research.
The University is organized into the following departments: Agriculture; Architecture, Design and Urban Planning; Chemistry and Pharmacy; Law; Veterinary Medicine; Biomedical Sciences; Economics and Business; Medical, Surgical, and Experimental Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; History, Human Sciences and Education; Chemical, Physical, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. The project involves the Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, specifically the research group coordinated by Prof. Ceccherelli, whose main research areas are:
- Spread of introduced marine algae in the Mediterranean;
- Effectiveness of protection in Marine Protected Areas;
- Mechanisms regulating the spatial distribution of sea urchins;
- Effects of multiple stressors on resilient communities;
- Natural and anthropogenic models of Coralligenous habitats;
- Mechanisms regulating community assembly rules of sand dune communities.
Role of UNISASSARI
- Characterization of Habitat 1170 through tank and in-situ experimentation to develop restoration protocols
- Pilot experimentation for the transplantation of coralligenous habitats in pre-identified sites
- Development of restoration protocols for Corallium rubrum
- Reintroduction of organisms from Habitat 1170 into natural habitats and artificial substrates
- Monitoring of transplanted coralligenous structures, Pinna nobilis, and rubrumin natural and artificial habitats
