SUPSI opens new competence center for climate change

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) has inaugurated a new competence center that will seek to deal with issues connected to climate change. The new center is the brainchild of the Department of Environment, Construction and Design (DACD) and is based in Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino. According to a press release, it will focus on three core areas: Research into the scientific basis of climate change, climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation.

Approximately 50 researchers will work at the CCCT (abbreviation derived from the center’s official Italian name: Centro competenze cambiamento climatico e territorio) Their research activities will, for example, be focused on the development of measures aimed at dealing with mosquitoes or monitoring systems that can alert to the warming of permafrost in the Ticino Alps. Many of the researched topics also revolve around renewable energies.

Overall, the CCCT will aim to strengthen and coordinate interdisciplinary competencies at SUPSI. To this end, it will also work together with cantonal institutions and associations. The center’s partners also include the association TicinoEnergia, based in Bellinzona, with which SUPSI has already collaborates on projects in the area of climate-friendly buildings.