By Gege Li
Geothermal energy is the natural heat produced within the planet
It can escape as steam or fluid through cracks in Earth’s surface
for example – or to be exploited as a source of energy
“All the [inhabitants] I have met have given me back incredible positive feelings
almost sacred gift,” says Avantaggiato
He believes the practices in these “small
autonomous energy communities” are “very important resources for guaranteeing a sustainable and environmentally friendly future”
show (above): the contrast between vegetation and white
sulphurous rocks at the Biancane nature park; the Valle del Diavolo
with the Monterotondo 1 geothermal power plant and its extraction and injection well; geochemist Rosario Avino analysing the composition of volcanic gas at Biancane; and the inside of the Monterotondo 1 power plant’s cooling tower
Wanted in RomeMagazine
Home schooling has been a challenge due to a combination of factors: lack of preparedness on the part of the school because the decision to close schools was taken overnight and without warning; difficulty of organising a coordinated approach given the restrictions on movement; lack of digital capacity on the part of some families
with different teachers using different electronic platforms to feed materials and instructions to their pupils
Many parents have had problems accessing these – and some do not have the ability to follow through
The bottom line is that we are all doing what we can – and in our case fortunately my husband Paolo is able to devote himself to the home schooling almost full-time
There will be a lot of catching up to do once schools reopen (probably well after 3 April) and children will inevitably be at different stages depending on how much they have been able to do at home
but it is rumoured that there could be an extension until July
The restrictions on movement have brought people together in surprising ways
Digital communication has increased enormously and the six o’clock chorus is now part of the collective routine
Here in Monterotondo neighbours have set up loud-speaker systems on their balconies and terraces and treated us to daily concerts of the anthems of the armed forces
Italians have responded to the measures with considerable self-discipline and responsibility
There has not been the level of confusion or panic seen in other countries
due largely I think to the clear line taken by the government from the outset
which is being reinforced by very stringent policing
The leadership – both at central and at local level here in Monterotondo – has been exceptional
Food shopping has not been a particular problem
although it takes much longer than usual given the limit on the number of people who can enter a given shop at any time
people move respectfully around each other and the shelves
maintaining the recommended one-metre distance
There is little sense of suspicion or fear
but it has freed up a lot of time (and energy) that I would normally spend commuting to and from Rome
it helps knowing that my colleagues are in the same position
and while initially I felt frustrated by my lack of productivity
now I have learned to lower my expectations of what can (and should) be done
Life has slowed down and it has been an opportunity to remind ourselves of what really matters: relationship
Media are providing regular lists of ideas and suggestions for filling the days and colleagues also circulate a daily newsletter of resources
this is only my personal and very partial experience
based also on the fact that all the people close to me are in good health and that Monterotondo has only been affected very mildly (8 confirmed cases as of 18 March)
The restrictions mean that it is difficult to get a proper sense of what is going on beyond the four walls of the home
I know of many painful stories: one colleague was unable to be with her father when he died and nor could there be a funeral;
an Italian friend living outside the country will be unable to assist her mother when she begins her first cycle of chemotherapy in Rome;
many families have seen their sources of livelihood disappear almost overnight
and those living on the margins of society (refugees and migrants
the homeless...) are particularly vulnerable
NGOs and faith-based organisations mobilised immediately to identify and fill the protection gaps where possible
And charitable donations in support of the struggling health service and other relevant causes have skyrocketed
It is unclear how long the situation will last – but there will definitely be a ‘before and after’
no one knows what the ‘after’ will look like
Economically it is likely to be disastrous
But if the lessons are learned and we make them our own
on many levels it could be better than the ‘before’
Laura Clarke worked for Wanted in Rome for many years and is now witih the UNHCR in Rome
but at the moment is working from home in Monterotondo about 30 kms northeast of the capital
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Recent graduate Caroline Sawyer had the opportunity to take what she learned in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Dairy Science program and apply it to a lesser-known animal – the water buffalo
Sawyer recently returned from the fourth International Buffalo Federation training program in Monterotondo
who earned her degree in dairy science in May 2019
initially became interested in agriculture in the developing world – and dairy water buffaloes in particular – on previous visits to Punjab state in northern India
These visits were made as part of her first career
as an associate professor of Islamic Studies at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury
near New York City. Having initially visited to learn about religion and culture in that region adjacent to Pakistan
Sawyer was so struck by the different systems of agriculture that
after publishing an article about a Punjabi Sufi shrine
she ultimately left the position to pursue a second career connected with agriculture
The particular agricultural subject she had an interest in was water buffaloes
While water buffaloes are only a small niche market in the United States
primarily raised to produce buffalo mozzarella cheese
I saw it wasn't just me," said Sawyer. "From the United Kingdom to Germany
I heard participants express what I felt: that when you look in the eye of a water buffalo you see a soul there
Sawyer was among 24 participants who traveled from 15 countries to the 10-day training in May
were the only two participants hailing from North America
The training offered studies in water buffalo management and water buffalo milk products
including scientific presentations and visits to six water buffalo farms and three cheese-making operations
“The training program built on UW-Platteville’s dairy science curriculum – which I had just recently completed – almost point by point
allowing me to apply it to water buffaloes,” said Sawyer
“The participants included veterinarians and buffalo farmers
among whom I had the least experience working with bovid animals
But the dairy science major at UW-Platteville enabled me to maintain confidence and gain respect among them.”
Sawyer said that because water buffalo research isn’t common at U.S
it was difficult for her to discover this focus – until
She plans to pursue a master’s degree and possibly a Ph.D
which she can then transfer to water buffaloes
“Being with a group of enthusiasts about these animals
I gained even more sense of optimism about prospects for expanding their numbers,” said Sawyer
“In addition to production of milk that has a particularly high nutrient value
they are also perceived as digesting feed more efficiently
therefore producing less climate-destructive gas than bovine cattle
learning about their biology and management allows for valuable insight into dairy science in a global perspective.”
Funding for Sawyer’s travel to and attendance at the IBF training was provided by the UW-Platteville School of Agriculture and the College of Business
Life Science and Agriculture dean’s office; previous travel to present a poster at the ninth annual Asian Buffalo Congress in India in 2018 was also funded by the School of Agriculture
The company owned by Chiama inaugurated a cashierless 24/7 store in Monterotondo with plans to expand its reach with new openings
has opened its first convenience store in Monterotondo
the location offers customers the possibility of round-the-clock shopping via its app
the company has inaugurated its first of several cashierless stores set to be located in strategic urban locations
The outlets are set to be retrofitted newsstands with a modern format or built inside apartment buildings
"Slipop makes it possible to have a new format of an under-home supermarket
A point in which to find everything you need in a few minutes
A new experience that brings the city into an innovative European dimension," said Mauro De Dominicis
according to a report by local news site GdoWeek
The space is equipped with video surveillance systems that protect the safety of citizens inside
the retailer aims to offer users an omnichannel shopping experience to choose the shopping option that best suits their needs
is also the creator of the Supermercato.casa app
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Photographer Luigi Avantaggiato went there to take a look behind the scenes
But hidden in a place called 'Devil's Valley' there is a different side to Tuscany
A dangerous and volatile side that is a hotbed of geothermal activity
This valley is the home of the world's oldest geothermal power station
theLarderello planthas been producing electricity ever since
harnessing the escaping natural gases that force themselves through cracks in the soil from the rocks below
Pipes drilled deep into the ground at the site capture the naturally-produced steam from the rocks below
Devil's Valley
situated in southern Tuscany between Pisa and Siena
is scarred by natural and artificial cracks from which hot steam and fluids emerge at temperatures that can reach between 130°C and 160°C
The cultivation of this renewable underground resource has made it possible to transform a geographically harsh area of Italy into one of the world's most famous renewable energy sites.In fact, the Larderello power plant was the only commercial geothermal energy plant in the world until the opening of the Wairakei power station in New Zealand in 1958
Now, there are over 25 geothermal power plants across the world
with potentially more to be built in order to harness an abundant and sustainable resource
Di Giacinto began his culinary journey at the age of 14
His career took him to work in Spain and England
where he had the opportunity to train with renowned chefs like Ferran Adrià and Marco Pierre White
These experiences deeply influenced his culinary style
leading him to explore new techniques and flavor combinations
who would become his wife and business partner
they opened the restaurant All’Oro in Rome in 2007
distinguished by a deep harmony of service and cuisine
as well as the playful component of the entire tasting experience
Di Giacinto’s approach is based on creating understandable and tasty dishes that elevate flavors and local products
His idea is to offer customers contemporary dishes while respecting the past
All’Oro restaurant received a Michelin star
recognizing the effort put in by the entire team
The management of the restaurant reflects a counter-current approach to communication
focusing on brand growth (which includes several other signs
such as Casa Loca) rather than the figure of the chef
This choice reflects the vision of the chef and Ramona
always aimed at growing their culinary world without resorting to media excesses
Riccardo Di Giacinto’s cuisine is celebrated for its creativity and ability to reinterpret tradition in a modern key
making each dish a complete multisensory experience
Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world
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in the Council's room of the Municipality of Monterotondo (RM)
a public conference was held to name after the secondary school (before 'Marco Polo') 'Angelo Frammartino'
The school is located in the historic centre of Monterotondo
the Councillor for financial and budget policies of the Province of Rome
Gabriele Martinelli and Professor Antonio Papisca of the University of Padua.They participated in the dialogue For a school in the service of a society
founded on the recognition of universal human rights
The school was named after Angelo Frammartino
a young Italian pacifist killed in Jerusalem on 10th August 2006 by a Palestinian
Angelo was there as volunteer in the framework of the project "La torre del fenicottero" (The tower of the flamingo) aimed at helping children
victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Metrics details
Nadia Rosenthal is an example of the reverse brain drain
from Harvard Medical School to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo was triggered by the transfer in the opposite direction of Klaus Rajewsky
She now has his old job running EMBL's mouse research program
Rosenthal shared her views of the two research settings with Nature Medicine
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