UNIVERSITY OF TUSCIA

They are Irina Streza and Francesco Marotti, and they are to be congratulated by the entire department. Dr Streza presented a dissertation entitled ‘Innovation of Crocus sativus cultivation systems in high-tech structures’ and did her training at the Vivaio Pietro Mariani (Alatri, FR), while Dr Marotti shared with the degree committee his ‘Design of aquaponic greenhouse systems’ and his training experience at the companies Biogya seeds (Tarquinia, VT) and Montvert (San Giorgio di Nogaro, UD). For both graduates, the training experience was extremely formative, involving 1250 hours of in-company work. The internship ‘at a floriculture company allowed me to acquire the necessary working skills for the agamic propagation of ornamental species in high-tech greenhouses’, writes Dr Streza, and also ‘my training experience was very positive due to the helpfulness of the tutors and the teaching materials shared’. Dr. Marotti also shares his experience at DAFNE, pointing out that it is “a professionalising course that immediately leads to work, letting you experience various company realities first-hand”. Mr. Marotti also recounts that “for almost all exams, there are practical lessons and/ or visits to innovative companies in Italy with outings lasting several days; the professors are very well prepared and competent, but above all, they love what they teach and manage to present stimulating and enjoyable lessons’. To date, the course continues to enrol students and is enriched every year by new companies for student training. It provides competence in production of high-quality young plants and seeds and, therefore, allows to graduates to enter the job sectors of counseling and management of nursery and seed production, certification, registration and patenting of new varieties, and marketing. For more information visit the department’s website (www.unitus.it/it/dipartimento/dafne) or contact Prof. Francesco Rossini (rossini@unitus.it) and prof. Mariateresa Cardarelli (tcardare@unitus.it).