Established in Olivone in 2005, FASV develops education and research projects in this broad interdisciplinary field. The association with SUPSI of FASV-which will continue to enjoy organizational and financial autonomy-implies its inclusion in cantonal university policy.

Today, FASV manages and promotes the center of expertise in toxicology and forensic chemistry in the canton of Ticino. Through the Istituto Alpino di Chimica e Tossicologia (IACT), FASV provides analytical services in the areas of driving drug and medication research, living and post-mortem toxicology, traffic medicine and forensic chemistry. Through its Education and Territory sectors, and in particular with the Scuola Alpina project, the Foundation is involved in training young people and adults in the natural sciences in a mountain context.

The two institutions have identified common areas of interest in the study and research activities of the Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education and the Department of Environment Constructions and Design. However, projects with the other units that make up SUPSI (Department of Innovative Technologies and Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care with the coordination units of education and research and territorial services) are not to be excluded.

The two entities will collaborate as a priority on the topics of climate change, environmental and sustainability education, hydrology, hydrogeology, limnology, biosecurity, and forensic science. Collaboration will also extend to Citizen science on environmental issues, mountain studies, land education and other topics of common interest that will emerge over time.

Building on these themes, it is intended to create a series of initiatives in the educational sphere: continuing education courses for teachers of different school orders, collaboration on semester work, bachelor's/master's/doctoral theses, and organization of study trips for SUPSI students. On the research front, SUPSI and FASV want to develop joint projects and enhance synergies with the Alpine Biology Center in Piora. Another goal concerns the sharing of laboratory infrastructure and instrumentation, as well as the development of a regenerative culture for the Blenio Valley area. A final area of collaboration contemplates scientific mediation: the two institutions intend to participate in joint dissemination activities and carry out educational-dissemination projects such as TheLabs (one-day project-based activities aimed at compulsory school classes) or educational notebooks in the MINT area.

For Franco Gervasoni, SUPSI's General Director: "The new collaboration represents an added value for our two institutions active in education, research and service provision in Ticino. We want to bring our expertise in environmental education and related areas of life sciences into a strong and lasting dialogue. This new synergy will allow for the involvement and enhancement of Alpine peripheral areas, and will make it possible to raise awareness of sustainable development among the younger generations through educational experiences lived in nature. An aspect that is particularly close to our hearts."

Satisfaction also from the president of the Fondazione Alpina per le Scienze della Vita Odis Barbara De Leoni: "As president of FASV and mainly as mayor of a municipality in the Blenio Valley, I am particularly excited about the birth of this association between our Foundation and SUPSI. Through future collaboration, we will be able to increase the employment of highly qualified personnel and the attractiveness of our entire region."