Twenty years of regional studies

The Interdepartmental Centre for Regional Studies “Giorgio Lago” CISR of the University of Padua celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its foundation with the meeting Twenty years of regional studies, scheduled for Thursday 8 October 2026, from 9.15 a.m., at the Archivio Antico of Palazzo del Bo in Padua.

The Centre represents an interdisciplinary academic network which, in addition to carrying out its own study and in-depth activities, also provides a function of coordination and rationalisation among the various bodies involved in applied research in the area, with the aim of creating a network able to pursue an integrated reflection on the structural changes of the regional area.

Twenty years after its establishment, the event will also take stock of the present and future of our region, of how areas are changing, and of the challenges and prospects for regional research, with experts working on different themes – from political science to economics to the productive sphere – for an integrated vision of the culture, identity and development of the area.

After the institutional greetings from the Rector of the University of Padua Daniela Mapelli and the directors of the departments affiliated with the Centre, the first session retraces the history of CISR, its intellectual legacy and the contribution it has made to interdisciplinary research and studies on local development.

The round table Areas in transformation: challenges and prospects for regional research is devoted to changes in work culture and to the activities of the observatories and laboratories promoted by the Centre.

This will be followed by the open discussion The CISR we want: visions for the next twenty years, in which lecturers, researchers, representatives of the observatories and of the area discuss the future prospects of regional studies.

The proceedings will conclude with an address by the Director of CISR, Patrizia Messina.

Participation is free of charge, subject to registration.