20th anniversary of Øresundsbron

Culture and research create bridges that link different people and countries all around the world.

This is also the aim of the C.M. Lerici Foundation, that every year provides scholarships to Italian and Swedish students and researchers, who work on international projects and want to spend a period abroad in Sweden or Italy.

Today we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Øresundsbron, the Öresund bridge, that connects Sweden to Denmark. A passage made by steel and concrete that keeps Europe closer and united.

For 20 years, the bridge allowed the exchange of goods, culture, knowledge and inspiration. Every day year-round, thousands of people cross the Öresund bridge to reach college, work or leisure.

Björn Larsson

On the occasion of “Scrittori in barca” (“Writers on a boat”), the new project by L’Ora, edizione straordinaria, the Swedish writer Björn Larsson was interviewed by la Repubblica – Palermo. (You can read the interview here).

“Scrittori in barca” is a series of video interviews with authors who chose the boat and the sea as places of their lives and source of inspiration for their stories, made by men, sailors and merchants.

In this interview, Björn Larsson defines himself as “man of the south”, despite his Nordic origin. During the Facebook live for L’Ora, edizione straordinaria, Larsson told his relationship with Sicily, his love for the Italian author Leonardo Sciascia and how he learned Italian thanks to the Inspector Montalbano, the character created by Andrea Camilleri.

In Italy, Björn Larsson is especially known for his novel “La vera storia del pirata Long John Silver” (“Long John Silver”), translated by Iperborea Casa Editrice, that also published his other books. In Sweden, Björn Larsson is published by Norstedts.

Have you ever read one of Larsson’s novels?

Glad Midsommar

Glad Midsommar!

Happy Midsummer to everyone!

In Sweden this day officially marks the beginning of the Summer and Swedish people are ready to celebrate it.

Flower crowns are a symbol of this celebration, but are you sure to know everything about this day?

Here’s some news that will make you ready to honour Midsommar, wherever you are in the world!

GPR – Ground Penetrating Radar technology in Archaeology

Archaeology develops new research’s techniques.

Falerii Novi in province of Viterbo is an archaeological site between Civica Castellana and Fabrica in Rome.

Here a team composed of researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Ghent used GPR – Ground Penetrating Radar technology to map the whole area.

The archaeologists found a city dating back to 241 BC. built inside the ancient walls of Falerii which are still visible together with the monumental Porta di Giove.

Read all the details here.

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings lists the thousand best universities in the world.

This year 36 Italian universities have been included in this list, two more than the previous edition.

The analysis is based on rigorous research that includes the opinions of lecturers, academics, and researchers and human resources managers and directors. It also includes the analysis of 18.530.368 scientific publications and 138.397.765 citations.

Politecnico di Milano (137th in the ranking) confirms itself as the first Italian University for the 6th consecutive year.

Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna gains the 160th place, while Sapienza Università di Roma conquers the 171st place.

If you are a Swedish student and you would like to study in Italy, you could find your next Italian academic destination in this list!

And then, do not forget to apply to the C.M. Lerici Foundation call 2021!

You can find the full article here.

New Italian Books

C.M. Lerici Foundation has always been committed to promoting Italian and Swedish literature. Every year the Foundation provides grants to Italian and Swedish publishing houses.

Today in Italy it has been presented a new project, called “New Italian Books“, a new site that promotes Italian publishing, language and culture in the world.

It’s bilingual, and aimed at Italian and foreign publishers, literary agents, translators, Italianists, Italian cultural institutes, Italians abroad, and all literature lovers.

With the goal of encouraging Italian publishing production in the world, and facilitating the translation process of the latest releases, the website offers reading opinions, in-depth analysis, interviews, information on prizes and contributions to translations. It also offers a database for publishers, authors and translators. The site creates relations between all players in the publishing chain, in Italy and abroad, with the valuable support of the Italian Cultural Institutes.

New Italian Books it’s a project promoted by Treccani with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Centro per il libro e la lettura (Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism), in collaboration with the Italian Publishers Association.

Read more about the project here.

Premio Strega 2020

Yesterday the six finalists of Il Premio Strega 2020 have finally been announced:

Sandro Veronesi, Il Colibrì (La Nave di Teseo)
Gianrico Carofiglio, La misura del tempo (Einaudi editore)
Valeria Parrella, Almarina (Einaudi editore)
Gian Arturo Ferrari, Ragazzo Italiano (Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore)
Daniele Mencarelli, Tutto chiede salvezza (Libri Mondadori)
Jonathan Bazzi, Febbre (Fandango Libri)

Will one (or more) of these books be published in Sweden as well?

Sweden’s National Day

On June 6th we celebrate Sweden’s National Day!

This year, for the first time, you can follow the celebrations from home, wherever it is.

In fact, you can follow the event “Sweden live: National Day at home“, a 24-hour livestream on Facebook.

The program includes music performances by Swedish artists who will play from their living rooms, greetings from famous Swedes, cooking shows and guided tours in museums.

Don’t miss this and much more on the first online celebration of Sweden’s National Day!

World Environment Day (WED)

Today is World Environment Day (WED)!

It is celebrated on June 5 every year and it is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment.

SEI – Stockholm Environment Institute is an international non-profit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges.

It connects science and decision-making to develop solutions for a sustainable future for all. Its work spans climate, water, air and land-use issues, governance, the economy, gender and health. Its knowledge and findings are accessible to decision-makers and civil society.

To promote debate and share knowledge the Institute convenes decision-makers, academics and practitioners and engage with policy processes, development action and business practice worldwide.

If SEI – Stockholm Environment Institute is related to your research, you could choose it as host institution and apply for a scholarship to the C.M. Lerici Foundation.

How?

You can find all the information about the Foundation’s scholarships on our website.

Rosa Ventrella – Min alltför vackra syster (Piratförlaget)

 

The Swedish publishing house Piratförlaget has just published a new novel by the Italian writer Rosa Ventrella.

After the great success of “Historien om en anständig familj” (“Storia di una famiglia perbene“, The Positive Birth Company), Piratförlaget decided to also translate “Min alltför vackra syster” (“La malalegna”, Gruppo Mondadori).

The story is settled during the World War II, when Teresa and Angelina grow up in the Puglia’s countryside. They are as different as two sisters can be: Angelina is beautiful and rebellious, Teresa is shy but reliable.

Rosa Ventrella wrote a family story where a long struggle between the poor workers and the wealthy landowners affects people more than the war. Where myths and superstition are part of life and family ties are more important than anything else.

Discover more here.