Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Flavio Deflorian is the new Rector of UniTrento

Versione stampabile

Flavio Deflorian is the new Rector of UniTrento. He was elected by absolute majority of votes cast in the first round of voting, with 491.3 out of 664.91 weighted votes. The election is valid because the structural quorum (set at 1/3 of weighted votes, that is 240.97) was reached and surpassed. Voter's turnout was 1653, 60.3%.

Flavio Deflorian, Full Professor of Materials science and technology at the Department of industrial engineering, won the election at the end of the first day of voting. The Electoral committee certified the result on the same day. The rector's term of office lasts for six years and is not renewable, and will start on the date of the appointment by the Ministry of Education, universities and research, in the next few days. The other candidate running for the post, Professor Massimiliano Sala, received 105,2 weighted votes.

For the first time in the history of the University, the election took place online and went as planned. The 2742 electors were invited to participate in the election by the Doyen of the University, Professor Remo Job. The second and third rounds of voting and final ballot had been planned for 24, 25 and 26 February, but will not be necessary. The election results were given at Palazzo Sardagna, home to the Rectorate, and live on the University's YouTube channel by the president of the Electoral committee, Professor Anna Simonati, with the committee members (some in video conferencing), the Doyen, Remo Job, and Rector Paolo Collini in attendance. Both candidates were present for the proclamation. 

A curious fact: for the first time, an alumnus of the University becomes Rector. Deflorian graduated magna cum laude in Materials engineering in February 1989 from the University of Trento, the same University he will now lead for six years starting on 1st April.

The first to congratulate professor Deflorian was the current Rector, Paolo Collini: "This was an election campaign with almost no face-to-face contacts between candidates and electors, but we did the best we could to facilitate communication. The University today elected its new Rector, the entire community participated. I wish the new Rector all the best for the years ahead. Professor Deflorian will start his mandate in these difficult times with a lot of uncertainties because of the pandemic. I hope that things will get better soon and that we can go back to normal as soon as possible, for the good of our community. The University has grown in the past years, the quality of its teaching and learning and research activities has increased. But there are still many issues that must be addressed. I look forward to the transition because many innovative ideas emerged during the electoral debates, that will ensure a bright future for our University".

The President of the Board of Directors of UniTrento, Daniele Finocchiaro, sent a message minutes after the results were announced: "In the electoral campaign, questions were asked about our University, its future perspectives and growth opportunities. I would like to thank all university staff who have worked so hard in the past weeks with commitment and professionalism, in particular given the circumstances". And congratulated the new Rector: "I congratulate Professor Deflorian for his appointment on behalf of the Board of Directors and wish him a successful term of office".

Flavio Deflorian
Born in Cavalese (TN) in 1964, he earned his high school diploma from Liceo Galilei in Trento and graduated in Materials Engineering at the University of Trento. He obtained a PhD in Materials Engineering at the University of Bologna, and a Master's in Advanced Materials Technology at University of Surrey in Guildford (UK). His career at UniTrento started in 1995 as laboratory technician and researcher. He became associate professor in 2004 and, in 2015, full professor of the Department of Industrial Engineering, where he teaches Materials science and technology. 
In his academic career, he gave classes at departments of Engineering, Humanities, Medicine and Surgery and in doctoral courses. 
He has also taught as a visiting professor at the universities of Teheran (Iran), Mons (Belgium), Queensland University in Brisbane (Australia), UNAM in Mexico City (Mexico) and Makerere University di Kampala (Uganda).
He has been the head of the Coatings and Industrial Corrosion Control Laboratory of the Department of Industrial Engineering (former Department of Materials Engineering and Industrial Technologies) since 2006. 
He has published more than 200 scientific papers in international specialized journals and books, in addition to the many conferences he attended as speaker. As guest editor he oversaw the publication of five special issues for specialized journals and three books.
His research interests include: organic coatings; corrosion and protection of advanced materials or for special applications; surface engineering; advanced electrochemical techniques for the characterization of new materials. 
Among his various institutional posts, he was a member of the Board of Directors and the Academic Senate and since 2015 he has been Deputy Rector of the University of Trento.