Department Presentation

Presentation

Presentation

History

The Department of Biology at the University of Florence has a long history that predates the founding of the University itself. It is the heir to the naturalistic studies that brought prestige to the city of Florence and contributed to the development of natural sciences worldwide. The Museum of Physics and Natural History, located in Via Romana—one of the Department's current premises—was founded as early as the mid-18th century. Furthermore, in the Via La Pira building, the Department houses the Italian Botanical Society, founded in Florence in 1888, which traces its origins back to the first botanical society in Europe (the Florentine Botanical Society), established in 1716.

The Present

The Department of Biology has not rested on this illustrious past; in recent decades, through continuous renewal, it has positioned itself at the forefront of many important areas of biology. The disciplines in which the Department’s research currently represents international excellence are numerous: microbiology, genetics, physiology, botany in all its aspects, zoology with a particular focus on ethology, ecology of both marine and terrestrial environments, anthropology, cytology and histology, comparative anatomy and, as a common thread, the history of biology and natural sciences with evolutionary studies.

Research

The solid scientific base of the Department of Biology is rooted in its dedication to experimental research. Within this framework, it should be noted that the scientific work conducted by researchers and technicians is strongly oriented toward basic research, while increasingly considering its applications in response to current needs for innovation and development. Building on robust fundamental knowledge, the researchers of the Department recognize that high-quality research always holds the potential for application; they are therefore committed to offering their expertise and technologies to develop these possibilities.

Teaching

Driven by a strong interest in basic research and its applications, the teaching and technical staff manage a large part of the educational programs in basic and applied biological and natural sciences: biology, natural sciences, and biotechnology, at the undergraduate (Bachelor’s), graduate (Master’s), and doctoral levels. Teaching in experimental disciplines like biology finds its natural complement in intensive laboratory and field activities, providing students with the practical foundation for their future professions.

Facilities

The rich and complex history of the Department is still evident today in the buildings housing its various components, which interact effectively with one another. On one hand, the historic buildings in the centre of Florence—in Via La Pira, Via del Proconsolo, and Via Romana (also home to the Natural History Museum)—represent the link with the more strictly naturalistic disciplines. On the other hand, the facilities at the Sesto Fiorentino Science Campus primarily host physiological and molecular disciplines.

The Future

Biology is a science that continually develops and renews itself; the task of the Department is to keep pace with this development and, where possible, to anticipate and guide it. This goal will be achieved through openness toward other scientific fields and a strong integration between biological disciplines, as well as between biological and non-biological ones.

The way to look to the future with confidence is through the training of new generations of researchers. This is the most important task, in which the Department invests a large portion of its resources. Indeed, the number of young trainees hosted by the Department in various capacities is more than double that of the permanent research staff. It is our fundamental commitment to deliver them a Department that meets their expectations and stands at the highest levels of international biological research.