Waste disposal is a big issue worldwide and has politically gained much attention in the last years. This is particularly important if we consider the EU 2050 long-term strategy, which aims at achieving the net zero emissions by 2050. But what if we could turn waste into something useful? Transforming waste into energy could in fact tackle not only environmental, but also energetic challenges.

Pietro Postacchini, PhD student at the Faculty of Engineering in the Bioenergy & Biofuels LAB, engaged the audience at the Science Slam Bozen/Bolzano at NOI Techpark with his compelling story on the use of microorganisms for waste conversion. His presentation with the title “Turning waste into energy: the power of microorganisms” won over the audience and got him the first prize at the competition. He is the first ever researcher from unibz to win the award at the competition, which has been running since 2022. His research focuses on the use of biological processes relying on microorganisms to convert organic waste into renewable energy, favouring the reduction of CO₂ emissions and promoting a greener future. His speech was able to engage and convince the audience offering them a fresh and interesting prospective on the theme. “It was like the athletics competitions I took part in in high school: you train to get ready for the event and then you get there, and you are full of adrenaline for the big event and the huge audience” says Pietro. “I was very nervous since I never spoke in front of so many people. My subject is quite specialised and the audiences at the conferences are much smaller. I have had a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience" concludes the researcher.