Maria Consiglia Rasulo
The printed volume of the Special Issue titled “Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields in Biology and Medicine: From Mechanisms to Biomedical Applications: 2nd Edition”, published by the international scientific journal Bioengineering (MDPI), has been recently released.
The Special Issue includes 14 peer-reviewed scientific articles focused primarily on the therapeutic and diagnostic applications of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The contributions offer an overview of the broad range of both established and potential uses of electromagnetism in the biomedical field.
The Special Issue was edited by Dr. Stefania Romeo and Dr. Anna Sannino, researchers at CNR–IREA, serving as Guest Editors. In the editorial introduction, the editors present a variety of approaches aimed at improving specific technical aspects related to the development of EMF-based technologies. These range from in vitro and human studies to numerical modeling for the optimization of diagnostic or therapeutic techniques. Overall, the volume provides a comprehensive overview of current and future applications of electromagnetism in biomedicine, including neurostimulation, cancer therapy, tissue regeneration, pain treatment, and non-invasive diagnostics.
The editorial and research work of the two Guest Editors is part of CNR-IREA’s ongoing activities in the study of the interaction between electromagnetic fields and biological systems.
Given the success of this second edition, the journal has launched the 3rd Edition of the Special Issue, which is currently open for submission. Dr. Romeo and Dr. Sannino have been reconfirmed as Guest Editors for the new edition as well.
Manuscript submission deadline: December 31, 2025
The printed volume of the Special Issue can be accessed here: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/11246
The RiViVe Project – Perspectives for rethinking biodiversity in a transdisciplinary and collaborative way – won the Best Poster award in the “Collaborative NBFC Research” category during the National Biodiversity Forum, held last May at the University of Milano-Bicocca.
Selected from over 250 submissions, the poster was recognized by the spoke leaders of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) for its scientific quality, communicative effectiveness, and visual impact.
Coordinated by CNR-IREA within the framework of NBFC's Spoke 7, RiViVe proposes an innovative and transdisciplinary approach to biodiversity, fostering dialogue among ecologists, artists, anthropologists, social scientists, and local communities. The goal is to go beyond individual disciplines and create shared knowledge based on local places and their traditions, so we can work together to face the challenges of biodiversity loss and, above all, to value its richness.
The first edition of the residential workshop “RiViVe – Rethinking the Diversity of Life” will be held from October 13 to 18, 2025, in Collelongo (L’Aquila), at the heart of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park: an area of extraordinary ecological richness and one of the sites of the Long-Term Ecological Research Network (LTER Italy).
With over 80 applications already received, RiViVe is on track to become a pilot project of the “Biodiversity Gateway”, which will also be part of the NBFC's legacy beyond 2026, and to launch a widespread network of Ambassadors ready to promote ecological awareness, activism, and responsible research.
Other CNR institutes (IBE, IRSA, ISMAR), the LTER Italy Network, and other organizations are involved in RiViVe’s co-creative process: Fondazione Pianpicollo Selvatico ETS; National Association of Science Museums (ANMS); Scientific Museum Education Group; Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA); Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – Centre for Environmental Humanities (NICHE Centre).
Authors of the award-winning poster: Alba L’Astorina (CNR – IREA), Amelia De Lazzari and Alessandra Pugnetti (CNR – ISMAR), Diego Fontaneto (CNR – IRSA), Giorgio Matteucci and Nicola Vuolo (CNR – IBE), Alice Benessia, Andrea Caretto and Raffaella Spagna (Pianpicollo Selvatico), Nicola Margnelli (ANMS – University of Rome Tor Vergata), Roberta Raffaetà (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – NICHE Centre), Alessandro Campanaro and Alice Lenzi (CREA).
Riccardo Lanari, Research Director at the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the National Research Council of Italy (IREA-CNR), has been appointed Ordinary Member of the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technology (ITATEC), a prestigious recognition that highlights his contributions to scientific and technological research in the field of Earth Observation through satellite radar remote sensing and represents added value for IREA-CNR.
Founded in September 2022 with the support of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, ITATEC is an independent, multidisciplinary, non-profit association that aims to promote technical and scientific culture at both national and international levels, while also providing strategic guidance and scientific advice to the government and policymakers on matters of national relevance.
The Academy brings together high-level scholars and experts from academia, research, and industry, selected on the basis of their scientific achievements. Among its founding members are prominent figures in the Italian scientific community, such as Nobel Prize winner Giorgio Parisi, physicist Speranza Falciano (INFN), currently serving as president, Maria Chiara Carrozza, former president of the CNR and former Minister of Education, University and Research, and Massimo Inguscio, also a former president of the CNR.
A distinctive feature of ITATEC is the presence, alongside members selected for scientific merit, of representatives from key stakeholders in the technological sector, including major Italian industries such as ENI, Leonardo, Enel Green Power, SNAM, STMicroelectronics, TIM, CINECA, and ENEA, brought together in the “College of Advisors.” The ongoing collaboration between academic and industrial members fosters a continuous dialogue between research and industry, ensuring that the proposed policies and innovations are not only scientifically grounded but also practically feasible.
At the international level, ITATEC represents Italy within the European Council of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE), an independent, non-profit organization that brings together the leading engineering and technological academies from 23 countries and provides scientific advice to the European Commission.
Riccardo Lanari’s appointment as an Ordinary Member of ITATEC - adding to other prestigious memberships in national and international scientific institutions - constitutes a significant recognition of his scientific contributions, particularly in the development of radar interferometric techniques for the analysis and monitoring of geophysical and environmental phenomena in the context of Earth Observation. IREA-CNR extends its warmest congratulations to Riccardo Lanari for this important achievement, which honors an outstanding scientific career, confirms the quality of the research carried out at the Institute, and strengthens its presence in the most relevant national and international arenas for the advancement of science and technology.
Francesco Soldovieri, Director of the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IREA), has been appointed Associate Editor of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine (IEEE-GRSM), one of the most prestigious international scientific journals in the field of remote sensing. He is currently the only representative from an Italian institution to hold this position.
The journal, published by the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, ranks first in the Remote Sensing category of the Journal Citation Reports (ISI Web), with an Impact Factor of 16.4, confirming its relevance in the global scientific landscape.
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is the world's largest professional association in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering, computer science, and related technologies, with a vast international network of experts and researchers.
Francesco Soldovieri’s appointment to this prestigious editorial role is a significant recognition of his scientific contributions and of the work carried out by CNR-IREA in the fields of remote sensing and electromagnetic diagnostics.
Francesco Soldovieri is internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in radar imaging, with a particular focus on subsurface investigations using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). He has also previously served as Associate Editor for several IEEE journals, including IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters (GRSL), IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS), and IEEE Transactions on Computational Imaging (TCI), and is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.
We are pleased to announce the XII AIT International Conference, taking place in Milan from November 12 to 14, 2025, at the CNR Research Area 1 Conference Center, in the heart of Città Studi. The event is hosted by the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the Italian National Research Council (IREA-CNR) and will bring together experts, researchers, professionals, and students in the field of remote sensing.
The conference will feature a comprehensive program with plenary and parallel sessions, poster presentations, and networking events, providing a unique opportunity to explore the latest advancements and applications in remote sensing at both national and international levels. Key topics will include real-time environmental monitoring, climate change analysis, human impact assessment, and the use of advanced satellite and sensor technologies for risk management and environmental protection.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Dr. Kamal Kishore, visited CNR-IREA on January 22, accompanied by Eng. Luca Rossi from UNDRR and Dr. Chiara Cardaci representing the Civil Protection Department (DPC).
The purpose of the visit was to show the contribution that CNR-IREA, as a Competence Center supporting the DPC, provides to the National Civil Protection Service in the fields of seismic and volcanic monitoring. This contribution relies on satellite radar interferometry techniques, with particular focus on the comprehensive monitoring activities of a complex area such as the Phlegraean Fields.
During the meeting, Dr. Kishore and Eng. Rossi were briefly introduced to the principles of Differential SAR Interferometry and the P-SBAS technique, developed by IREA researchers, which enables time-series monitoring of ground deformations. The team also presented the automated service for generating ground displacement maps, implemented by IREA, which is provided to the Civil Protection Department following significant seismic events in Italy. This service has been extended to analyze earthquakes on a global scale, with results made freely accessible online via the European research infrastructure EPOS. Furthermore, IREA's support for the DPC in monitoring major active Italian volcanoes, particularly the Phlegraean Fields, was extensively presented.
Concerning the ongoing bradyseismic crisis, IREA demonstrated how it regularly provides the DPC and the National Commission for the Forecasting and Prevention of Major Risks with maps and time series of ground and built environment displacements in the area. This information, combined with observations provided by INGV and other Competence Centers, enables continuous and large-scale monitoring over time.
Dr. Kishore and Eng. Rossi expressed great interest in the activities presented, asking numerous questions and fostering a highly productive discussion with contributions from Dr. Cardaci.
This visit underscores the importance of international cooperation in disaster risk management and highlights the value of advanced scientific research as a vital tool for protecting vulnerable communities and building a safer future for all.
Francesco Soldovieri, Director of the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the National Research Council of Italy, has been elevated to Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for "his contributions to the theoretical analysis of inverse problems, to microwave tomography and their applications".
IEEE is an American professional association representing electrical and electronics engineers and other related professionals. Founded in 1963, the IEEE is headquartered in New York (USA) and its primary purpose is to promote innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity.
Since 1964, through the IEEE Fellow program, the IEEE recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of engineering, science, technology and society in general.
IEEE Fellow is an award reserved for IEEE members who have distinguished themselves in any of the fields of interest of the IEEE and who are deemed suitable for this prestigious elevation to rank. Each year, following a rigorous evaluation process, the IEEE Fellow Elevation Committee recommends a select group of recipients. Only 0.1% of voting members are selected each year for this important honor.
Link: IEEE Fellow Class 2025
Francesco Soldovieri, Director of the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the National Research Council of Italy, has been announced as the recipient of the 2025 Christiaan Huygens Medal, one of the awards that the European Geosciences Union (EGU) recognises each year to eminent scientists for their outstanding research contribution to the Earth, planetary and space sciences.
In particular, the Christiaan Huygens Medal has been established to honour scientists who have achieved exceptional international standing in Geosciences Instrumentation and Data Systems in the spirit of Christiaan Huygens.
The medal will be presented during the General Assembly of the Union in Vienna, Austria, & Online from 27 April – 2 May 2025.
As part of the IEEE International Workshop on Technologies for Defense and Security (TechDefense 2024), held in Naples from November 11 to 13, 2024, Weili Tang, a PhD student at the University of Naples “Parthenope” with a scholarship funded by IREA, received the second place award in the "Best Paper Presented by a Young Researcher" category. The award recognizes the best paper written/co-written and presented by a researcher under the age of 35.
The papers were evaluated based on technical merit, originality, potential impact in the field, clarity of the written document, and the quality of the conference presentation.
The awarded paper, titled “Deep Learning-Based Persistent Scatterers Detection: First Results” (Authors: Weili Tang, University of Naples “Parthenope” and IREA-CNR; Simona Verde, CNR-IREA; Sergio Vitale, Giampaolo Ferraioli, Gilda Schirinzi, and Vito Pascazio, University of Naples “Parthenope”; Gianfranco Fornaro, CNR-IREA), focuses on the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques for the detection of Persistent Scatterers in Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (SAR).
This technology is widely used for monitoring ground deformations from space and plays a critical role in various fields related to natural risk management, particularly in the monitoring of landslides, ground deformations, and infrastructure stability.
On Thursday 12 December, as part of the activities of TERRAQUA-RS, a bilateral project coordinated by IREA-CNR within the framework of the agreement on scientific cooperation between CNR and MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology, China), Prof. Yuan ZENG and Dr. Zhaoju ZHENG from the Ecosystem Remote Sensing Lab of the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIR-CAS) will hold a webinar on the potential and applications of remote sensing for characterising plant diversity.
Through the collection and processing of in situ and remotely sensed data, the “Remote sensing of plant species and functional diversity from terrestrial to aquatic systems” (TERRAQUA-RS) project aims to develop methods for estimating taxonomic and functional diversity from optical spectral data in highly heterogeneous plant communities, ranging from aquatic to terrestrial vegetation (grassland and forest).
The event will be held from 09:30 to 11:30 with live broadcasting at the Lorenzo Busetto multimedia room of IREA Milano (CNR Area Territoriale di Ricerca di Milano 1, Via A. Corti 12 - Milan) and in virtual mode on the Teams platform.
For further information and to register for the webinar, please contact Dr. Paolo VILLA ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
