Five years on from the Mottarone tragedy, two scholarships in memory of the two young victims from Varese, Silvia Malnati and Alessandro Merlo

At the University of Insubria, two scholarships have been established in memory of Silvia Malnati and Alessandro Merlo, the two young victims from Varese of the Mottarone tragedy, the fifth anniversary of which falls on 23 May. The project draws inspiration from their passions, sensibilities and shared values, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability.

The initiative stems from an agreement signed by the University with the association ‘Come l’Aria – Per Silvia e Alessandro’ Aps: a five-year collaboration agreement aimed at promoting educational, cultural and research activities dedicated to the themes of the environment, sustainability, biodiversity, scientific communication and corporate social responsibility.

The activities covered by the agreement include the provision of university internships and work placements, educational and laboratory projects, outreach and awareness-raising initiatives, as well as the production and dissemination of informational content. Academic and scientific coordination will be entrusted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences (DISTA) at the University of Insubria, which may also work in synergy with other departments within the University.

“This agreement,” explains Adriano Martinoli, professor at Dista and the Rector’s delegate for Sustainability, Green Spaces and Energy Efficiency, “represents a significant example of collaboration between the university, community organisations and the local media to develop concrete pathways aimed at the younger generation, promoting the Varese area through research, training and outreach. Through shared educational and scientific initiatives, the University reinforces its role as an active player in the cultural and social development of the region.”

Andrea Zanovello, vice-president of “Come l’Aria – Per Silvia e Alessandro” Aps, recalls: “Tragedies such as that on Mottarone leave deep wounds and undermine trust in the future and in others. The association and this initiative were founded as a response to ensure we do not succumb to resignation. In the name of Silvia and Alessandro, we want to plant a seed of hope, responsibility and care for our community and our region.”

The collaboration will get off to a flying start with the funding, by the ‘Come l’Aria’ association, of two university thesis projects, each worth €1,500. The projects, which will begin in the coming weeks in collaboration with the University, will focus on two highly symbolic areas. The first will be dedicated to environmental and sustainability issues, fundamental factors for the protection of the local area and its community.

The second project will focus on socio-economic issues and corporate social responsibility. The need is to reflect on what caused the tragedy: inadequate and irresponsible management. The aim of the contribution is to promote an ethical and transparent business model, capable of serving as a point of reference and support for the communities and the local area in which it operates.

The Via delle api is also named after Silvia Malnati and Alessandro Merlo; this route, which runs from Castronno station to Materia, was designed in collaboration with ‘Come l’aria’ to raise awareness of the role of bees in the ecosystem.  Bringing the Castronno hub to life and managing several projects, including the Via delle Api, is the ‘Anche io’ Aps association, whose president, Ilaria Notari, explains: ‘Through the Anche Io Aps association, we are delighted to contribute to the management and growth of activities and a space that prioritises sustainability, culture and participation. It is increasingly important to forge connections between people, the local area and the younger generations. The Via delle Api, created in part thanks to the efforts of the Come l’Aria association and dedicated to Silvia and Alessandro, was a first concrete example of this shared journey. Seeing a project with the University of Insubria come to fruition today means giving continuity to these values, offering young people concrete opportunities for study, research and involvement in the local area.”

The association ‘Come l’Aria’, founded in 2025 to transform personal grief into a collective opportunity for growth and participation, and chaired by Mauro Malnati, Silvia’s father, thus reaffirms its commitment to supporting projects capable of leaving a tangible and lasting mark on the community, with a particular focus on young people and their education. Local media will be able to contribute to the dissemination and promotion of the project’s activities and the results achieved, strengthening the link between university research, the community and the local area. The agreement therefore represents not only an institutional collaboration, but a model of local synergy in which research, education, civic participation and shared memory intertwine to build concrete opportunities for the future.