At 26 he discovered a cave with a river 300 meters underground.
Is called Raffaele Bruschi is originally from Mirandola and is carrying out a Ph.D of national interest financed by the Pnrr at the University of Trieste: study the microplastics in water systems to reduce its presence. His work often takes place in the field: as a speleologist he checks the presence of pollutants in underground waterways. And it was during an excavation with a team of colleagues that he discovered a “virgin” place, a cave where no man had ever been.
The first to reach the underground course of the river
A feat he achieved by following his passions. «Since I moved to Trieste for my doctorate I joined the Adriatic Society of Speleology, a discipline that was already a passion of mine». There came the proposal for a great adventure: «Marco Restaino, speleologist and now great friend, gave me the opportunity to working on an excavation that had been going on for twenty-three years, the Luftloch cave”. Precisely in this cave it was known that, 300 meters below the surface, a river flowed, which however had never yet been reached by anyone. And so, as luck would have it, just this year, after years of work, a hole opened, less than 250 meters away, which finally led to a large cave where the Timavo river. «For now this has been it the most important experience of my life, and it gave me even more strength and will to move forward with research, including scientific research. I lowered myself into the cave with a large team, in an operation that lasted hours and getting there was a unique emotion. Passions must be cultivated: this one about speleology gave me one great joy.”
In books and in the field
His path is closely linked to biotechnology: «The three-year course in biotechnology for the environment in Ferrara brought me closer to the world of bio-speleology, the study of biology in underground environments.” The aim is to preserve the environment threatened by pollution. «I moved to Trieste for the Master’s degree, I chose an innovative direction: “Ecology of Global Changes”, there I had the opportunity to produce a thesis which required a year of research and work but which was focused on caves. We sampled some polluted by oil to look for a bacterial community capable of “eating” it and transforming it into something with less impact on the environment, among other things with excellent results. After obtaining the title with top marks, the opportunity for a Doctorate arrived: I have never been a studious boy but following my passion I discovered that being curious was enough to make me want to study. And I got to participate in that great expedition that took me where no one had ever set foot».
The desire to spend money on the environment
With his work he has fulfilled the dream he had as a child. «I was always very curious – he remembers – as a child I was already asking myself questions about this complex mechanism that is the nature”. As he grew up, he understood that a concrete commitment could arise from that curiosity: “Since I was in high school I have been passionate about politics, I wanted to do one of the most beautiful jobs in the world: the politician. I aimed to solve problems and have a positive impact on society and the environment. Always improve myself and the place I frequented. “In the end she chose the search:”With equal satisfaction”.
