Prof. passed away on Sunday 5 May 2024. Luciano Morselliformer full professor of Chemistry of the environment and cultural heritage at Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” of theUniversity of Bologna. The professor. Morselli was in many respects a forerunner of the most current lines of research in chemistry, in particular on the ecological transition and the circular economy.
Born in Revere (MN) on 8/5/1943, graduated in Industrial chemistry at the University of Bologna, he has held the role of Researcher since 1980, Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry since 1983, moving to the sector of Environmental and Cultural Heritage Chemistry since 1997, and Full Professor since 2001.
He was the main promoter of the Degree Course in Chemical Technologies for the Environment and Waste Management on the Rimini Campus, activated in 2001 for the then Faculty of Industrial Chemistry, as well as being its President for many years.
He was also among the founders of “Ecoworld” (initially “Recycle”), the most important national meeting point between institutional players, from the production world and from the world of applied research in the environmental field. He has been Coordinator of the Scientific Technical Committee since
1997 to 2012.
He served from 1989 to 1992 at the Ministry of the Environment as an expert on waste issues. From 1993 to 1996 Representative of the Ministry of the Environment at the EU Commissions for the Strategy of the Analysis of Priority Waste Flows. This work experience at the Ministry allowed him to bring important expertise on these topics to his subsequent teaching and academic research activities.
From 1992 to 2001 he was Coordinator of research relating to “Environmental monitoring program of the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano” at the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic.
For the Italian Chemical Society, was President of the Environmental Chemistry Division in the three-year period 1998-2000, successfully working towards the union with the then Interdivisional Group of Cultural Heritage Chemistry, and Member of the Board of Directors for several mandates. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of EUCHEMS – Environmental and Chemistry Division and of SETAC Italian Branch.
In addition to the Degree Course in Rimini, has launched numerous educational initiatives (National Schools, Masters, Summer School, Erasmus Intensive
Programmes) relating to environmental issues and in particular to the field of research on integrated waste management.
He has been responsible for many research projects on the topics of environmental monitoring of pollutantsfrom the remediation of contaminated sitesfrom the valorisation of waste and by-productsfrom the life cycle assessment of products and processes. Representing Unibo he was Scientific Director of a Regional network laboratory (LITCAR “Integrated Laboratory of Technologies and Environmental Control in the Life Cycle of Waste”). He was also Director of Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research “Energy and Environment” of Unibo.
In 2006 he was awarded the medal from the Division of Environmental Chemistry and Cultural Heritage of the SCI, “For the scientific and cultural contribution given, with the sensitivity of an artist, to the study and solution of environmental problems”
He has always tried to reconcile his academic role with a constant artistic productionpainting numerous works often inspired by environmental themes, with a particular passion for animal species at risk of extinction.
He always cultivated a great passion for the education of its students, often involving them in alternative teaching activities, such as educational visits to various industrial realities, in Italy and abroad. His experience as a teacher has enabled several generations of industrial chemistry students to become passionate about environmental issues.
The funeral will be held Wednesday 8 May 2024at 10 a.m., at the Revere Parish Church.
