Why a Third mission project.

The Shifters was born as a pilot project at University of Cagliari and for that reason it matches one of the most important institutional missions of the university: the third mission. In this field, the research is related to the surrounding territory and therefore with the network of social and economic ties on which the community welfare depends.

The multimedia communication project carried on by the University values the three key points of the third mission:
» Technology transfer
» Dissemination of knowledge
» Involvement of the public
These three values have inspired the realisation of the web series and all the linked additional contents.

The intertwining languages match these endings and convey a simple but not simplistic message hidden in the research. So, on one hand the narrative frame of the episodes of the web series can create the empathy necessary to the identification of the public; on the other hand, additional contents present in the website and social media convey the university know-how. A valuable baggage that is at the base of the widespread diffusion of the economic, entrepreneurial and social culture in a territory with which the values of the third mission of the University of Cagliari are combined.

To the pursuit of research.

CREA UniCa – University Services Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – visited the locations of the research. It closely observed the work of the teachers of the University, in order to learn the secrets of the research and to rebuild the story of the journey that, from the idea, the first steps and hypothesis still to validate, leads to the concrete realisation of ground-breaking projects, pioneering in some fields and most of all expendable, applicable inside the community.

Face to face with the researchers.

To be able to share the precious knowledge that the University holds, CREA asked the researchers of University of Cagliari to talk about themselves in front of the cameras of a film crew. Every professor involved spoke about himself or herself, revealing his passions, desires and ambitions that led to change, to that new growth possibilities that are both economic, social and cultural.
What is the third mission? How important is research? What kind of research is led inside the laboratories? Which relapses the research has on everyday life?

Those were the questions. Starting from the answers of each of them, all different and representing different perspectives, we have reconstructed a composite and diverse cloth, made of desires and sacrifices, stories and anecdotes. But most of all method, precision and strong desire to share scientific data.