SISSA is committed to promoting a healthy, respectful and inclusive work and study environment for its entire community — faculty, researchers, staff, and students. The School has activated a wide range of tools to protect individual wellbeing, encourage inclusion, and support different life needs, including gender equality policies, childcare and psyhcological support.
The SISSA Club is a community-led association that brings together students, researchers, and staff through social, cultural, and recreational activities. It is etirely run by members of the SISSA community, and plays a key role in enriching campus life beyond academic work. Its initiatives include organizing trips, dinners, and seasonal events, promoting sports and outdoor activities, including hiking and excursions, supporting student-led projects and cultural exchanges and offering a space to connect, relax, and share experiences across disciplines and backgrounds
The SISSA Club is open to everyone on campus and is a great way to meet people, discover Trieste and its surroundings, and feel part of an international and vibrant community.
Visit the SISSA club website
Science thrives on creativity — and so does community. The Music Room at SISSA, located above the gym in Building B5, offers students, researchers and staff a space to express themselves beyond academic work.
Equipped for rehearsals and informal gatherings, the room is open to anyone in the SISSA community who wishes to play, compose, or simply unwind through music. From solo practice to small jam sessions, the space supports both personal well-being and shared experiences.
It’s a quiet yet powerful symbol of the School’s belief in the importance of balance, culture, and human connection — even within a high-level research environment.
Balancing intense intellectual work with physical well-being is part of the SISSA experience. The campus gym, located in Building B5, offers a dedicated space where members of the community can take care of their body as well as their mind.
Open to students, researchers, and staff, the gym is equipped for individual workouts and small group activities. Whether it’s a quick break after hours in the lab or part of a regular fitness routine, this space encourages a healthy rhythm of life and supports the School’s commitment to overall well-being.
To support personal well-being, the campus also includes a quiet meditation and prayer room, open to everyone. This space has also been used for scientific studies on meditation and its cognitive effects, reflecting SISSA’s commitment to both scientific research and human-centered care.
Located within the SISSA park, La SISSA dei Piccoli is the on-campus nursery service dedicated to the children of SISSA’s community. It offers a welcoming, safe, and stimulating environment for children aged 13 to 36 months, with indoor and outdoor play areas.
The kindergarten is available to:
- Faculty, researchers, staff, students, and collaborators of SISSA
- Up to 24 children, in a newly renovated facility surrounded by nature
- Families of different backgrounds — the staff also speak English
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM The service operates under an agreement with the Municipality of Trieste.
Info and reservations: +39 040 3787690
Moving to a new country for study or research can be challenging — SISSA offers dedicated support to make this transition smoother. The School provides assistance with housing, bureaucratic procedures, and everyday logistics, particularly for international students, postdocs, and visitors.
Key services include:
- Help finding short- and long-term accommodation in Trieste
- Guidance on rental contracts, legal requirements, and registration
- Support with visa procedures, healthcare registration, and tax codes
- Information on local services and life in Trieste
Thanks to this network, new members of the SISSA community can focus on their work — while feeling at home from day one.
Taking care of mental health is essential for a balanced and productive academic life. SISSA offers a confidential psychological support service for students, researchers, and staff facing stress, anxiety, emotional difficulties, or simply in need of someone to talk to. The service is free and confidential, provided by qualified professionals, accessible in multiple languages, including English and Italian and designed for both short-term help and longer-term support Sessions can cover academic stress, adjustment challenges, personal or relational issues, or general well-being. Appointments are available on campus or online, depending on individual needs.
For more information or to book a session, you can visit the internal services page or contact the Student Secretariat.
SISSA promotes a respectful, inclusive, and fair working and learning environment through the work of the CUG (Comitato Unico di Garanzia), which has a propositive, consultative, and monitoring role. It works to promote equal opportunities and gender balance, support a culture of organizational well-being and prevent and address any form of discrimination, harassment, or moral and psychological violence in the workplace. The committee includes representatives from across the SISSA community and can be contacted for guidance, support, or to raise concerns in full confidentiality.
SISSA’s Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is a strategic document that defines the School’s commitment to reducing gender disparities and promoting an inclusive, fair, and respectful academic environment.
The plan outlines:
- Objectives to detect and correct gender imbalances
- Measures to support career development, work-life balance, and equal representation
- Monitoring tools based on specific indicators to track progress over time
- Integration of inclusive language, diversity policies, and awareness-raising actions
The GEP aligns with national and European standards and is updated regularly to reflect the evolving needs of the community.