| Strengthening International Ties: KNTU Welcomes Delegation from Università del Salento

On Monday, K. N. Toosi University of Technology (KNTU) had the honor of hosting a distinguished delegation from Università del Salento, Italy: - Prof. Fabio Pollice, Rector and Professor of Economic-Political Geography - Dr. Enrico Ascalone, researcher at the Department of Cultural Heritage This visit was made possible through the support of Dr. Mansour Kanani, Head of Iran Science in Europe, in collaboration with Dr. Hadi Aliakbarian, Director of the KNTU Office of International Affairs. A Milestone in Academic Cooperation A highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Prof. Hamid D. Taghirad, Rector of KNTU, and Prof. Fabio Pollice, Rector of Università del Salento. This agreement formalizes a shared commitment to long-term academic cooperation and paves the way for impactful joint initiatives. Research and Collaboration Opportunities Representing the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dr. Mohammad Javad Ostad Mirza Tehrani presented the core research activities at the Water Matters Laboratory (WML) and SHENS Lab, showcasing both fundamental and applied projects. Discussions highlighted promising opportunities for: - Interdisciplinary collaboration - Student and faculty exchange programs - Joint M.Sc. programs Science Meets Culture The session concluded with visits to the ARAS Laboratory, Nasir Museum, and a cultural tour of the Reza Abbasi Museum. Our Italian guests experienced Iran’s rich artistic and historical heritage, a reminder that science and culture together build bridges beyond borders. Looking Ahead At WML and SHENS Lab, we are proud to contribute to this international initiative and look forward to advancing collaboration at the intersection of science, heritage, and sustainability. 📸 Acknowledgments: Kaebeh Yaeghoobi, Reza Eslami-Farsani, Mohammad Reza Malek, Hosseininaveh Ali, Karim Abbaszadeh, Mehdi Khodaei, Alireza Fereidunian, Bijan Moaveni, PhD.