Coordinates: 45°40′46″N 13°46′30″E / 45.679538°N 13.774999°E / 45.679538; 13.774999 The International School for Advanced Studies (Italian: Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, SISSA) is an international, state supported, post graduate teaching and research institute with a special statute, located in Trieste, Italy.
Instituted in 1978, SISSA's aim is to promote science and knowledge, particularly in the areas of Mathematics, Physics and Neuroscience. Each year about 70 Ph.D. students are admitted to SISSA based on their scientific qualifications. SISSA also runs, in collaboration with the University of Trieste, a master programme (Laurea magistrale) in mathematics.
SISSA has the following research areas:
- Astroparticle Physics
- Astrophysics
- Condensed Matter
- Molecular and Statistical Biophysics
- Statistical Physics
- Theoretical Particle Physics
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Applied Mathematics
- Geometry
- Mathematical Analysis
- Mathematical Physics
In addition, there is the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Advanced Studies (now LISNU - Laboratorio Interdisciplinare Scienze Naturali e Umanistiche)
SISSA enjoys special teaching and scientific links with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the Elettra (Synchrotron Light Laboratory). SISSA is an essential component of the Trieste System, the grouping of national and international scientific institutes that make Trieste the "City of Science."
The School provides the following services to students and members of other scientific institutions in the Trieste area:
- Specialised Mathematics and Physics Library;
- Parallel Calculus Centre;
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory;
- Neurophysiology and Confocal Microscopy Laboratory;
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory.
In 1986 SISSA was endowed with an Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Natural and Human Sciences, which has the task of exploring new research fields and links between scientific disciplines. It has the autonomy of a department and is organised in various research sectors. It currently offers a Master’s Degree in Scientific Communication and a Master's Degree in Digital Science Journalism.
Since July 13, 2010 the campus has been located near Opicina, in the site of the former Santorio Santorio center for pneumology (Ospedale Pneumologico Santorio Santorio), where it is easily accessible by Opicina tramway.
Up to 2010 SISSA administrative offices and all research sectors were located near the Miramare Park, about 10 kilometres from the city of Trieste. The Miramare scientific still hosts the ICTP (International Center for Theoretical Physics) and the Department of Theoretical Physics of the University of Trieste.
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