Università degli Studi di Perugia

The Faculty of Mathematics Physics and Natural Sciences, founded in 1951, is one of the most diversified faculties of the University of Studies of Perugia.  The teaching activities of the faculty benefit from the department structures that have well-equipped classrooms and laboratories.  The teaching activities of nine first-level degree courses, nine second-level degree courses, a masters program and the doctoral degree courses, as well as in-service, specialization, advanced and interfaculty courses are coordinated at the Faculty level. The departments are responsible for coordinating and promoting scientific and technological research activities, managing the laboratories, equipment and common services and organizing conventions and scientific events.  The faculty has established joint-working relationships with many Italian and foreign universities and businesses.

History

The Faculty of Science was instituted in the University of Perugia in 1810 under the Napoleonic government.  By virtue of the Imperial Decree of October 8, 1810, the number of faculties increased from three, (Theology, Law and Medicine), to five with the addition of the faculties of Physical-Mathematical and Natural Sciences and Letters.

The need to institute the Faculty of Sciences was due, on the one hand, to the great scientific progress achieved in the 17th and 18th centuries and on the other, to the new ideas brought about by the French Revolution.  In the case of Perugia, the availability of new space was also a major factor.  In 1810 the site of the University was transferred from the Palazzo del Soprammuro (currently Piazza Matteotti) to the monastery of Monte Morcino Nuovo (Palazzo Murena) that had been confiscated from the Olivetan monks by Napoleon in 1809.  The garden of the old monastery was transformed into the Botanical Garden in 1814.  In addition to a library, the new Faculty also had scientific laboratories and a museum.

With the return of papal rule (April 24, 1814), the Faculty was allowed to continue.

At that time, the three-year degree program offered the following courses: elementary mathematics, chemistry, experimental physics, higher mathematics and botany.  Prior to the institution of the Faculty of Science, these courses had been taught as part of the degree course in medicine (known as Arts and Medicine).

According to the Royal Decree of November 1864, a high school (liceo) diploma was not mandatory for enrolment, as it was in the faculties of Law and Medicine; a diploma from a technical institute was sufficient.  The candidates did, however, have to pass an admission test.

In 1886, the Faculty was suppressed due to lack of students; in fact, there were more teachers than students.  This occurred at a time when state financing had been reduced.  After the fall of the Pontifical State, the University of Perugia was no longer a state university.  It became a free university that was financially supported by the Commune of Perugia.  This was in contrast to other universities that continued to be state universities, changing their names from “pontifical” to “royal” universities.  The University of Perugia became a state (royal) university in 1925.

After having been closed for 70 years, the Faculty of Science reopened its doors for the 1952-53 academic year.  The authorization to begin courses was given by the Minister of Public Instruction and made official on March 11, 1953 in the decree of the President of the Republic N. 572.

The Commune of Perugia allowed the University to use Palazzo Donini (currently the Regional Government offices) for lessons.  The Rector at the time, Prof. Giuseppe Ermini, appointed Prof. Aldo Spirito to be the Special Commissioner and he also became the Dean.

There were three degree courses: mathematics and physics, natural sciences and biological sciences.

Diplomas from the classical and scientific high schools were required for admission.

A two-year preparatory course for a degree in chemistry was initiated in the 1955-56 academic year and the course was fully activated in 1963.

In the 1960s and 1970s many new university buildings were constructed.  Those for the Faculty of Sciences included the building in the Piazza dell’Università (the current seat of the department of Earth Sciences), that in Via Elce di Sotto, the seat of the chemistry, mathematics and physics institutes (Departments of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics) and that in Via del Giochetto, the seat of the biology institutes.

The location of the Faculty and its associated structures can be found on the web site:

http://www.unipg.it/facsmfn/dove_siamo.htm