naMec About naMec

naMec – Interuniversity Research Center Asian, Nomadic Cultures, Mobility and Environment Study Center – Mongolian Culture Center University of Florence (SAGAS) and University of Parma (DUSIC)

About Us

The interuniversity research center naMec (Asian, Nomadic Cultures, Mobility and Environment Study Center – Mongolian Culture Center) was established through the collaboration between the University of Florence (Department of History, Archaeology, Geography, Art and Performing Arts – SAGAS) and the University of Parma (Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries – DUSIC). It is the first Italian research center with a dedicated focus on the interdisciplinary study of Mongolia, nomadic cultures, and themes related to mobility and the environment.

Founded at the end of 2023, with the Florence headquarters inaugurated in April 2024, naMec builds upon a long-standing relationship that began in 2016 between the University of Florence and the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture, and later extended in collaboration with the University of Parma, the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations (IISNC) in Ulaanbaatar, and the Government of Mongolia.

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Main Objectives of the Center

• To attract scholars in Italy working on Mongolia, Asian territories, nomadism, mobility, and climate change — from any discipline and including research carried out outside these regions when comparative approaches are possible. The Center aims to build a national network of experts and foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration among researchers in a cooperative spirit.
• To produce new knowledge on the relevant thematic areas, contributing to the current state of research, with a particular focus on: Nomadic Cultures and Civilizations, Ethics and Morality of Nomads, Environment and Climate Change, Mobility.
• To promote Mongolian cultures in Italy — including history, traditions, language, religion, philosophy, archaeology, and anthropology — by organizing public events, seminars, and lectures, and by expanding the collection of Mongolian studies resources in university libraries.
• To strengthen and expand collaborations between Italian scholars and international networks engaged in similar themes and territories (e.g., IISNC – International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations, INALCO – Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, CEMS – Centre d’Études Mongoles et Sibériennes, etc.).
• To develop international projects with Mongolia and other countries in the Asian region.
• To promote academic exchanges between Italy, Mongolia, and other Asian countries, involving both students and faculty in educational and research activities. The Center also supports exchanges with other territories when their topics are of interest to naMec.
• To establish partnerships with Italian companies engaged in activities related to Mongolia and similar regions.