EDUCATION

• 1997 - PhD. in Art Education,  Department of Art and Art Professions, School of Education,  New York University.
• 1974 - Doctoral Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy

• Temporary Professor, School of Specialization in Food Science and Nutrition, Sapienza University of Rome

• Member Scientific Committee, CIISCAM – International Interuniversity Studies Centre on Mediterranean Food Cultures, Rome
• Member International Scientific Committee, Mediterranean Diet Foundation, Barcelona
• Member International Scientific Committee, Nutricion sin Fronteras, Barcelona
• Member Technical Committee Mediterranean Diet, Ministry of Agriculture, Rome 
• Member, Italian Society of Human Nutrition
• Member International Scientific Committee, ISALTA - International Society for the Advancement of Living Traditions in Art

2007-Present: National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, Rome

• Head of the Technical Secretariat of the President

2006-Present: CIISCAM-International Interuniversity Studies Centre on Mediterranean Food Cultures, Rome

• Coordinator:
  • Design the Centre and coordiantion of its activities;
  • 1° International Conference  “Le Nuove Frontiere nel Mediterraneo per la Sicurezza Alimentare”, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy, 2007
  • 2° International Conference  “Erosion of the Mediterranean Food Cultural Heritage and Actions for Its Safeguarde”, Piscopio-Vibo Valentia, Italy, 2008
  • 3° International Conference “The Mediterranean Diet as Model of a Sustainable Diet”, Parma , Italy, 2009

2002-Present: Forum on Mediterranean Food Cultures, Rome

• Coordinator:
  • Design the Forum, coordination of its activities and scientific direction;
  • 3° Forum EuroMediterranean  “Dialogues between Mediterranean People and Civilizations on  Food Cultures”, Rome, 2005 
  • 2° Forum EuroMediterranean “Dialogues between Mediterranean Cultures and Civilizations on  Food Security”, Corigliano Calabro, Italy, 2003
  • 1° Forum EuroMediterraneo:  “Dialogues among Mediterranean Civilizations: Feeding Mind-Fighting Hunger” ,  Lamezia Terme, Italy,  2002

1999-Present: Plexus International Forum Onlus, Cagliari-Rome

• President
  • Erosions and Renaissance Show Project, Dakar, Ballarat (Australia), Lecce, Roma, New York, Barcellona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Sassari, 2004-2009
  • Well Being Ark Project,  2005-2009
  • The Triangle of Art Festival Project,   Dakar, 2002-2006

2006-1999: Food Science and Nutrition  Institute, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome

• Consultant
  • Italian Food Pyramid Guideline
  • Feed Yourself with the Colors of Life Campaign, UNAPROA, 2004-2006
  • The Food Tradition in the Mediterranean Monotheistic Religions, International Conference, Rome, 2005

2002-2000: FAO Food and Nutrition Division, Rome

• Consultant
  • Network of FAO Centres of Excellence in Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition
  • Italian version “Feeding Mind-Fighting Hunger”campaign

2001-1996: Consortium for the Well Being in the XXI Century, Rome

• Coordinator  
  • Design the Consortium, coordination of its activities and scientific direction; 
  • 4° International Symposium: “Towards a Food Security for All”, Cagliari, Italy, 1999;
  • 3° International Symposium: “From Welfare to Well Being in the Twenty-First Century”, Carloforte, Italy, 1998; 
  • Special Event “From Welfare to Well Being: Eating Art, Get the Best from Your Food, Food for All”, with FAO Food and Nutrition Division, on the occasion of 1996 World Food Summit, Rome.

1999-93: Interdepartmental Well Being Centre for the Study of Life Quality,  University of Cagliari, Italy.

• Coordinator
  • Design the Centre, coordination of its activities and scientific direction; 
  • 2° International Symposium “Marconi ‘95 Navigating Global Cultures: Strategies for the Well Being in the XXI Century”, 1995,  Cagliari,  Italy. 
  • Development of the Italian version of the FAO education initiative “Get the Best from Your Food.”

1992-89: The 1992 Christopher Columbus Consortium,  New York

• Coordinator
  • Design the Consortium, coordination of its activities and scientific direction; 
  • 1° International Symposium “The Well Being in the XXI Century: Columbus Reconciliation Forum”, 1992, Carloforte, Italy.

1982-80: Center for Italian Contemporary Culture of  New York University,  New York

• Executive Director 
  • Design of the Center and its management; 
  • Development fund-raising program;
  • Development relations with Italian and American institutions.

1979-74: Teaching Assistant and Researcher -  Institute of Biochemistry  of  University “La Sapienza”,   Rome.

• experimental researches in the field of the quantitative and qualitative separation of sulfur and selenium aminoacids.

Scientific Journals

• A.R,  Del Balzo V, Dernini S,  Donini L.M, Cannella C. “La Dieta Mediterranea nella Prevenzione delle Patologie Cronico-Degenerative: Evidenze Scientifiche”. Ann Ig: 21 (2009) 197-210.
• Dernini S. “Transmitting Mediterranean Food Culture through Art: A Creative Interdisciplinary Approach”.  Public Health Nutrition: 9 (8A), (2006) 1141-1143. 
• Dernini S. “Towards the Advancement of the Mediterranean Food Cultures”.  Public Health Nutrition: 9 (1A), (2006) 103-104.
• Cannella C.,  Dernini S. “Walnut: Insights and Nutritional Value”. Acta Horticulturae: 705, (2006) 547-549.

Magazine

• Dernini S. “The Strategic Proposal to the Candidacy of the  Mediterranean Diet for Inclusion in the UNESCO List of  Intangible Cultural Heritage”.  European Institute of the Mediterranean and Fundacio CIDOB, (2008) Mediterranean Year Book, Barcellona, 288-291.
• Donini L.M, Del Balzo V, Dernini S, Scanu A, Cannella C. “La Piramide Alimentare Italiana.” Le Scelte del Consumatore. 167, (2007) 6-8

Proceedings

• Dernini S. “Mediterranean Diet as an Underestimated Sustainable Resource”. III Encuentros en el Mediterraneo. Istituto Europeo de la Alimentazione Mediterranea, 26 June 2009, 12-18
• Dernini S. "North-South Food Dialogues in the Mediterranean Rim". Federation of African Nutrition Societies Congress, Ouarzazate (Marocco), 7-9 May 2007, 135-137
• Dernini S. “The Present Role of the Mediterranean Diet and the Sustainable Development of the Mediterranean Food Cultures”. International Conference Traditional Mediterranean Diet: Past, Present and Future, Atene, 21-23 April 2004, 143-146
• Dernini S. “Progetto Euromediterraneo sulla Sicurezza Alimentare”. 16° Congresso Nazionale ANDID, Parma, 17-20 March 2004, 40-41

Abstracts

• Del Balzo V., Dernini S., Scanu A., Cannella C. “ Well-Being Portino Size and Italian Food Pyramid”. 10th European Nutrition Conference, Parigi, 10-13 July 2007, 336
• Dernini S. "North-South Food Dialogues in the Mediterranean Rim". Federation of African Nutrition Societies Congress, Ouarzazate (Marocco), 7-9 May 2007, 26
• Del Balzo V., Cannella C., Dernini S. "Gaining Health and Preserving the Mediterranean Diet: The Italian Experience". Federation of African Nutrition Societies Congress, Ouarzazate (Marocco), 7-9 May 2007, 52
• Dernini S. "The Experience of the Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Food Cultures: An Interdisciplinary Intercultural Approach". Federation of African Nutrition Societies Congress, Ouarzazate (Marocco), 7-9 May 2007, 61
• Dernini S. “Transmitting Mediterranean food culture through art”. Mediterranean Diet International Congress, Barcellona, 8-9 March 2006, 60-62
• Dernini S. ”The Barcelona process and the importance of the Mediterranean diet to preserve the Mediterranean food cultures heritage from the increasing erosion”. 2nd International Conference “Traditional Mediterranean Diet: Past, Present and Future”, Atene, 20-22 April 2005, 12
• Dernini S. “An EuroMed network project for the advancement of the diversity of Mediterranean cultures”. Mediterranean Diet International Congress, Barcelona, 9-11 March 2004

Book

• Dernini S. “ Plexus Black Box . A Multicultural Aesthetic Inquiry on An International Community-Based Art Project.” Casa Editrice Università “La Sapienza”, 2007.