"Excellence in research: the ERC Roots project"

Luiss stands out as a center of excellence in international research thanks to its multidisciplinary and innovation-driven approach. As a testament to the value contributed by our researchers and faculty, our University is the Host Institution for the ERC Consolidator Grant, a project of excellence in scientific research of international significance: “ROOTS - Unearthing the roots of global inequality.”

What is the ERC?

The European Research Council (ERC), an EU body, recognizes top researchers in Europe through competitive funding that enables them to conduct cutting-edge research in EU member states or associated countries. Being awarded funding for ERC projects is a prestigious international achievement that demonstrates the high academic standards of our university.
 

The ROOTS project

Led by Prof. Luigi Pascali in collaboration with the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, ROOTS aims to offer a new perspective on the origins of social inequality. 
Using cutting-edge tools from the fields of paleoclimatology, archaeogenetics, and archaeology, the project explores the factors that shaped the development of human society. This allows for an assessment of the origins of social inequality and its global distribution.

Project objectives:

• To study the impact of climate change on the development of ancient communities.
• Analyze food preservation as a factor in social stability.
• To investigate the role of trade and ancient hierarchies in the emergence of inequalities.
   

With this interdisciplinary approach, ROOTS offers new insights to understand not only the past, but also the dynamics of inequality in the contemporary world.