In 2012, Source International was born from a simple conviction: science should serve people and protect the planet. Thirteen years later, that conviction continues to inspire our work across four continents -from the Andes to the Congo, from Lebanon to the Italian Alps - supporting communities affected by pollution, environmental degradation, and human rights violations.
Since its foundation, Source International has carried out more than 60 projects in over 30 countries, providing scientific and legal support to over 150 local communities. Our fieldwork and training programs have directly involved more than 10,000 people and trained over 1,000 local activists, teachers, and community leaders in environmental monitoring, health assessment, and advocacy for human rights.
Thanks to the evidence produced together with these communities, we have helped secure historic victories for environmental justice - from the declaration of an unconstitutional mining law in Honduras, to USD 50 million in compensation for residents of Carrizalillo, Mexico; from the state of environmental emergency in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, to the River Protection Law approved in Mongolia.
“At 23, I attended a conference in Italy where a Guatemalan activist spoke about environmental harms of mining. Her account was powerful, but lacked scientific data - it was driven purely by emotion. She told me that no one in the scientific community was willing to work with them. Two months later, I graduated, boarded a one-way flight to Guatemala, and started gathering evidence myself. Twenty years later, I’m still committed to uncovering pollution and human rights violations connected to industry.”
Flaviano Bianchini, Founder and Director
From its headquarters in Italy, Source International now operates globally with projects in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe. Our multidisciplinary team of scientists, lawyers, and educators combines field research, legal strategy, and community empowerment to ensure that environmental evidence becomes a tool for justice. Through our educational and citizen science programs, we also engage hundreds of students, educators, and citizens every year — from rural schools in northern Italy to Indigenous territories in Latin America — bridging the gap between research and civil society.
Source International is more than a simple organization. It is a group of friends working together to achieve one common goal: environmental and social justice worldwide!
Flaviano Bianchini, founder and director of Source International
“After years of research in academia, working for Source allows me to transform my passions and knowledge into concrete actions that improve people’s lives. What makes this journey truly special are the field experiences: working side by side with communities is a precious opportunity for human connection and growth.”
Rachele Ossola, Scientific Director
“Some days I’m collecting water samples in Indonesia to assess the impacts of nickel extraction; other times, I’m in a small school in northern Italy talking about biodiversity. Working at Source surprises me, sometimes moves me deeply, but above all it allows me to fight, together, for what I believe in.”
Clara Masetti, Environmental Specialist
“It is the desire for justice, together with the hope for change, that gives meaning to my daily commitment - a journey I’ve carried forward for more than ten years. Without these two pillars, I would not find the strength to do what I do, nor the motivation to begin each new day.”
Laura Grassi, Environmental Specialist
“After years spent trying to combine my skills, my passions, and my values, joining the Source team was a dream come true. Working every day for my ideals, and sharing them with my colleagues and an entire community, makes everything easier and motivates me to do better.”
Sofia Farina, Environmental Specialist and Communication Officer
Today, as we celebrate 13 years of impact, we remain committed to our mission: empowering communities through science, promoting environmental justice, and ensuring that human rights and the environment come before profit. In Italy, our citizen science projects are helping monitor water pollution and radon exposure; in Africa, we support environmental assessments in gold and cobalt mines; in the Caribbean, we collaborate with regional agencies to manage hazardous chemicals and strengthen institutional capacity.
Every project, every partnership, and every person trained contributes to a single vision: a world where knowledge is power, and every community has the tools to defend its environment and its future.
Thank you to all who have walked this path with us and to those who will continue to believe in a fairer, cleaner, and more just world.
All the photos in this page are taker by Stefano Sbrulli.
