Environmental researchers at state-owned group ISPRA were due to finish a rooftop occupation of their labs, as Freedom went to press, after negotiations were agreed over the firing of nearly one third of company staff.

Last year saw 200 people sacked, while another 250 on temporary contracts have been put on notice that they could lose their jobs in 2010.

Major cutbacks in the department include work on waste management, air pollution, nuclear waste, marine ecosystems and other departments, which critics say will cripple Italy’s ability to monitor environmental issues.

The de-funding of ISPRA was announced by the government earlier this year as part of what is suspected to be a shift towards the use of private companies for monitoring – which are not subject to the scrutiny rules ISPRA maintains.

Scientists at ISPRA have been outraged by the decision and over the last month have taken part in a number of protests, including the release of a video on YouTube in which they acted out the ‘gunning down of science’ by suited bureaucrats and the occupation of a ministry building as well as the rooftop vigil.

Twenty-one protestors have stayed on the roof for nearly two months during the dispute, calling for all staff contracts to be renewed and “the revitalisation of the institution which can only come through our professionalism.”

The dispute has come amid rising tensions between the scientific community and the government which has led to a call for a national science strike later this month.