The Earth Sciences Section is composed of researchers working in the following areas of study:
- Paleontology and Paleoecology
- Stratigraphic and Sedimentological Geology
- Structural Geology and Tectonics
- Physical Geography and Geomorphology
- Applied Geology
- Mineralogy
- Petrology and Petrography
- Geochemistry and Volcanology
- Mineral Resources and Mineralogical-Petrographic Applications for the Environment and Cultural Heritage
- Solid Earth and Applied Geophysics
The researchers in the Section are involved in numerous research and technological development projects and have a long-standing tradition of research in Italy (Northern and Southern Apennines, Apuan Alps, Sardinia, Western Alps), in Antarctica, and more recently in Australia and Tanzania, in the Scottish and Irish Southern Uplands Terrane, in the orogenic belt of the Svalbard Archipelago, in the San Andreas Fault System in California, and in the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey.
The main research activities include the study of Neogene and Quaternary foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils, both from a taxonomic-systematic perspective and in terms of their stratigraphic, paleoecological, and paleoclimatic applications; high-resolution stratigraphic analysis of sedimentary basins; the study of continental carbonates such as calcareous tufa, travertines, and speleothems; urban geology; geodiversity and geosites; the interpretation of the origin of the Apennines and other peri-Mediterranean mountain ranges; prediction and prevention of geological hazards (earthquakes, landslides, floods); exploitation and protection of natural resources, with a particular focus on water resources; research aimed at land protection and management; applied geology for large infrastructures and urban planning; systematic mineralogy, crystal chemistry and crystallography; magmatic and metamorphic petrology; environmental geochemistry, especially the study of the geochemical cycle of toxic heavy elements in surface spheres and their transfer to higher organisms and humans; mineralogical-petrographic characterization of natural and artificial stones (marbles, plasters, mortars, bricks) and other materials such as glass, metals, and pigments of archaeological and historical-artistic interest; conservation and restoration of cultural and geo-environmental heritage; development of innovative computational methods for estimating national seismic hazard; geodetic monitoring of the central-northern Apennines; and studies on seismic hazard
Museum Facilities
Within the Earth Sciences Section, there are also two museum facilities:
- The Museum of Earth Sciences, which is part of the University Museum System and collaborates with the Foundation of the Museums of Siena.
- The National Antarctic Museum, established in 1996 and dedicated to the memory of Felice Ippolito, its first president. The Museum has three locations—Genoa, Trieste, and Siena—each with exhibitions focused on different themes. The Siena branch aims to promote knowledge of the Antarctic continent, with a particular focus on its geological, climatological, and environmental evolution.
At the University of Siena (Tuscany, Italy), two degree programs in Earth Sciences are currently offered:
a three-year Bachelor’s Degree Program, open to students who have completed secondary school, and a two-year Master’s Degree Program, for those who have already obtained a bachelor's degree.
Both programs are held at the Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy).
Bachelor’s Degree Program (Class L-34 – Geological Sciences)
The Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Sciences (3 years, 180 ECTS credits) provides students with a solid understanding of geological processes for the responsible and sustainable use of Earth’s resources, in line with European standards.
The program includes classroom lectures, fieldwork and laboratory exercises, internships at public and private institutions, and the opportunity for study periods at Italian or foreign universities.
The educational activities are supported by the laboratories and facilities of the Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Earth Sciences Section).
Italian Ministerial Decree 976/14 (Fund to support young people and promote student mobility) includes Class L-34 among the areas of strategic interest to the European Community, offering partial reimbursement of tuition fees and contributions for students enrolled in this degree course under the Scientific Degree Plan initiative.
Career opportunities include employment in public administration, private companies, and professional consulting firms, particularly in the areas of geological and environmental risk prevention, natural raw material exploitation, and water resource management.
Graduates in Geological Sciences are eligible to register with the Italian National Council of Geologists (Section B), upon passing the required state examination.
Master’s Degree Program (Class LM-74 – Geological Resources and Hazards of Land Managment)
The Master’s Degree in Geological Resources and Hazards for Land Managment (2 years, 120 ECTS credits) provides students with advanced scientific and professional training for highly qualified careers in the Earth Sciences and related technologies.
The program includes classroom lectures, field and laboratory activities, internships at public and private institutions, and study opportunities at Italian or international universities.
The course benefits from the laboratories and facilities of the Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Earth Sciences Section) and of the Geotechnologies Center.
Career opportunities span a wide range of sectors, including public administration, private companies, and consultancy firms, in fields such as exploration, use and conservation of geological resources, environmental evaluation and planning, scientific research, and science communication.
Graduates in Geological Sciences and Technologies are eligible to register with the Italian National Council of Geologists (Section A), upon passing the required state examination.
