The three Thematic Areas of the course structure the research and training pathways, offering a broad and interdisciplinary vision that fosters integration among geosciences, environmental sciences, biology, chemistry, and technologies for monitoring and managing complex systems. Specific details and topics covered are described in the "Research" section of the website (Earth Sciences research and Environmental Sciences research).
The research topics developed during the PhD program correspond to those addressed by various research groups at the Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Centre for Geotechnologies. Many PhD students are involved in projects of the National Antartic Research Program (PNRA), carried out at universities or research institutions such as CNR, INGV, ENEA, and the National Antarctic Museum. Through inter- and multidisciplinary approaches, most research focuses on the study of the Earth System and the interactions and integrations among its components, the prevention of natural risks, the development of innovative methodologies to detect the impact of anthropogenic activities and climate change, for the remediation of compromised environments, and the integrated management of the environment and territory.
By employing advanced techniques for geophysical and geotechnical investigations and tools such as GIS, remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, and numerical cartography, research programs are conducted on lithosphere dynamics, the tectonic, magmatic, and metamorphic evolution of orogenic areas, seismic and hydrogeological risk maps, minero-petrographic characterization of archaeological materials, paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and cultural analysis of Prehistory and Protohistory.
In the field of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Sciences, the main activities involve the development of new biomarkers and new techniques for bioremediation and nanoremediation, the study of biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, and predictive models on their possible responses to the impact of anthropogenic activities and climate change.
The effects of climate change on the environment and ecosystems manifest earlier and are amplified in polar regions. The study of interactions among the lithosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere in polar regions allows some PhD students to be inserted into the international context of research on global processes and ongoing changes on our planet.
For a more complete overview of the topics currently addressed by students of the PhD program, please refer to the site PhD students, where you can find the research topics of PhD students from the 29th cycle onwards.