Earth & Space Sciences

This course explores the fundamental nature of the main groups of materials which constitute planets such as the Earth, and develops an understanding of how atomic structure of materials ultimately defines planetary processes. In Part A: From atoms to minerals, students briefly review atomic theory, consider how atoms are arranged in crystalline materials and how this, ultimately, controls material properties. Interaction of crystalline materials with light, X-rays, and electrons are used to introduce the theoretical and practical basis behind analytical techniques used to study Earth and planetary materials. In Part B: Planetary building blocks, students review the main groups of solid materials which constitute planets such as the Earth, considering how structure, chemistry, physical properties, and occurrence are interrelated. In Part C: Modelling chemical processes, students consider how the stability and occurrence of materials can be predicted and determined numerically, and consider factors governing the rates at which natural processes occur.

The course presents a general view of the current scientific understanding of the Universe with its components, including basic notions on its physical and observational fundaments. It teaching methdology includes lectures, tutoring sessions, and study of the night at an astronomic observatory.

This course examines how normal processes of the earth-atmosphere-hydrosphere-space systems result in events that are capable of dealing disastrous blows to humans on the scale of individual lives to civilizations. It focuses on the geologic processes of events such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, tsunami, tornadoes, climate change, and asteroid impacts, and their local, national and global repercussions. In particular, It looks at the spatial and temporal occurrences of these hazards, methods and processes for hazard preparedness, response and recovery, and the social, economic and policy aspects that affect and, in many cases, compound the magnitude of the disasters associated with these natural phenomena. 

This course provides basic knowledge of the relationship between climate and forest ecosystems. This course consists of two sections: the first section introduces basic information about the Earth and climate, while the second section deals with terrestrial plant ecology.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a background in science to the methods and policy tools used in environmental and resource economics in order to achieve efficient management of pollution and environmental resources. More specifically, the course will introduce the concept of environmental externalities as the main source of environmental degradation, and the policy instruments used to correct these externalities. The course also includes an introduction to climate change economics and climate policy. Student having successfully completed the course are expected have a good understanding of issues and economic policies related to controlling environmental pollution and climate change. The course covers the two main approaches to the economics of the environment and natural resources - Environmental economics and Ecological economics - with a special focus on the Economics of climate change. 

The course contains description of those planets and those among their moons in the solar system that can be envisioned to have physical and/or chemical preconditions to develop life. The development of the earliest lifeforms on Earth, and extreme environments for present-day life on the bottom of the oceans, around hot springs, deep underground, in permafrost, or in radioactive environments. Design of space probes, as well as experiments to study biologically relevant environments on other planets. Analysis of extraterrestrial material in the laboratory, and risks for spreading organisms between different planets. Current and planned instruments and methods to find and to study planets around other stars. Development over geological ages of different planets together with their host star and the development of their atmospheres and climates. The search for intelligent life in the Universe, and possible philosophic and other consequences of a possible discovery thereof. The prerequisites required for admission to the course are at least 60 credits of approved courses within the faculties of either science, technology and/or medicine.

This course examines satellite systems, describing their main applications and providing a detailed introduction into the principles of orbital mechanics. It focuses on orbital mechanics, covering orbit description and analysis, perturbations, orbital manoeuvres, interplanetary transfers and launch systems.

This is the most advanced undergraduate course in the Astronomy program Department of Physics & Astronomy and is targeted to astronomy-major or physics-major senior (or junior) undergraduate students or first and secondar year graduate students. 

To retain the advanced level of this course, the enrollment is restricted only to those students who took the following classes in astronomy, physics and mathematics classes: Galaxies and the Universe, Introduction to Astrophysics 1, General physics, Classical Mechanics I & II (including the Special Relativity), Quantum Mechanics I & II, Thermal Physics, Electrodynamics I & II, General Mathematics, Calculus/Analysis, Linear Algebra. 

Students should not register for this class unless they have completed the above prerequisite courses. 

This course introduces fundamental methods and techniques for analyzing both biotic interactions and abiotic conditions in diverse marine ecosystems. Through a combination of laboratory work and field studies, students gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Topics include measurement of abiotic factors, assessment of species interactions and community structure, evaluation of biodiversity and similarity indices, and investigation of behavioral and ecological patterns. The course also explores the effects of human activities on marine environments and examines strategies for ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation.

This course provides an overview of past climate and sea-level changes focused on how these changes are observed in the sedimentary records, and what processes, interactions and feedbacks between the components of the climate system may have led to the signal in the sedimentary archives. The course is composed of theory and case-studies. The theory part comprises an introduction to climate archives and marine and terrestrial system processes. Important sedimentary and geochemical proxies, including isotopes, are explained and students are trained in the evaluation of such data. Examples may deal with past climate changes, long-term carbon cycle perturbations and/or modifications of seawater geochemistry on time scales ranging from thousands to multi-millions of years. In the last weeks of the course, students read key papers and produce a review report or write a report about field/laboratory work/data. The course develops the necessary background for understanding the importance of observations and hypothesis testing. It also develops skills in analysing multiple datasets and in interpretation of which process feedbacks lead to the observations, as well as the ability to evaluate the validity of geological data archives and to model results through comparative studies. A series of lectures and practicals consist in signal analysis (data preparation, Fast fourier transforms or FFT, evolutive FFT, Filter design) of sedimentary climatic signals with the aim of extracting orbital components to better understand the influence of insolation on climate through time.