Environmental Studies

This course discusses current "hot" technologies featured in media, such as quantum computers (computer science); batteries (chemistry), and nuclear energy (physics). 

The course presents fundamental environmental and geographical concepts from the fields of human and physical geography and explores the interconnections, flows, and boundaries across these systems. How these systems have played out in the past, how they are changing, and what the future may hold, is critical to a full appreciation of current and future environmental challenges. This course brings together an understanding of both the biophysical geographic settings and processes that inform all facets of our landscapes, and the social engagement with their components, which present both opportunity and limitation to human development. DP requirements: Attendance of all, and satisfactory completion of all tutorial and practical assignments; students must attain an average mark of not less than 40% for the coursework component. Assessment: Essays, assignments and tutorial work count 60%; one 2-hour theory examination written in November counts 40% (subminimum of 40% required).

This course considers a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues, aiming enhance one's environmental literacy to solve complex environmental problems.

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 course offers students a multidimensional perspective on the dynamic links between human societies and the environment, using insights from environmental, resource, and ecological economics. The course particularly focuses on the design, implementation, and implications of economic policies aimed at improving environmental sustainability, without affecting human prosperity. Several types of policies are analyzed and discussed, including fiscal policies (taxes and subsidies), pollution permit markets, public spending policies, behavioral interventions, and financial policies. The mitigation and adaptation to climate change is the main applied focus. At the end of the course, students have a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing environmental policy debate. The course covers the following topics: Basics of environmental economics; The rationale for environmental policy-making; Market-based policies vs command-and-control regulation; Carbon pricing: carbon taxes and emission trading schemes; International environmental agreements; Paris Agreement; Sustainable finance policy-making; Behavioral change; strategic interactions; social norms.

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 course requires a background knowledge of cell biology and animal physiology from Bachelor of Science courses of Biology. The course content includes:

• Temperature: biochemical and physiological effects on animals; regulation of thermal biology; molecular basis of thermal adaptation.
• Ocean Acidification: biochemical and physiological effects of pH variations on animals; molecular basis of pH adaptation
• Drought and salinity: animal water balance and osmoregulation; adaptation in terrestrial and aquatic environments; molecular basis of osmotic adaptation.
• Physiological and molecular limits of adaptation; climate change adverse effects on animal and human health.
• Biological effects of emerging pollutants

At the end of the course, students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the physiological mechanisms (at the molecular, cellular and systemic levels) through which animals - including humans - can adapt to changes in temperature, pH, osmolarity, water scarcity, etc. in the surrounding environment. On the other hand, students know the limits of adaptation, thus being able to evaluate the risks related to climate changes. Students have the ability to integrate knowledge and formulate hypothesis, and clearly communicate their achievements.

This course is an introduction to the philosophy and use of models in the study of a range of environmental systems, including coastal, ecological, fluvial, atmospheric and social. 

This course demonstrates the dynamic earth, and how ideas from marine magnetics were utilized to revolutionize our understanding of the structure and dynamics of the Earth’s outer surface. Later, it explains fundamentals of marine magnetic anomalies, including measurements and modelling, and how it is used to explore fine-scale structures of oceanic crust. The second part of this course deals with marine sediments and marine environmental change. Firstly, the physical and chemical properties of marine sediments are presented, followed by illustrations of complex physical, chemical and biogeochemical processes in marine sedimentary environments. Later, it presents the establishment of geomagnetic polarity timescales, and principles and applications of magnetic stratigraphy and environmental magnetism for quantitatively reconstructing environmental and climatic changes. Development of various stages of the exciting international ocean drilling programs will be briefly presented. 

This course provides an overview of marine charismatic megafauna and ecosystem processes including food webs, biogeochemical cycling, trophic cascades, and adaptations of organisms to their environment.

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 factors determining the Earth’s climate are explored, such as the geographic constraints, energy and water, and oceanic and atmospheric circulation, solar heating, tropical variability, ice ages, and greenhouse gases. The course looks at how the climate expresses itself in terms of phenomena, including heat waves, tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons), and floods. The potential consequences of human-induced climate change and their implications for policy formulation are analyzed, focusing on risks to people, societies, and ecosystems. The course also looks at the international policy initiatives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and to adapt to climate change.

This course provides students with a knowledge and working experience of a number of modern laboratory techniques that help researchers understand the physiology of farmed organisms to inform and innovate husbandry practice.