Environmental Studies

This course focuses on the fundamental knowledge for conservation biology by introducing: (1) Biodiversity; (2) Threats to biodiversity, and (3) the approaches to reduce the threats and restore biodiversity. The lectures cover principles and theories of ecology. Given the interdisciplinary framework of conservation biology, lectures cover economics and politics, thereby encouraging students to evaluate ecology findings from different viewpoints. 

This course introduces students to the politics and controversies of environmental issues in France and their inter-connections with food and similar politics at the EU and UN levels. The course explores pressing environmental issues facing the country such as GMO politics, food wastage, air pollution, water pollution, species extinction, environmental justice, trade, climate change, and the impact of chemicals on health. The course assesses the nature of problems encountered, and discusses workable solutions for sustainable development in order to avoid a “tragedy of the commons.”

This course explores the many aspects of volcanism on Earth, from the formation of magma below or within the crust to its eruption at the surface, focusing on the volcanism of Mt. Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world and a perfect natural laboratory thanks to its peculiar characteristics. The different types of eruptive styles of volcanoes are described and explained within their geological and tectonic contexts, with an additional focus on their impact on the local ecosystem and on human activities in the region, through multiple case studies and in-class discussions. A geological excursion to the Aeolian Islands volcanic archipelago provides an opportunity to further explore modern volcano monitoring techniques, with a particular focus on geophysical and geochemical methods, and of implementing data collection into a research project. This course provides students, through a combination of classroom and field-based learning, with knowledge on geophysical, geochemical and petrological monitoring methods of active volcanoes, on the techniques and strategies for analyzing and modeling monitoring data and on their use for the purpose of assessing volcanic hazard. In addition to the lectures, the students are engaged in practical exercises on instrumentation and modeling methods. The field trips and site visits also provide context to devote specific attention to the impact of volcanic eruptions on human activities and life, unveiling the close interplay between man and volcanoes around the world and throughout history.

Please note course extends into January, available for year students only. The course focuses on the relationship between plants and environment and the implications for society. Different aspects of the modern or alternative use of plants is analyzed. Special attention is placed on associating structural and functional characteristics of plants with their influence on environmental and economic sustainability as well as human health. The laboratory associated with the course focuses on how science (in particular plant biotechnology) is the basis for technology and knowledge regarding the use of plants in modern society. Students are encouraged to pursue personal interests connected to the course. The course discusses topics including cell cultures of plant tissues and organs, transgenic plants, plants and food, alimurgic plants, dyeing plants, phytoremediation, the plants as bio-indicators of pollution; urban plants as bio-indicators of climate change, positive and negative interactions of plants with human artifacts (monuments and architectural works), palynology, plants as a source of energy., biorefineries, and bioplastics. To be able to attend the laboratory, students must possess laboratory safety certification (completion of Modules 1 and 2 of the laboratory safety certification) at Unibo.

This course introduces the fascinating field of environmental history, focusing on the tensions between economic growth, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation in the distant past as well as in present-day societies. The course pays ample attention to the transition from pre-industrial to industrial modes of production and the environmental consequences thereof - the making of the Anthropocene. Analogies are drawn from the collapse of ancient civilizations to contemporary environmental problems, such as global warming and mineral resource depletion. The course also specifically addresses the various strategies that historical civilizations have developed in order to survive climate change, deforestation, soil erosion, or other ecological threats to human livelihood. Finally, the course addresses the emergence of present-day environmental consciousness in the wake of modern urbanization, industrialization, and unprecedented demographic growth.

This course examines interactions of individual plants and plant communities with their abiotic environment, including ground and surface water regimes and biogeochemistry at the local scale. It looks at how these interactions are linked to hydrological processes at the catchment scale and how these interactions can be applied to conserve or restore water-dependent vegetation and habitats at the local level.