Environmental Sciences

Educational objectives

The teaching of General and Inorganic Chemistry intends to provide the student with the basic knowledge needed to tackle independently and effectively the common problems of Chemistry, in particular in the field of Environmental Science. The preparation acquired will also be essential for the following courses of Organic Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry

Educational objectives

Introduction to the comprehension of the complex functioning of Earth system and of the interrelations among the different geosystems, with particular reference to the climate geosystem Introduction to the construction and use of maps; cartographic exercises (topographic profile distance and area measurements, etc.) interpretation of landforms and their relevant morphogenetic agents.

Knowledge and understanding
Successful students will be able to understand that:
- the Earth is an integrated system; its components, each of them with its own peculiarities, interact through a complex set of physical, chemical and biologic processes;
- Earth relations with the Sun and the Moon strongly influence physical and biological processes occurring on the Earth’s surface;
- atmospheric processes and meteorological events are very complex and affect daily the human life;
- climatic conditions depend upon many and interdependent geographic factors, they affect the distribution of living being and change in times;
- the hydrosphere behave in a differentiated way, although it has its own unit;
- the hydrological cycle links up the Earth’s waters and involves all the components of the Earth system;
- Earth relief evolves continuously and its shaping is influenced by climate, geology and time.
- geographical maps are crucial to the knowledge of territory.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Successful students will be able to:
- perform easy elaborations of climatic data;
- evaluate the climatic characteristics of study areas and establish the climate type they belong to;
- perform a preliminary reading of topographic maps.

Making judgements
Successful students will be able to:
- evaluate the way the natural and man induced modifications that affect one of the component can be reflected on the others;
- recognize the human activities that must be limited and controlled, as they interfere negatively with the natural processes occurring in the different components of the Earth system.

Communication skills
Successful students will be able to:
- communicate information, ideas, problems and solution concerning the general working of the Earth System and the relations among the different geosystems.

Learning skills
Successful students will have acquired the necessary skills to tackle more complex studies, concerning Environmental Geology and Geomorphology in an independent and critical way.

Educational objectives

Knowledge of basic mathematical calculus, reading and usage of statistical data.

Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course the student will have assimilated basic no-tions concerning linear algebra, infinitesimal and integral calculus, representation and usage of statistical data.

Applying knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course the student will be able to treat basic mathematical problems, to deal with real functions, to represent statistical data and to use some basic statistical estimators.

Making judgements: the student will have the tools to analyse both from a qualitative and a quanti-tative viewpoint applied problems, and to read and interpret statistical data.

Communicational skills: at the end of the course the student will be able to expose a mathematical problem and the associated solution, the student will also be able to communicate statistical data.

Learning skills: the acquired knowledge will be fundamental for the continuation of scientific study at other courses, since
based on the mathematical language and concepts.

Educational objectives

The course deals with the rules for the organic compound nomenclature assignment; the study of the organic compound chemical-physic features; the study of the principal functional groups, of their chemical properties and of their reactivity. At the end of the course the students should be capable to predict the chemical and physical properties of a given compound and to evaluate its reactivity.

Educational objectives

Dublin 1. Knowledge and understanding - The student will acquire the morpho-functional knowledge of the body plans of the animal phyla, essential to the interpretation of the adaptations and the evolutionary history of the Metazoa.
Dublin 2. ability to apply knowledge and understanding - The student will acquire the diagnostic skills for the identification of animal groups and the critical skills for the selection of appropriate animal models for experimental biology.
Dublin 3. Critical and judgmental capacities - During the laboratory practices, the student will develop critical and judgmental skills by coping with museum and in vivo samples of the main animal phyla, through macroscopic and microscopic observation of morphologies and behaviors and drawings of anatomical parts.
Dublin 4. ability to communicate what has been learned - Students, especially during the laboratory practices, are encouraged to interact with each other and with the teachers to implement practical activities (observation, identification, analysis and critical comment of the samples).
Dublin 5. ability to continue the study independently in the life - The student will acquire the language of Zoology, in terms of both taxonomic nomenclature and descriptive nomenclature of morphologies and functional and evolutionary processes of animals. These skills will make the student able to face future biological and environmental studies, including experimental activities where animals are the model of study.

Educational objectives

The objective of Morpho-functional Botany course is to provide a basic preparation on the structure and functions of plant cells and organisms aimed to acquiring the skills necessary for an integrated analysis of plant systems and their use in the environmental contexts.
The specific objectives of the course are to provide theoretical / practical information for understanding the structure and functions of the plant cell and of the different levels of plant organization; to make students able to recognize fungal organizations and their role in ecosystems; to provide information for the understanding of reproduction processes in plants.

Students who have passed the examination will be able to acquire the following skills:
- to recognize the different levels of organization of the body of plant organisms;
- to recognize the morpho-functional characteristics of plant cells;
- to recognize meristematic, primary and secondary tissues of plants;
- to recognize the structure and functions of the plant organs;
- to recognize the cellular organization and the biological cycles of the main fungal phyla;
- to be able to use the stereo-microscope and the light microscope;
- to know cyto-histological techniques for the diagnosis of plant primary and secondary tissues;
- to use the dichotomous analytical keys for taxonomic recognition of plants.

Skills to be developed and expected learning outcomes:
In relation to the Objectives of the Course, to provide a basic preparation in GENERAL BOTANY as a premise to subsequent analyzes and integrations of environmental systems and processes in plants. The main competence to be developed with the discipline is to provide the students with the basic training in Botany, which is necessary to enable them to acquire, with successive disciplines of greater specificity, an integrated competence of the environment aimed at promoting environmental quality and natural resources protection.
Learning outcomes. Acquisition of the basic language of Botany and of the scientific learning method in biological disciplines, including experimental activities.
Awareness of the interdisciplinarity of environmental studies for its systemic knowledge.
Ability to apply simple experimental protocols for the diagnostic recognition of cells, tissues, pseudo-tissues and organs.

Educational objectives

The course, which presupposes at least an elementary knowledge of the English language, is aimed at both acquiring a linguistic competence described as B1 level in the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and understanding scientific texts.

Educational objectives

Students may study topics of specific interest in order to acquire greater skills in their field of study. The 12 CFUs of optional courses must be included in the study plan. Students can choose among all the courses on offer at La Sapienza, provided that the selected courses are consistent with the objectives of their main degree course.

Educational objectives

Learning of basic concepts in physics. Identification of physical quantities and their formal relations within natural phenomenona (descriptor A); ability to predict analytically the values of physical quantities from the models that describe them (descriptor A, B). Acquisition - through the solution of simple problems - of rigorous scientific reasoning (descriptor E).

A: understanding and learning ability in a university course.
B: ability to apply the acquired knowledge in a competent way; having adequate skills to design and support arguments, and to solve problems in specific field of interest;

E: developing the skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy

Educational objectives

Objectives

The course deals with general notions of environmental law; its characteristics and historical evolution, sources and principles clearly stated in international law, EU and Italian legal systems.
Particular attention will be devoted to the Italian legal system and to specific issues: sustainable development, climate change, and biodiversity. Moreover, the course aims to underline the close link between economic growth, evolving scientific knowledge and environmental protection, the broad range of instruments for environmental protection and sustainable development; the importance of information and participation rights.
Case studies (Trail Smelter, Bhopal, Chernobyl, Seveso, the Circeo National Park ).

Educational objectives

Lessons in the classroom have the aim of providing students with the elemental conceptual means by which they can evaluate the environmental impact, understand the environmental chemical processes and the interaction/evolution of pollutants in the environment, considering both natural and anthropogenic emissions, either accidental or intentional. Also, the problems involved in the retrieval use of natural resources, in particular water, will be discussed.

Dublin Descriptor 1: at the end of the course the student is provided with the basic knowledge on environmental equilibria and dynamics related to the different environmental compartments (atmosphere, aquifer systems, rivers, lakes, and soil). The students will deliver new knowledge on global pollution (such as global warming and ozone hole), including the involved chemical mechanisms. The students will acquire basic knowledge on aquatic chemistry involving multicomponent/multi-phase equilibria. They will understand as chemical speciation affects pollutant danger, effects and distribution. References to international Environmental Legislation/Protocols aimed to reduce anthropogenic impact on the environment will be provided, as well as basic knowledge on instrumental analytical techniques for main environmental pollutants monitoring.

Dublin Descriptor 2: The student is enabled to understand and practically deal with phenomena related to environmental problems both for the pollution evaluation and for the evolution of chemical compounds in the environment. They will acquire ability to find the scientific and legislative literature concerning a defined environmental problem; ability to select the most appropriate analytical techniques for the monitoring.

Dublin Descriptor 3: The student will develop the capability of critically evaluating an environmental problematic. Such capacity is developed by educational examples explained during lectures (Mount Pinatubo explosion, heavy metal poisoning in Minamata Bay, Black Sea in the Gulf of Mexico, Chernobyl disaster, London smog, oxidizing smog in Los Angeles).

Dublin Descriptor 4: at the end of the course the student has developed the capacity of communicating, by written reports or oral communication, the knowledge acquired using the appropriate language, a logical exposure sequence and displaying synthesis capacity, also by using graphical presentation.

Dublin Descriptor 5: The student is stimulated to further delve into the investigated topics, also creating links among different subjects. Ability to extrapolate form the environmental scientific literature information to deal with new problems.

Educational objectives

Module of Petrography (CFU 3)
A - Knowledge and understanding
OF 1) Knowing the Earth System from its origin to the differentiation processes that determined the internal structure in layers in terms of thickness and physical and mineralogical characteristics of the layers
OF 2)Knowing the petrogenetic processes and the alteration processes of the main lithotypes
OF 3) Knowing the nature and chemical and mineralogical composition of magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
B - Application skills

OF 4) Knowing how to recognize and classify rocks from a mineralogical and chemical point of view.
OF 5) Understanding the problems connected to the study of the main lytotypes.

C – Autonomy of judgment
OF 6) Knowing how to communicate the project to people not included in the academic world

D - Communication skills
OF 13) Having the ability to consult scientific literature on petrography ( stone)

E - Ability to learn

OF 14) Having the ability to consult national and international database

Educational objectives

Module of Mineralogy (CFU 6)
Knowledge of the mineralogical features of the principal rock constituents in the various geological contexts.
Knowledge of the main issues of environmental mineralogy.
Knowledge of the main mineralogical investigation techniques.

Skills to be developed and expected learning outcomes:
Knowledge on crystal chemistry and basic crystallography, on the main topics concerning environmental mineralogy and a basic knowledge on some mineralogical investigation techniques.

Educational objectives

Module of Petrography (CFU 3)
A - Knowledge and understanding
OF 1) Knowing the Earth System from its origin to the differentiation processes that determined the internal structure in layers in terms of thickness and physical and mineralogical characteristics of the layers
OF 2)Knowing the petrogenetic processes and the alteration processes of the main lithotypes
OF 3) Knowing the nature and chemical and mineralogical composition of magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
B - Application skills

OF 4) Knowing how to recognize and classify rocks from a mineralogical and chemical point of view.
OF 5) Understanding the problems connected to the study of the main lytotypes.

C – Autonomy of judgment
OF 6) Knowing how to communicate the project to people not included in the academic world

D - Communication skills
OF 13) Having the ability to consult scientific literature on petrography ( stone)

E - Ability to learn

OF 14) Having the ability to consult national and international database

Educational objectives

This Course aims at providing students with the basics of the scientific study of the relationships between organisms and the environment, and among different organisms in the context of the ecosystem in its living (biotic) and physical (abiotic) components. To examine each level of the hierarchy of ecological systems: organism, population, community, ecosystem and landscape, as a whole with specific structural and functional characteristics. Describe some models needed to understand the main natural processes in a systemic environmental view, in relation to the ongoing Global Changes and to the provision of Ecosystem Services.

Knowledge and understanding
Development of basic ecological skills, purposed to the study of complex realities, in order to analyze quantitatively the complexity of natural ecological systems, agroecosystems and urban systems by integrating knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.

Applying knowledge and understanding
The objective is to acquire a thorough basic theoretical knowledge, and the capacity of applying it in the context of the man-modified environmental reality, through a rigorous quantitative analysis of ecological problems.

Making judgements
The student must be able to analyze, with autonomy and competence, case studies and/or literature sources relevant to the ecological research, proposing possible solutions to basic environmental problems. The course will provide the necessary tools to carry out these functions in complete autonomy.

Communication skills
The student must be able to present ecological problems and concepts, even to non-specialists. It must also be able to exploit the concepts learned, during the realization and subsequent presentation of the final elaborate, always using the correct scientific terminology. The student is encouraged to clearly develop the acquired knowledge of a theoretical and applicative nature.

Learning skills
The student must be able to update and widen his/her knowledge by consulting texts, scientific articles, and participate actively to seminars, conferences and masters in the environmental field, as well as the ability to interact in interdisciplinary contexts for the assessment of ecological problems.

Educational objectives

Understanding the importance of time in geological processes.
Knowledge of the Earth structure and of the dynamic processes that rule its evolution. Knowledge of the interaction between dynamic processes and human activities.
Acquisition of the basic elements on stratigraphy and tectonics.
Acquisition of a method for the macroscopic description of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Acquisition of a method for the interpretation of geological maps.

A) Knowledge and understanding - demonstrating knowledge and understanding in the field of Earth Sciences, especially in Geology at a post secondary level;
B) Apply knowledge and understanding - to be able to apply the acquired knowledge in a competent and reflective way; possess adequate skills to support arguments concerning the teaching subjects, to describe the texture of a rock and to read and interpret a geological map
C) Making judgments - collecting and interpreting data useful for determining judgments in an autonomous form, including judgements on social, scientific or ethical issues related to them;
D) Communication skills - communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialists, experts, and unexperienced speakers;
E) Learning skills - developing skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of freedom.

Educational objectives

Students may study topics of specific interest in order to acquire greater skills in their field of study. The 12 CFUs of optional courses must be included in the study plan. Students can choose among all the courses on offer at La Sapienza, provided that the selected courses are consistent with the objectives of their main degree course.

Educational objectives

The course aims to impart fundamental knowledge essential for comprehending the origins, development, and categorization of plant diversity, focusing notably on terrestrial plants and Italy's flora. Alongside exploring the features of major vascular plant groups, we will delve into their evolutionary trajectories and employ both analogue and digital analytical keys, including those available on websites, for identification purposes.
Moreover, the course aims to furnish foundational understanding to devise pioneering educational approaches for studying plant organisms. These approaches will be grounded in field and laboratory observations, using digital technologies for enhanced learning experiences.

Educational objectives

Analyze natural and anthropized ecosystems traits and methodologies by theoretic lessons, laboratory exercitations, and field experiences. Studies plant architecture and plant species capacity to alter its traits in responce to natural and anthropic stress factors. Focus on the urban ecosystem pollution, plant adaptability, and the improvement of air quality.

Educational objectives

The aims of the lectures is to provide the basic knowledge on the distribution and mobility of the chemical elements in the lithosphere, in the atmosphere and waters.

Skills to be developed and expected learning outcomes:
Knowledge on the basic concepts of geochemistry. In particular, the student should have acquired
familiarity on the main laws that govern the distribution and the mobility of the elements in the natural environments. Skill on the identification of geochemical anomalies caused by toxic elements and their relationship with the natural threshold.

Educational objectives

The Animal and Plant Physiology course - Plant Physiology module aims to provide basic knowledge on the main physiological processes of plants, with particular attention to the structure-function relationships and to the functional and physiological adaptations to the specific needs of these organisms. Specific training objectives are: knowledge of the structure and organization of the plant cell; the study of short and long distance transport processes; the study of the main metabolic processes peculiar to plants (mineral nutrition, photosynthesis); the knowledge of the most important adaptations of these processes, with particular attention to the role of light and water in the life of the plant.

Educational objectives

The Animal Physiology module aims to provide cellular and molecular bases to understand physiological mechanisms governing the function of animals’ major tissues and organs. Program will focus particularly on the relationship between structure and function and on the evolutional and physiological adaptations of the major organs.
Specific learning objectives are:
- knowledge of the organization and structure of the animal cell;
- understanding the functions of the major classes of biomolecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates);
- study of the processes involved in the transport and exchange of the major solutes and organic molecules between the animal cells and the environment;
- study of the mechanisms behind the regulation and maintenance of tissue and cell homeostasis;
- study of the mechanisms governing inter-cellular communications (chemical and electrical)
- studio dei meccanismi di comunicazione (chimica e elettrica) inter-cellulare;
- understanding the function and organization of the major animals’ tissues and organs.

A) Knowledge and ability to understand

Students who have passed the exam will be able to know and understand:

- the structure of the animal cell and the function of the major biomolecules;
- the chemical-physical bases of the transports’ mechanisms of the major organic solutes and molecules across the plasma membrane and the processes to maintain cell homeostasis;
- the electric properties of excitable cells’ plasma membrane and the mechanisms of electric stimuli propagation and transmission;
- the cellular and molecular processes at the basis of muscle tissues physiology;
- the physical properties of the heart and circulatory system;
- the chemical-physical bases of respiratory physiology;
- kydney’s functions and their role in the maintenance of systemic homeostasis;
- biochemical bases of major biomolecules metabolism and adsorption.

B) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding

Students who have passed the exam will have adequate skills to:

- describe the main features of an animal and the functions of bio-molecules;
- critically discuss the chemical-physical principles underlying transports’ mechanisms of the major organic solutes and molecules across the plasma membrane and their importance to maintain cell homeostasis;
- understand and critically discuss the cellular mechanisms behind the function of the major organic systems described;
- describe and critically discuss the regulatory mechanisms to maintain organismal homeostasis;
- describe and critically discuss the environmental factors influencing the major physiological processes in animals.

C) Making judgments (making judgments)

- At the end of the course the students will acquire critical judgment skills on key aspects in the field of animal physiology. This would be done following the lessons, through the study of scientific texts and by performing small laboratory’s experiences.

D) Communication skills

- At the end of the course students will be able to communicate, even to non-specialists’ audience, acquired knowledges through the use of technical and scientific languages, also by the use of graphic elements.

E) Learning skills (learning skills)
- Students will be able to critically interpret and deepen basic physiological issues also through the use of bibliographic databases and attending seminars and work’s groups.

Educational objectives

The Animal and Plant Physiology course - Plant Physiology module aims to provide basic knowledge on the main physiological processes of plants, with particular attention to the structure-function relationships and to the functional and physiological adaptations to the specific needs of these organisms. Specific training objectives are: knowledge of the structure and organization of the plant cell; the study of short and long distance transport processes; the study of the main metabolic processes peculiar to plants (mineral nutrition, photosynthesis); the knowledge of the most important adaptations of these processes, with particular attention to the role of light and water in the life of the plant.

Educational objectives

o make the student develop the skills, and gain the conceptual and technical knowledge as listed in the below frame “Skills to be developed and expected learning outcomes”.
General topics – Evolutionism and creationism: the theory of evolution by natural selection: how to think and speak about evolution within zoology; commonplaces, correct/incorrect statements about evolution and evolutionism. The “species” concept and speciation; adaptive radiation. Biological diversity: ita origin, levels and numbers, extinction and conservation. How to classify and represent animal classification; the main rules of zoological nomenclature. The diblastic and triblastic organizations of animal body; models of symmetry and methamery. Basic zoogeography: the zoogeographical regions, animal distribution, dispersal and colonization; the consequences of geographical isolation.
Special topics on the Arthropoda – Anatomic features and general physiology. Evolutionary success, with emphasis on social organization in the Insects. Phylogeny and classification, with reference to connected taxa (Onychophora, Tardigrada, Pentastomida). Antemnobranchiata (Crustacea): Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, Thecostraca, Copepoda, Malacostraca; Chelicerata: Merostomata, Arachnida, Pantopoda; Chilopoda; Symphila; Diplopoda; Pauropoda; Esapoda. For all these taxa, references and examples will turn to the Italian fauna.
Special topics on the Chordata – Origin, phylogeny, basic body organization and classification. Life cycles. Organic systems and their functions. Body size and complexity, and its implications in the organism-environment relationships. Osmotic and thermic homeostasis. Ecological specializations to epigean, hypogean, water, arboreal and flight life styles. Basic traits of behaviour, with reference to auto- and synecologic relationships (thermoregulation, predation, territorial defence, communication, breeding).

Educational objectives

Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will know the basic principles of general genetics, developing skills concerning mendelian genetics, both at formal and at cellular level; will know the principles of molecular biology of the gene, and the mechanisms that generate genetic variation; will know the principles of population genetics and biological evolution.

-Knowledge and understanding: students will know the fundamental principles of hereditary transmission, molecular biology of the gene, population genetics, and of biological evolution
- Applying knowledge and understanding: during the course numerical exercises will be carried out so that students will be able to solve simple problems on the laws of inheritance, on molecular mechanisms, on the distribution of genetic variability in populations
- Making judgements: at the end of the course the students, based on the examples and self-evaluation exercises, are enabled to evaluate their competences on the basic principles of genetics
- Communication skills: the ability to provide information and ideas in the field of genetics is favored during the course of the exercises
- Learning skills: at the end of the course the students will have received the basic knowledge of genetics at the formal, cellular, molecular and population levels, necessary to undertake the subsequent specialized studies

Educational objectives

Ability to analyze the cause / effect relationship between geomorphological processes and morphodynamics.
Knowledge and ability to observe and recognize the landforms and their genesis.
Ability to evaluate the geomorphological evolution in fluvial basins and slopes.
Knowledge and ability to apply methods to evaluate natural resources.
Ability to carry on field survey. Evaluation of human impact on territory. Capability of thematic maps compilation analysis.

Knowledge and understanding (A): Ability to analyze the terrestrial landforms.
Application capabilities (B): Knowledge and ability to create geomorphological maps and professional relationships.
Ability to evaluate the geomorphological hazard in river basins and on slopes.
Knowledge and ability to apply methods for the assessment natural risk.
Autonomy of judgment (C): Ability to analyze the cause / effect relationships between morphodynamic processes and geomorphological instabilities.
Ability to collect and analyze the data necessary to express objective opinions in an autonomous form.
Communication skills (D): Ability to communicate in a rational and consequential way, adapting the language according to the cultural level of the listeners.
Ability to learn (E): Develop the skills necessary to tackle subsequent studies on geomorphological dynamics with the ability to assess the consequences of erosion processes over time and space with a sufficient degree of autonomy.

Educational objectives

Acquisition of additional knowledge through laboratory experiments and field;
understanding of the importance of the interdisciplinary approach in the scientific method ;
development of skills in the field of practical applications , including in relation to the possibility of entering the world of work.

Educational objectives

To allow the student to the writing of a text that represents the sum of the specialized knowledge achieved during the course of his study.