Environmental Monitoring and Recovery

Educational objectives

The Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology course aims to provide basic knowledge on the
roles played by microrganisms in ecosystems, tehir impact on biological phenomena, and the role of
microbiota in the biological and biotechnological processes of wastewater treatment, composting of
organic waste, and bioremediation. The course also include the description of the main biotechnological
processes for conversion and valorization of by-products from the agri-food industry.
The knowledge and skills acquired in this course will constitute a reference framework for the application
of biotechnologies in natural, agricultural and urban environments. A further formative objective of the
teaching is the understanding and discussion of scientific articles.

Educational objectives

The course aims to provide tools for the biodiversity assessment in natural ecosystems, in order to recognize the main management problems with protected areas coming from natural and anthropic constraints.

Educational objectives

Developing competences and learning outcomes

Educational goals: This course has the aim of teaching the basic principles of hydrogeology, to be used for research and quantitative evaluation of renewable groundwater resources. Students will understand and evaluate the hydrological budget, will know groundwater flow mechanisms and will read and understand hydrogeological maps and reports.

Learning outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding: Comprehension of basic concepts of groundwater flow and dynamics, evaluation of water budget components
Skills and Attributes: Reading and interpretation of hydrogeological maps, direct measurements on field of hydrological parameters

Educational objectives

Development of essential skills for environmental integrated planning, management and monitoring by means of: basic principles, methods and tools for the analysis and assessment of plant communities, ecological land units and landscapes; knowledge, understanding and critical judgment of activities and projects for environmental planning and requalification at different scales and in different territorial contexts, according to current Conventions and Strategies at the international, national and local level.

Skills to be developed and expected learning outcomes:
1. knowledge and understanding of the structural, functional and dynamic aspects of vegetation, environment and landscape according to an integrated ecosystem approach;
2. ability to apply knowledge and understanding for the collection, processing, analysis and interdisciplinary integration of vegetation knowledge aimed at the definition of protocols, plans and projects for the evaluation and requalification of complex ecological systems;
3. critical and judgmental skills developed through participation in seminar activities and in-depth study of scientific articles selected by the teacher;
4. ability to communicate what has been learned through collective activities of argumentation and discussion of the proposed scientific investigations;
5. ability to continue the study autonomously throughout life through the knowledge of the basic theoretical models for the ecological analysis of land, for the assessment of the state of conservation and environmental quality at landscape scale, as well as of the main institutional and scientific sources for the retrieval and updating of basic data related to environmental and sustainable development conventions and strategies.

Educational objectives

To provide specialist knowledge on biological invasion processes on the example of vascular plants
Students will be able to analyse and describe problems related to the spread of invasive plant species.

Skills to be developed and expected learning outcomes:
To achieve knowledge and understanding of the process of naturalization and invasion of alien species, especially of vascular plants
To be able to apply the knowledge and skills learned on the invasion process and on the ecology of plant species
To be able to evaluate the invasiveness status of plant species and to formulate hypotheses on the biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors that influence the invasive process
To be able to effectively communicate the information known through oral presentations.
To be able to use different sources of information including textbooks, scientific bibliography, technical and regulatory documents, online databases in both Italian and English.

Educational objectives

The course aims to provide knowledge about the unique characteristics of fungi and their organisation, including modern experimental approaches in fungal biology and ecology, and the many ways in which fungi respond to environmental changes. The course also includes aspects of the taxonomic, functional and genetic diversity of fungi, with several examples from recent research. The student will acquire knowledge and skills in various fields related to fungal biotechnology, inspired by nature-based solutions, with sustainable applications such as bioremediation

Educational objectives

The general objective is developing students’ attitude, leading them towards full understanding of the environmental equilibria mechanisms from a variety of perspectives (physical, chemical, biological and, above all, geological).
The specific objectives are the comprehension of the role of Mineralogy within Environmental Sciences and the capacity to manage problems in which minerals may be either source of problems or solutions (see Dublin descriptors below for more details).

A) Knowledge and Understanding: successful students will be able to understand basic principles of risk assessment and potential risks coming from minerals in the every-day life. They will become familiar with asbestiform silicates, both regulated and non, their properties and the multidisciplinary experimental approach needed for their study, as well as with specific issues regarding mineral/environment relationships (e.g., release, transport and dispersal of toxic wastes from mining and industry, including the nuclear industry, and the safe containment of such wastes; mineral based atmospheric aerosols, etc.).
B) Skills and Abilities: successful students will be able to analyse the various factors influencing mineral stability at, or near, the surface of the Earth (P, T, pH, etc.), and to recognise, analyse and classify minerals of environmental relevance at scales which can range from molecular to global.
C) Capacity to elaborate an autonomous and informed assessment of problems involving minerals and to suggest solutions
D) Capacity to communicate concepts, problems and solutions to various target audiences, from general public to highly specialised professionals.
E) Capacity to search for and manage specialised scientific literature when preparing the final term paper.

Educational objectives

- The student will develop skills on a set of animal indicators and bio-ecological methodologies used in environmental quality assessment and biomonitoring in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
- Knowledge of the biology of the main animal taxa used in bioindication and their recognition.
- Achievement of specialized skills in the biomonitoring sector.

Educational objectives

The course aims to deepen the knowledge relating to the role of plants and fungi in environmental protection and in sustainable recovery of altered ecosystems.

Educational objectives

The general objective of the integrated course is the understanding by students of the mechanisms that govern the delicate environmental equilibria, with a focus on anthropic alterations, through a multidisciplinary approach.

Educational objectives

1 - Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge of the main factors predisposing soil erosion.
Knowledge of the effects of the human activities on the landscape.
Knowledge of the main methodologies of the urban geomorphology.
Knowledge of the methods for geoheritage enhancement.

2 - Applying knowledge and understanding
Ability to evaluate the intensity of erosion in fluvial basins and slopes.
Ability to organize geomorphological survey campaigns in urban areas.
Ability to evaluate the space and time effects on the landscape of anthropic activities.

3 - Making judgments
Ability to collect and analyze the data necessary to independently express objective opinions.

4 - Communication skills
Ability to communicate in a rational and consequential way, adapting the language according to the cultural level of the audience, the effects on the territory of the human activities.
Developing the skills of communicating the scientific and educational values of sites of particular geological interest.

5 - Ability to learn
Have the ability to consult the scientific literature on on the main environmental alterations at catchment and hillslope scales.
Ability to understand geomorphodynamics in landscapes with high anthropic impact.

5 - Ability to learn
Have the ability to consult the scientific literature on pedogenetic processes and on the main environmental alterations at catchment and hillslope scales.
Ability to understand geomorphodynamics in lanscapes with high anthropic impact.

Educational objectives

1 - Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge of the main pedogenetic processes.
Knowledge of the processes that determine the presence of inorganic pollutants in the soil system.
Knowledge of the main methodologies for in situ reduction of the mobility and bioavailability of inorganic contaminants in the soil system.

2 - Applying knowledge and understanding
Knowing how to apply the main factors of environmental chemistry related to the cycles of trace elements and metalloids in the soil system.
Being able to frame the pedogenetic processes in relation to the different factors that influence them.

3 - Making judgments
Being able to apply notions and principles useful for recognizing the main types of soils.

4 - Communication skills
Knowing how to communicate the nature of the main pedogenetic processes.
Knowing how to communicate the main methodologies for the remediation of soils contaminated by inorganic pollutants.

5 - Ability to learn
Have the ability to consult the scientific literature on pedogenetic processes

5 - Ability to learn
Have the ability to consult the scientific literature on pedogenetic processes and on the main environmental alterations at catchment and hillslope scales.
Ability to understand geomorphodynamics in lanscapes with high anthropic impact.

Educational objectives

The course aims to deepen the knowledge relating to the organization and architecture of the organs of vascular plants in relation to changes of the environmental parameters. It aims to provide students with information on the experimental techniques for cyto-histological analysis and diagnostics necessary to evaluate any morpho-functional variations due to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. Furthermore, the strategies that vascular plants implement at various levels, to counteract the variations of environmental parameters will be illustrated and analyzed. The course also aims to provide basic knowledge on techniques for obtaining genetically modified plants (GMP) and techniques for diagnosing of GMP.
Specific objectives of the course are: to provide the theoretical/practical information necessary for understanding the processes at the cell, organ and entire organism level in relation to environmental conditions; provide information for understanding the reproductive processes of vascular plants in relation to environmental conditions; provide information on primary and secondary metabolisms in relation to changes in environmental parameters; provide the knowledge to evaluate the effects of pollen as an allergen releasing agent; provide the knowledge for obtaining GMps and their impact on the environment.

Educational objectives

Knowledge and understanding:
The course aims at providing the basic concepts and theoretical elements of the Economics of Innovation by referring both to the innovation process as such - emphasising the determinants, obstacles and nature of such process – as well as to its economic implications. Using the theoretical and analytical tools they will receive during the course, students will be able to define and analyse technological and innovative phenomena, their economic consequences and related policies.

Applying knowledge and understanding:
By applying the theoretical and analytical tools provided during the course, students will be able to analyse key phenomena for the Economics of Innovation such as the introduction of process and product innovation, the relationship between innovative inputs and outputs, the dynamics of patents, the economic and employment impact of innovation and the linkage between innovation and market structure.

Making judgement:
Students will develop autonomy of judgement regarding the analysis of the economic impact of innovation, including heterogeneities between different types of innovation and the link between the potential economic consequences of innovation and the characteristics of the economic context where these consequences occur.

Communication skills:
Students will develop the ability to use analytical tools in order to understand and illustrate in written and oral form the characteristics, determinants and economic implications of technological innovation.

Learning skills:
Students will learn about the salient features and evolutionary process that characterizes technological change and innovation by recognizing the heterogeneity that characterizes such process and by critically interpreting the economic implications of different forms of innovation.