Geosciences for Sustainable Development (2023-2027) - Excellence Project
GOALS, STRATEGIES, PROGRESSES:
RESEARCH AND RECRUITMENT 
INFRASTRUCTURES
HIGHLY-QUALIFIED EDUCATION 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Excellence Projects of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
The main objective of the MUR Excellence Projects is to promote high-quality research, foster collaboration among academic institutions, and stimulate the growth of the Italian research system through investment in human resources, infrastructure, and scientific knowledge. The MUR Excellence Projects are selected about every six years through competitive procedures, which are accessible only to highly-qualified Italian departments. In the 2022 call, the Geosciences Department competed and succeeded with a project titled "Geosciences for Sustainable Development."
Geosciences Sciences for Sustainable Development (2023-2027): Project overview
Over the past two centuries, rapid population growth, extensive land use, and the consumption of finite natural resources have thrust humanity into global-scale unprecedented challenges. The Department of Geosciences centers its future around addressing these 21st-century global challenges, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development.
This project aims to understand the impact of human activities on the planet, propose risk mitigation strategies, and promote sustainability.
The department focuses on three research areas:
- climate change and risk mitigation
- georesources for energy transition
- water resource and soil protection and management
The proposed scientific approach integrates numerous geoscience disciplines through the innovative use of big data analysis.
The project's goals include elevating the department's national ranking, enhancing its international reputation, advancing research with socio-economic implications, and educating a new generation of experts in sustainable development. Additionally, the project aligns with the United Nations' Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
To achieve these objectives, the project involves actions such as hiring new researchers and a technician, as well as acquiring field infrastructure and big data analysis capabilities. The enhancement of highly qualified education will be achieved by establishing dedicated doctoral scholarships and by introducing innovative teaching methods within their master's degree programs.
