On Friday, 13 February 2026, the Department of Geosciences at the University of Padua welcomed the international Advisory Board for the Excellence Project “Geosciences for Sustainable Development” (2023–2027).The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and is part of the national Departments of Excellence programme.

The Mid-Term Project Update featured scientific presentations, PhD flash talks, and visits to the Department’s new laboratories and technological facilities developed with Excellence funding, including digital microscopy, virtual reality classrooms, and high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructures.

The Advisory Board consists of three internationally renowned experts in Earth and environmental sciences: Andrew Binley (Lancaster University, UK), Simon Mudd (University of Edinburgh, UK), and Ruben Snellings (KU Leuven, Belgium). They provide independent evaluation and scientific guidance on the project’s progress.

The Advisory Board highlighted how the combination of cutting-edge facilities and scientific expertise is generating strong momentum in both research and education. They especially appreciated the active involvement of new faculty members and PhD students, the high quality of the results presented, and the clear strategic direction guiding the project toward its final phase in 2027.

It was an intense and fruitful exchange, helping us refine our priorities and further strengthen the Department’s role in advancing geosciences for sustainable development.

Watch our report of the day and interviews with the main participants in the video below.