Intro

The cultural core of the PhD training project is represented by a systemic, integrated, interdisciplinary and multi-level approach to the study of the territory as a physical-natural environment and the technologies necessary for its conservation/remediation.

The main topics of the PhD course are the geological knowledge, the management of the physical and biotic environment, georesources, soil and subsoil, ecosystems and vegetal habitats, solid and liquid wastes, contaminated environmental matrices, secondary raw materials. It is worth to underline the connection existing between basic and applied disciplines, and between abiotic and biotic issues, in line with current trends in international research.

The knowledge of the territory and the protection and promotion of the environment are topics considered as a priority at international level, in particular by the European Union and for the Mediterranean area. For Sardinia, the conservation and valorization of the environment is a strategic aspect for the regional economy and for the development of sustainable tourism. Moreover, the regional territory presents significant environmental problems due to its particular geomorphological conformation, the socio-economic activities carried out and the peculiarity of the climate.

The effects of such problems (coastal erosion, hydrogeological imbalances, desertification, pollution, coastal area salinisation, eutrophication of the basins, loss of biodiversity, contaminated sites, solid and liquid residues to be managed) result in heavy environmental, and thus socio-economic, imbalances. All these aspects emphasize a strong need for conservation/remediation of the territory, its proper use and rational exploitation of resources.

The PhD course, therefore, has a strong relation with the local territory, while pursuing also research topics of general and basic interest.

The PhD course offers courses, seminars and summer schools, participation to national and international conferences and training opportunities in Italian and foreign Research Centers.

Participation to conferences and stages is considered as a priority for training and updating purposes.

The achievement of autonomy in research, in particular the capability of publishing on International journals, is considered as a primary objective.