Earth Sciences (Classe LM-74)-Enrolled from 2009/2010 Academic Year

The Master course forms geologists educated in various sectors of Earth Sciences offering opportunities of scientific development and of employment both in public and private fields. This degree provides theoretic and practical abilities based also on participation in field and laboratory activities, stages and novitiates, research stages in public and private institutions, national or international.
Some of the subjects offer nowadays solid professional opportunities: (1) Analysis, quantification and modeling of Earth processes interacting within the planet, on its surface, in atmosphere and hydrosphere, related to the origin of energy, water and mineral resources. (2) Evaluation and characterisation of natural minerals for their role in geologic processes and with respect to industrial applications. (3) Basic field mapping and thematic mapping for the interpretation of geologic processes at various scales. (4) Analysis and interpretation of geologic processes interacting with human activities for a balanced use of natural resources and for protection of the environment and archeological and cultural sites. (5) Field syrveys and direct/indirect prospecting for the parametrisation of technical properties and behavior of soils and rocks for wide and small scale engineering plans. (6) Exploration, exploitment, protection and reclamation of underground water resources, after local and diffuse pollution events. (7) Exploration, evaluation and management of natural and energy resources, and of environmental effects of their exploitation. (8) Carachterisation and forestalling of natural hazards for territorial management.
During the Master in "Scienze della Terra" students will acquire theoretical, experimental and practical knowledge in various disciplines of Earth Sciences and widen their bases in chemistry, physics and mathematics, specialised and affine disciplines, as agronomy, engineering and others. They will analyse complexities of natural processes, transformations of natural resources, human-induced impacts, and propose solutions on the base of analytical techniques, field mapping methods, and construction of interpretative models. They will properly transfer analytical results into interpretations, using modern softwares.
Scope of the Master is forming Geologists able to: (a) analyse evolutionary processes of geologic systems and obtain models adaptable to engineering appliaction; (b) develop basic and applied geological research of use for different sectors of private and public employment, both in academy and industry; (c) recognition and forecats, at medium and long term, effects of the interaction between various geologic processes, human impacts, global climatic changes, intervention on reclamation and conservation of the quality of complex natural systems, individuation of vulnerability of specific locations, evaluation of intrinsic hazard of geological phenomena interacting with human activities and proposal of risk reduction; (d) operate in industries for treatment of natural and analogic materials, and in similar public institutions, by running analytical laboratories, planning and executing measurements, in accordance with research and development plans, quality controls, in acccordance with law, or by industrial production processing; (e) operate slf-sufficiently in the professional activities, or employment with public and private companies or State organisations.
Activities and knowledge can provide expertise in the design of interventions on the territory, even in an interdisciplinary way.