24 Best Environmental Science PhD Degree Programs in Italy for 2024

EEH is a PhD course study activated since 2017 at G. d’Annunzio School of Advanced Studies, in the Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences (DiSPuTer) (Campus Universitario, Via dei Vestini, 31 - 66100 Chieti Scalo, Italy). EEH coordinator is Giusy Lavecchia, full professor of Structural Geology. EEH is dedicated to high-quality studies and original research on natural and anthropogenic hazards and their consequences. It is aimed to build a multi-task research community concerned, on one side, with monitoring, modelling and assessment of hazards and, on the other, with the investigation of the impact on individuals and society, finalized to the design and implementation of risk mitigation and adaptation strategies. The skills of the EEH teaching board, which span from Earth Sciences and Physics (ERC PE10) to Archaeology (ERC SH6) and Psychology (ERC SH4), make possible a multi-task approach to two high-impact categories of hazard, that concern earthquakes and environmental pollution. Characterizing EEH research and teaching topics are: 1. Seismotectonics and seismogenesis for seismic hazard assessment (responsible: prof. Giusy Lavecchia) 2. Geoarchaeology and archaeoseismology for cultural heritage risk and for seismic hazard (responsible: prof. Oliva Menozzi) 3. Endogenous and anthropogenic hazards for risk mitigation (responsible: prof. Francesco Stoppa) 4. Psycho-sociological analysis of hazard perception and risk communication (responsible: prof. Nicola Mammarella). EHH students will develop and implement their scientific background, but, at the same time, they will acquire basic tools and knowledge on hazard problems approached from different point of views. This strategy is crucial to educate and train a new generation of researchers and technicians able to combine their specific expertise into a common procedure for successful risk management. Such a framing process is urgent in order to increase resilience to earthquakes and environmental hazards and to reduce the impact from natural disasters. The course is open to candidates with a master degree in structural geology, geophysics, geomorphology, seismology, archaeology, geochemistry, petrography, physics, environmental science, psychology and sociology. Accordingly, candidates will widen their specific competence by working in a team of experts from many different fields.

The doctorate trains PhDs on broad themes of Architecture, Earth Sciences and the Planets and Civil Engineering. This interdisciplinary research platform includes topics that concern the natural and man-made environments, the risks associated with them (hydro-geological risk, risks and safety of the built environment at different scales, planning, design and conservation of buildings and urban settlements), and georesources. In this context interdisciplinary, it is possible to develop specific doctoral themes capable of generating repercussions scientific and applicative in line with an increasingly complex society. The research activity follows an initial period of basic training and develops collaborations with research institutions and universities which, where possible, will allow doctoral students to obtain an Italian and foreign qualification (in co-tutorship) and any additional certification of Doctor Europaeus or Network Doctorate International.

The doctorate trains PhDs on broad themes of Architecture, Earth Sciences and the Planets and Civil Engineering. This interdisciplinary research platform includes topics that concern the natural and man-made environments, the risks associated with them (hydro-geological risk, risks and safety of the built environment at different scales, planning, design and conservation of buildings and urban settlements) and georesources. In this context interdisciplinary, it is possible to develop specific doctoral themes capable of generating repercussions scientific and applicative in line with an increasingly complex society. The research activity follows an initial period of basic training and develops collaborations with research institutions and universities which, where possible, will allow doctoral students to obtain an Italian and foreign qualification (in co-tutorship) and any additional certification of Doctor Europaeus or Network Doctorate International.

The Ph.D. Course aims to prepare well-qualified scientists able to critically manage the implementation of EU and national regulations concerning with environmental analysis and to autonomously develop research activities in the field of environment.

The new associated doctoral program "Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction" has been developed based on the experience gained by the proposing entities within the Research, Innovation, and Training Consortium "REducing risks of natural DIsasters - REDI"

The Ph.D. course prepares culture-oriented and high scientific profile researchers to engineering applications, and enable them to develop knowledge, new methods of investigation, design and research activity in public or private bodies, along with managerial competencies.

Doctorate in Urban Future Studies. The Doctorate course in "Urban Future Studies" intends to offer young graduates the opportunity to follow a third-level training course with a qualification of excellence and international scope through the acquisition of in-depth methodological, technological, and scientific skills that allow an evaluation, both qualitative and quantitative, of the use of predominantly vegetal solutions in urban and peri-urban systems.

PhD Course in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing. The Ph.D. program in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Wellbeing (acronym: S3W), jointly offered by the University of Florence and the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, offers a great opportunity to learn a wide range of methods from the social sciences and enter a community of scholars committed to doing their best to ensure wellbeing and a sustainable future for our society.

Ph.D. in Food Science

This PhD program aims to provide talented and motivated students with in-depth research skills that will allow them to tackle relevant agricultural and environmental problems in mountain areas. Students will have the chance to join a range of training opportunities, seminars, and conferences and to work under the guidance of supervisors within international research teams.

With this Ph.D. program, we train young researchers in the field of sustainable use of resources in the production systems of energy, of buildings, in energy final utilization, in the development of products, and in manufacturing.

The purpose of this International Ph.D. program is to train a new generation of globally renowned researchers to apply approaches of engineering and biotechnology to food processing by giving them the opportunities to transfer and exchange knowledge with national and international research centers and industries.

The research thesis of this PhD should investigate the reasons why modern society relies on stable and readily available energy supplies. Renewable energy is an increasingly important component of energy sources. The research should cover energy conversion, use and storage of renewable technologies such as wind, solar, biomass, fuel cells and hybrid systems.

The aim of this research step should cover the theoretical foundations of sustainable agriculture, the design of alternative production systems and technologies and the management of parasitic insects, pathogens and weeds. Guiding and providing solutions through the main agricultural topics, such as plant sciences, agricultural technology and engineering and farm management, using research results and examples from both the developed and undeveloped world.

Research in this area of food science should provide data on how to provide the world's population with safe, nutritious, appetizing and affordable food. Achieving this goal requires an in-depth study of the issues of processing, packaging, distribution and evaluation of food.

Nowadays, human impact is one of the main variables of environmental change both locally and globally. Managing this impact is critically important to human, social and economic well-being now and in the future.

In this research programme, students should implement updates of all aspects of environmental engineering including tools, techniques and regulations. Air quality control, water sanitation and its distribution, water treatment, waste pollutants sources and effects should also be covered. Candidates may draw attention to solid waste collection and transfer operations, hazardous waste remediation and assessment of environmental impacts.

Academic research for this program must provide a comprehensive study of ecology and environmental science.

This environmental science program studies the physical, chemical, and biological processes that take place on Earth, as well as the social, political, and cultural processes that impact the planet.

The PhD Programme in Science, Technology, and Policy for Sustainable Change (STEP-CHANGE) prepares the future generation of scientific experts for addressing the challenge of global change and steering society toward a sustainable and inclusive transition, including accelerating the penetration of green technologies, fostering industry decarbonisation, and designing sustainable policies from cross-sectoral perspectives.