Ateneo - UPO

The course aims to provide students with an overview of the main types of environmental risks, both natural and anthropogenic. Particular emphasis will be placed on examining how climate change alters the frequency and intensity of certain events and how this affects the risks under analysis.

Slides and additional material (also in English) available on the course DIR page

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and applied tools to recognize, analyze, and interpret major environmental risks through a geophysical and systemic approach. By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1) Distinguish the main risk categories: geological, hydrological, meteorological, climatic, and anthropogenic. 2) Understand the geophysical and anthropogenic processes that generate extreme events and land degradation. 3) Interpret data and graphs from scientific reports (e.g., IPCC) to assess the impact of climate change on the frequency of extreme events.

Basic notions of Physics and Climatology.

Frontal lectures integrated with guided discussions, critical data analysis, and case study presentations to develop risk description and analytical evaluation skills.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services- students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Written Exam consisting of 3 open-ended questions. Each answer is worth a maximum of 10 points. Students also have the opportunity to submit a report on a case study where they demonstrate the ability to describe and analyze an environmental risk and its impacts. If the report is positively evaluated, it may contribute to the final written exam score, with a bonus of up to 3 points.
To achieve a passing grade (18/30), students must reach at least 16/30 on the written exam if they earn at least 2 bonus points from the report, or 18/30 directly from the written exam alone. To achieve Laude, it will be necessary to start from a written exam score of 29/30.
Examples of exam questions will be provided during the course.
Written Exam Scoring (max. 10 Points per Question)
• Score 0-5: Limited or incorrect knowledge of fundamental concepts.
• Score 6-7: Basic understanding of content and risk processes. Terminology is correct, but analysis and articulation can be improved.
• Score 8-9: Complete, well-structured answer. The student demonstrates a clear ability to analyze and interpret risk data and processes, including critical analysis.
• Score 10: Exceptionally well-articulated answer, with impeccable use of terminology and clear critical assessment of risk processes and data, demonstrating full mastery of the subject.
Optional Report Evaluation (Bonus Points)
+1 Point: The report describes the case study correctly but elementarily. The application of concepts is basic. +2 Points: The report is complete and demonstrates a good capacity for critical analysis and description of the risk and its impacts. +3 Points: The report is of high quality, with exceptional technical-scientific rigor in the assessment and description of the case study, demonstrating full mastery of communication skills.

Environmental risks and their classification. Natural risks (geophysical, meteorological, climatic, and coastal risks). Anthropogenic risks (industrial accidents; soil, air, and water degradation). Impact of climate change. Discussion of multiple case studies.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the tools to critically analyze risk phenomena and environmental impacts resulting from natural and anthropogenic causes. They will develop the ability to interpret and accurately use the specific terminology of the most recent studies on climate change. They will be able to critically, analytically, and concisely describe the processes underlying the main risks, demonstrating independent judgment in evaluating their impacts on environmental matrices (soil, air, and water) and society.