Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing

Unife

• Richard Stephen Chapman
• Elisa Bolchi
• Maria Giulia Fabi
• Rachele Dubbini
• Ursula Thun Hohenstein
• Domenico Giuseppe Lipani
• Alfredo Alietti
• Viviana Asara
• Giuseppe Scandurra
• Damiano Menin
• Emilio Paolo Visintin
• Davide Antonioli
• Massimiliano Mazzanti
• Francesco Nicolli
• Nicolò Barbieri
• Sandrine Labory
• Monia Castellini
• Domenico Berdicchia
• Claudia Amodio
• Luigi Russo
• Andrea Chiozzi
• Pietromaria Davoli
• Marta Calzolari
• Andrea Rinaldi
• Manuela Incerti
• Michele Pinelli
• Stefano Grignolio
• Annalaura Mancia
• Michele Mistri
• Cristina Munari
• Fabio Bartolini
• Jorge Phillip Joaquin Sans Burns
• Giorgio Bertorelle
• Giovanni Grazzi
• Fabio Manfredini
• Gianni Mazzoni
• Simona Mandini
• Erica Menegatti
• Luciana Zaccagni
• Nicola Lamberti
• Lorenzo Caruso
• Emanuele Radicetti
• Silvia Rita Stazi

Other university

• Silvana Colella
• Sara Lagi
• Annarita Colasante
• Enrica Imbert
• Anna Malomo
• Federica Lazzarelli
• Davide Turrini

The PhD programme in Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing develops innovative approaches and tools that encompass multiple disciplines and domains of knowledge. The aim is to train researchers who, starting from their initial background, acquire interdisciplinary and integrated methodologies to understand and manage the sustainability of natural and cultural environments in relation to the wellbeing of living organisms. The training is based on the synergy between human and social sciences; economic and legal sciences; architectural, design and engineering sciences; ecological, biological, and medical sciences. Skills in the humanities and the social sciences revolve around cultures of sustainability and the conservation and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage and draw upon the Ecological Humanities, Ecocriticism, Green Cultural Studies, Heritage Studies, environmental sociology to study Anthropocene and Planetary Boundaries, urban metabolism and environmental justice; environmental communication models, participation and activism, social and community theatre practices, psychosocial education programmes for sustainability and ecological thinking. Skills in economics and environmental law are directed towards green, circular, and sharing economy applied to production systems and business models, heritage and local development, multilevel environmental governance processes, market and work organization, wellbeing, smart mobility and smart working, green energy and finance, ecological and digital Just Transition, European Green Deal and Green Data Deal. Skills in architecture, planning, design, and engineering are directed towards energy and environmental systems, forms of renewable energy, principles of energy-environmental improvement and management of the built environment, advanced surveying, representation and critical analysis, product design, services, and communication for sustainability. Skills in life sciences, medical, agricultural, and chemical sciences are acquired by studying ecological, genetic and behavioural diversity, the evolutionary potential of species and individual fitness; plastic adaptations of organisms to different health states and promotion of correct lifestyles; management and evaluation of the agroecosystem and production chains; sustainable agriculture models; carbon farming and enhancement of agricultural and forest ecosystems. By placing the environment and sustainable wellbeing in a perspective of biological and cultural complexity, a new generation of researchers will possess the tools to manage resources, productive activities, and heritage in fragile ecosystems and to improve quality of life and health.

The involvement, consultation, and participation of Stakeholders take place during College meetings, the development of the annual symposium, and the definition and delivery of teaching and learning verification and research activities. The institutional web page presents the structure and aims of the PhD programme, detailing the curricula of professors based on the 4 macro-areas that constitute the programme and describing the services offered to doctoral students.

The programme aims to offer career opportunities in: 1. ministerial, regional, municipal entities and agencies for the management and enhancement of cities and territory, biodiversity, cultural heritage; archaeological and museum complexes, protected areas and zoo management bodies; research institutes such as ISPRA, EEA, CREA, CNR; non-profit organizations and NGOs such as WWF, Greenpeace, OIE, FAO, FWW, Oxfam; health agencies such as WHO, ECDC and development agencies such as OECD, UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP and World Bank; 2. industries, companies, professional firms for the management of renewable resources, secondary raw materials and waste; management of administrative offenses and crimes in the agro-environmental sector; 3. research centres for the promotion of health and psycho-physical wellbeing. PhD graduates can fill roles as: researcher, professor, expert in environmental communication, sustainability and wellbeing cultures; educator in ecological behaviours in public places and workplaces; manager of sustainable companies, museums and archaeological sites; policy maker and legal expert in green/circular/sharing economy and environmental planning in the building process; planner; energy manager; production activities programmer; official of entities for the protection of natural resources and biodiversity; sustainable and organic agriculture certifier; expert in designing and implementing physical activity-based services for wellbeing and quality of life in communities and workplaces.

The central theme is the interconnection between the sustainability of natural and anthropic ecosystems and the material and immaterial wellbeing of the organisms that inhabit them. The study of the interconnection between environmental sustainability and wellbeing brings together antiquity, literature, anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, law, biology, chemistry, medicine, urban planning, and engineering. The synergy of disciplines supports innovative methodologies aimed at developing cultural and scientific skills necessary to understand that the management and renewal of natural resources, the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage, the quality of life and health of all organisms constitute an interdependent system.

The training of the Ph.D. students in Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing starts from their participation in the annual international symposium "The Kaleidoscope of Sustainability." Using the metaphor of the kaleidoscope, each year the symposium explores the complexity of sustainability by fostering the interdisciplinary dialogue among generations of researchers who study the interconnectedness between the environment – both as a physical habitat and a conceptual entity – and the wellbeing of all living organisms. The vision of the Anthropocene is interrogated by redefining its meaning and implications, in order to go beyond the prediction that humanity is heading towards the sixth mass extinction. Understanding and embracing the Anthropocene is a multi-level process: firstly, it requires recognizing and assuming responsibilities related to humanity's dominance over nature. Secondly, it demands the development and dissemination of mindsets, cultures, and policies based on the interdependence of all species. Training and research activities are structured around the working hypothesis that the climate crisis can be addressed by changing the cultural climate, that biodiversity can be protected, and that sustainable forms of wellbeing can be achieved.

Educational activities are organized into thematic clusters aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Change, Food, Education, Energy, Social Inclusion and Justice, Mobility, Resources and Waste, and Universities for Industry. In particular:

CLIMATE CHANGE

Habitats and Sustainable Species

Ecology, classical archaeology, and urban studies examine the Mediterranean Sea, investigating migrations and introductions of non-native species, the value of defined borders in the classical world, geomorphology, and Mediterranean hybridization in the Po Delta.

Evolutionary Biology, Economics, Ecology

This explores the synergy between genetics studying the impact of human activities on ecosystems, conservation strategies, and applied environmental economics that develops cost-benefit analyses.

Human and Non-Human Animals

Animal studies are explored from a multidisciplinary perspective, connecting literature, linguistics, and sociology to understand how constructing perceptions of animal species influences their economic value and the choices society makes to preserve biodiversity or manage human-wildlife conflicts.

FOOD

Buen Vivir and integral development

Political economy and agrarian law examine alternative development models towards Buen Vivir through principles, visions, and alternative models to reorient national and international policies towards more sustainable and equitable development.

EDUCATION

Environmental Narratives and Natural History Museums

Ecocriticism, museology, sociolinguistics, and cultural management examine the communication and understanding of the Anthropocene and sustainability by analysing climate fiction, ecopoetry, ecotheatre, naturalistic documentaries, museums, and the management of Heritage and Sustainable Tourism.

Pro-environmental behaviours

Environmental economics and social psychology explore individuals' pro-environmental behaviours. Experimental data, surveys, and interviews are used to identify factors that can favour consumers' eco-sustainable choices. Cooperative learning, an educational technique based on structured peer cooperation to achieve learning objectives, is studied as a possible strategy to promote pro-environmental behaviours.

Changing the (cultural) climate with ecocriticism

Literature, linguistics, and media studies play a fundamental role in promoting eco-critical mindsets capable of interpreting environmental complexity, communicating the interdependence of life forms, and generating new forms of narrative and communication about fragile ecosystems that stimulate environmental education, awareness, and action.

Sustainable archaeological research and ecomuseums

Classical archaeology, ancient topography, urban planning, economics, and management engage in dialogue to develop synergies in the promotion of tourism, cultural heritage, and sustainable planning.

ENERGY

Technology, institutions, policies

Economics, ecology, agricultural law, and engineering dialogue on waste management, policies and markets for the circular and energy transition, social acceptance of renewables, costs and benefits of territorial development with a focus on biogas plants, and Agro-Energy Business.

Energy transitions

Environmental economics and architecture explore energy transitions and sustainable building models in European and global socioeconomic scenarios.

INCLUSION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Sustainable heritage, social inclusion, and cohesion

Archaeology, Heritage Studies, and urban planning examine sustainable cultural tourism for territorial development through the conservation of collective memory, cultural heritage, group identity, social inclusion, and cohesion.

Circular economy and degrowth

Political ecology, sociology, political science, human geography, and environmental economics examine extractivism, social metabolism, degrowth, and solidarity economies as an alternative paradigm.

The interdisciplinary structure of the programme requires that each research project includes at least two macro-areas among:

1. Humanities and Social Sciences;
2. Economics and the Law;
3. Architecture, Design, and Engineering;
4. Ecological, Biological, and Medical Sciences.

The training programme is divided into activities specific to individual students' research and activities aimed at all students. The specific training activities are defined by a supervisor and at least two co-supervisors who represent the various macro-areas relevant to the research project and maintain constant interaction among themselves and with the student.

The shared training activities are characterized by the participation of national and international scholars and scientists who are members of the Scientific Board and guests, and include:
A. An annual symposium dedicated to "The KaleidoScope of Sustainability" held in November;
B. Seminars and workshops from November to July, conducted in synergy by scholars and scientists from at least two different disciplinary fields.

Two methodological activities are highlighted:

• "Sustainable Skills for Wellbeing in a Multi-Disciplinary PhD Environment": 20 hours long, consisting of lectures, student presentations, and interactive workshops.
• "How to Write a Successful Research Proposal: Multidisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Aspects of Horizon Europe Calls": 8 hours long, consisting of an interactive seminar.

Among the institutions contributing to the training activities are:

• MUSE - Museo delle Scienze di Trento https://www.muse.it/ and the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Ferrara, https://storianaturale.comune.fe.it/, which offer internship opportunities.
• FEM - Fondazione Edmund Mach https://fmach.it/, which provides laboratories for genomic biodiversity characterization and research in molecular ecology, sustainable ecosystems, and food quality.
• CHH - Centre for the Humanities and Health https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/the-centre-for-the-humanities-and-health, King’s College London, offering research opportunities in Medical Humanities.
• PUC - Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago and Villarrica https://www.uc.cl/.
• PUCR - Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil https://www.pucpr.br/, a partner of the University of Ferrara since the establishment of the Routes towards Sustainability

The Coordinator has developed a set of criteria called "Principles for the PhD Programme in Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing," which the Scientific Board has approved. Students receive this document at the beginning of their training. English is used as the official language of the PhD programme to foster internationalization.

See the activities

The PhD programme in Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing promotes interdisciplinary, holistic, and problem-solving training. The most relevant topics in line with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan are: health, which includes material and immaterial wellbeing and the interconnection and interdependence between humans and non-humans; sustainable innovations for production based on a circular, clean, inclusive, resilient, intelligent, and competitive industry; climate change mitigation through cultures, policies, and practices of sustainability; sustainable energy supply and consumption; industry for bio-economy and reuse of various waste flows from agriculture, forestry, and urban areas; adoption of green technologies to improve environmental, fiscal, and financial efficiency and sustainability.

The PhD programme is supported by a Scientific Board composed of scholars and scientists from numerous international universities and benefits from collaborations and joint supervision agreements that promote:

1. the enrolment of graduates with degrees obtained abroad;
2. inbound and outbound mobility periods for faculty and PhD students with other Italian and foreign institutions;
3. the awarding of joint double degrees in partnership with other foreign universities.

A study abroad period of at least 6 months is expected to take place during the three-year programme. The ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary environments, acquired by a new generation of researchers, will foster employment opportunities both nationally and internationally in public and private research and experimentation institutions, in highly specialized technical-scientific freelance sectors, in businesses and organizations requiring expertise to work on the environment and sustainable wellbeing from a perspective of biological and cultural complexity, to manage resources, production activities, and heritage in fragile ecosystems, and to improve quality of life and health.

Laboratories for cell cultures, biochemical analysis, cytometry, and molecular biology.

Biological laboratories for obtaining cell cultures and characterizing DNA and RNA.

Ecology laboratory.

Laboratories for behavioural analysis.

Licensed animal breeding and reproduction facility.

Anthropometry and Biomechanics Laboratory.

Centre for Motor and Sports Science Studies.

Structural investigation laboratories (spectroscopic techniques) and chemical analysis, including chromatographic techniques interfaced with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS, HPLC-ICP-MS, GC-MS), capillary electrophoresis, and atomic spectroscopy.

Computer laboratory.

“Architecture>Energy” Research Centre.

Libraries: The libraries of Humanities and Philosophy, Economics, Law, Chemistry-Biology, Medicine, Science-Technology, and Architecture offer book loans, study rooms, multimedia rooms, online database access, periodicals, and electronic journals. The university's library system holds approximately 4,000 volumes on sustainability, environment, and wellbeing, intersecting the macro-areas of the programme. The University of Ferrara subscribes to major sector-specific and general journals, both individual and package-based. These include 8 journals on the environment with 117 volumes, 5 journals on "Environment" with 64 volumes, available in libraries mentioned above.

Databases: JSTOR, SCOPUS, ISI WOS, AIDA, INDSTAT2 + INDSTAT4, MET, China Statistical Database, PATSTAT Biblio - EPO Worldwide Patent Statistical Database, SciFinder, PubMed, BioMed Central, UNI Standards, Espacenet.

E-books: 106 on environment, 6 on sustainability, 40 on wellbeing, 192 online journals on environment (5065 total volumes), 1 online journal on sustainability (14 total volumes).

Quantitative analysis software: SAS, MATLAB, Stata, EViews.

Genomics analysis software: Bioconductor and open-source packages from GitHub or R archives.

Video analysis software: BioMovie.

Each department provides dedicated rooms and individual workstations with PCs connected to the network via WiFi. The UniFe access code, granted to all PhD students, ensures remote access to databases (via VPN). In biological laboratories, the computational system includes 6 servers with 200 processors, 352 GB RAM, and 50TB storage capacity. The Department of Economics has a workstation available for complex calculations and analyses.