COMMUNICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No prerequisite is required. The first classes will be devoted to teaching the basics of geoenvironmental hazards.
A written exam (30 minutes) consisting of 12, close-ended questions (each evaluated from 0 to a maximum of 2 points), focused on the contents of the slides shown during class. The students who have obtained a minimum of 14 points will access the oral section of the exam, during which they will be asked two questions on the texts, for a maximum of 6 points.
The fundamental purpose of the course is to provide a conceptual overview of methods, tools and strategies of scientific communication at various levels. A further objective will be to provide a critical understanding of the media coverage of scientific issues relating to environmental and climatic crises.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student is expected to have acquired the following knowledge and ability to apply them:
- the acquisition of basic scientific concepts, and the related scientific language, in relation to topics such as climate risks and geological-environmental risks;
- the ability to understand, interpret and discuss the social and mass media implications of the scientific issues addressed;
- the ability to critically read and interpret the contents of articles, both scientific and popular, concerning the issues dealt with during the course.
The expected learning outcomes, with particular reference to the second of the points highlighted, are consistent with the learning outcomes of the degree program as a whole.
The tools of scientific communication (10 hours).
Hazard, risk, vulnerability, environmental crises, examples of natural and technological-industrial disasters that occurred in Italy and in the world from the 1950s onward (duration 10 hours).
- Science and environmental risks: examples of actual prediction of extreme natural events (Southeast Asian earthquake and tsunami, 2004; Hurricane Katrina, 2005; Haiti earthquake, 2010). (Duration 6 hours)
- Climate risk between science and media (duration 10 hours).
- Cinematic representation of scientific and environmental themes (10 hours)
- Scientific documentaries and their role in disseminating science (10 hours).
- Science communication channels (10 hours), such as conferences, conventions, TV, newspapers, science magazines, the world wide web, social media, films, documentaries.
- -Hazard, risk, vulnerability, and examples of natural and technological-industrial disasters that have occurred in Italy and around the world from the 1950s to today (duration 10 hours). The following environmental disasters will be covered in class: Vajont (1963), Pinatubo (1991), Deepwater Horizon (2010), Fukushima (2011), Nepal (2015).
- Science and environmental risks: examples of successful prediction of extreme natural events (Earthquake and tsunami in South-East Asia, 2004; Hurricane Katrina, 2005; Earthquake in Haiti, 2010). (Duration 6 hours)
- Climate risk between science and media (duration 10 hours).
- The cinematographic representation of scientific and environmental themes (10 hours). Some videos taken from the following films will be screened in class: "The Martian", "Interstellar", "Oppenheimer", "Vajont", "Jurassic Park".
- Scientific documentaries and their role in popularizing science (10 hours). The complete documentary "Before the flood" and some videos taken from the documentaries "An Inconvenient Truth" and "An inconvenient sequel" will be screened in class.
Frontal classes, integrated by the screening of movies and documentaries towards the end of the course.
Students will have a chanche to talk with the teacher by booking an appointment via e-mail.
E-mail address pas.mariotto@yahoo.com