Modern biology can be considered that which is at the forefront of modern scientific development, illustrated by the fact that more than 65% of published articles in international multidisciplinary journals such as Science and Nature are related to biology research. Modern mass media is also constantly referring to issues and advancements in biology such as stem-cell research, genetically modified foods, human genome and the possibility of uncovering treatments to diseases via research undertaken in the biological sciences. While the knowledge base of biology has increased exponentially, leading to the development of numerous sub-branches, biology as a discipline has retained its important characteristic as a discipline which directly observes life, from the organism as a whole to its molecular components. The collection, measurement, structural and functional analyses of the most molecular constituents of living organisms represents modern biology research. In addition, modern biology is also characterized by automation. In fact, biologists today must be familiar with various analytical instruments which have greatly accelerated biochemical and molecular biology research on, for example, DNA.

Students interested in enrolling in the Degree Course in Biological Sciences should have a sound base of mathematics and physics to support their studies in Biology, e.g. for collecting and analyzing data, observing and interpreting results of genetic, physiological, biochemical and biomolecular analyses of samples of animal, plant as well as human origin.

 

The First Level Degree Course in Biology offers two curricula:

·         Molecular Biology of Pathology aims to provide graduates a professional base for careers in public and private analysis and research laboratories and for careers related to health information and education.

·         Biology of Evolution and Development aims to prepare graduates for careers in the field of environmental biology, agro-food industry and biotechnology. This curriculum emphasizes the management, control and improvement of animal and plant resources in marine, fresh-water and terrestrial environments.

Both curricula provide a knowledge base in mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics and chemistry so that graduates have a sound theoretical and practical base for approaching the study of prokaryotes and eukaryotes at both a morpho-functional as well as cellular and molecular level.

Some coursework and training in the Molecular Pathology curriculum are designed to sensitize students to how modern biology can be applied to the diagnosis of pathologies. Some coursework in Evolution and Development provide students with knowledge regarding the mechanism and stages of evolution and adaptation. Both curricula seek to provide students with at least 20 credits of laboratory practicum during which students learn to apply their knowledge to different scientific disciplines. In addition, a specific objective is to provide students with extra-university work placement training in companies and/or private laboratories, universities and Italian as well as foreign research centres, via international agreements.

 

The 3-year First Level Degree Course aims to provide graduates with a knowledge base that enables them to enter Biology-based careers throughout Europe. By the third year of study, work placement training offered in this First Level Degree Course already provide students opportunities for working within real contexts, alongside established professionals so to acquire necessary professional skills. The Ministry of Education has also recognized the 3-year Degree as a valid qualification for accessing careers in public administration. Both 3-year curricula provide a sound base for those who a) wish to enter into teaching at secondary schools or b) wish to further their education in the Biological Sciences through a 2-year Second Level Specialist Degree.  A Specialist Degree would pave the way to research in basic biological sciences and biotechnology. Doctoral Programmes in Animal and Plant Biology are also available at UNICAL, accessible through the I°-Level Masters Degree in Biotechnology.

Chemistry started in the stars! In remote and ancient stars, given certain temperature and pressure conditions, some elements were transformed into others through nuclear fusion. Such are the elements in the rocks which plummeted to Earth from these stars, giving rise to the rocks, oceans, plants and animals as we know them on Earth. Through chemistry, we can understand how such transformations are possible and, even if we cannot turn iron into gold, such information, along with experimentation, gives us the science of Chemistry (cf P.W. Atkins). The birth and history of Chemistry is undoubtedly fascinating, akin to science fiction. Today, the decision to study Chemistry is probably based on more practical reasons. What are some practical reasons for choosing, appreciating and loving Chemistry? One could answer this question with another: What would life be without Chemistry? Stop and think of the enormous impact (not only negative impact, as ignorance would lead us to believe) that Chemistry has on our daily life. Chemistry research is of vital and invaluable importance in our modern society: new materials, sources of fuel, colorants, fertilizers, fibres for novel fabrics, pharmaceuticals are only a few of the products which can be obtained through increasingly sophisticated chemical procedures. However, production is not the only contribution that Chemistry has to improving our lives. Today, Chemistry is that which provides solutions to modern social and environmental problems in healthcare, environmental and life quality, alternative energy and is at the base of developing new electronic materials for telecommunications. The utility of a Degree in Chemistry is clearly vast. However, as Chemistry is not a Degree chosen by the masses, student-instructor rapport continues to favour a solid, high level of education in Chemistry, giving graduates in Chemistry a sound professional future.

 

At UNICAL, the First Degree Course in Chemistry aims to provide graduates with ready access towards more advanced degrees in Chemistry (e.g. a Second Level Specialist Degree) or the opportunity to enter directly into the workforce equipped with a solid base in Chemistry and an ability to apply this knowledge to a variety of investigative methods using laboratory skills for successfully managing complex instrumentation. Additional educational objectives are to give graduates scientific skills such as that needed to gather and analyze data plus the ability to use scientific instrumentation for preparing and characterizing complex chemical processes and systems as well as for analytical investigations and chemical syntheses. Graduates should also be able to utilize published information from primary literature; utilize a European language other than Italian for communication and information exchange; have basic notions of environmental and work safety and quality control standards and; possess sufficient competence to communicate and manage information effectively.

 

The two curricula offered through the Degree Course in Chemistry are:

a. Environmental and Health Management: Thisis a curriculum which trains graduates for careers in public or private sectors concerned with chemistry of the environmental and human health. First Degree graduates will also be prepared to pursue further education such as a Second Level Specialist Degree in Chemistry.

b. Materials for Innovative Applications: Thisis a curriculum which prepares its graduates for careers in industrial as well as civil contexts which requires knowledge of chemistry on a theoretical level and, on a practical level, require capabilities to design, characterize and produce innovative materials. Graduates of the First Degree will also be prepared to pursue further studies towards a Specialist Degree in Chemistry.

 

A Degree in Chemistry has ample professional prospects which, in addition to providing a sound knowledge-base of Chemistry, trains graduates in laboratory skills and competences: e.g. ability to model chemical processes; utilize scientific instrumentation for analytical investigations and the structural characterization of materials; and manage methods for gathering and analyzing experimental data. The Degree Course in Chemistry also provides training in computer science, opportunities for students to learn a European language in addition to Italian (preferably English) and training on workplace safety standards. All this enables graduates to:

 

 

In advanced industrialized countries which present problems of increasing complexity, there is a need for a new professional figure adept at “problem-solving”, capable of resolving not only recurrent problems but new and often unexpected challenges. Such professionals must therefore be able to manipulate abstract models which present concrete but scientifically, technologically and economically interesting complexities so to develop computerized models for solving these problems efficiently. It is estimated that Italy alone needs an additional 100,000 such computer-savvy professions to cover the Italian information and communication technology industry.  Locally, despite the numerous branches of national and multinational computer science firms, drawn to the area by the presence of the University, computer professionals are still lacking in Southern Italy and the Province of Cosenza.

The First Degree Course in Computer Science at UNICAL seeks to fulfil this void in human resources with particular attention to providing graduates with solid problem-solving capabilities as well as a sound base in applied mathematics, computer science and system informatics.  Training aims to enable graduates to understand, develop and utilize scientific, technological and mathematical models of economics so to pursue careers as computer experts who can develop and manage advanced systems software of a company. The Computer Science Degree Course trains graduates towards efficiency by considering alternative solutions, knowing how to choose between solutions which are most suitable for the problem at hand. Graduates should know how to utilize available hardware and software to solve context-specific problems. Finally, graduates are provided training which makes them receptive to innovation and adaptable to the rapid evolution of computer technology.

The Degree Course in Computer Science aims to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills for designing, developing and managing information systems. So that graduates are able to analyze problems and develop suitable information systems for providing solutions, the Computer Science Degree trains students in the methodologies used for investigating information and knowing how to transfer such methods and solutions onto concrete situations. Finally, graduates are also educated towards the effective use of both oral and written English in specific as well as general contexts. The curriculum of the Computer Science Degree Course are comprised of courses in discrete and continuous mathematics, principle structures, elaboration systems and computational networks. Likewise, courses are offered in the techniques and methods of designing and developing information systems for both basic as well as specialized applications. On-site work-placement training in computer science companies are also provided as are laboratory practicum and activities which enable students to work independently to pursue individual areas of interest in Computer Sciences. Among training programmes held off-campus, in addition to various companies, work placement training are also possible with public administrations, laboratories and in other Italian as well as foreign universities through international agreements.

The Computer Science Degree at UNICAL has been the recipient of the GRIN, awarded for its adherence to established criteria of quality of education, training, quantity of material provided to students, the provision of a sound knowledge base and pertinence of teaching to students’ future professional needs.

In addition to various multi-media classrooms, the Degree Course has three laboratories, each hosting 40-50 computers. The Teaching Staff includes renowned Italian as well as international computer science experts and a group of skilled and knowledgeable Tutors for assisting students. In addition, as the Degree Course operates on limited enrolment, the student:teacher ratio is highly favourable for learning and ensures that students receive quite individualized attention.

The social relevance and economic as well as industrial impact of the Computer Science profession is internationally recognized, evident in the elevated European demand for computer science specialists which illustrates the particular social dimension that this profession enjoys. The professional prospects of a First Degree graduate in Computer Sciences are many, including employment in companies (services or industries), where their responsibilities may be to identify and implement solutions using available information technologies. In particular, such graduates may be invaluable for service companies (e.g. public administrations, entertainment and communication sectors, transportation, distribution etc.) as well as entities which utilize information technology for production (e.g. automation industries, energy processes etc.) or companies which develop products and components for the computer science industry itself.

A First Level graduate of Computer Science represents an important element for the information sector of any company. Clearly the Internet and telecommunication networks offer additional professional prospects for First Degree graduates. To ensure that graduates are highly competitive professionals with problem-solving capabilities, the Computer Science degree provides an equilibrated curriculum which integrates scientific training with professional skills-development so that graduates may readily find employment in professions such as the sciences, economics, publishing, graphics etc. For those pursuing a Second Level Specialist Degree in Computer Science, additional professional prospects include the research and development of novel information technologies. Those interested in research may enrol in the Specialist Degrees following the completion of the First Level Computer Science Degree.

 

The First Level Degree Course and the Second Level Specialist Degree course in Geological Sciences aim to provide students with a solid knowledge base in the Earth Sciences which not only paves the way towards further degrees such as Masters and Doctorate Degrees but also enables graduates to directly enter into relevant careers.

The First Degree Course in Geological Sciences provides students with a solid base in chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science as well as a solid knowledge base in the theoretical, practical and experimental aspects of the Earth Sciences. The primary educational objective is to familiarize graduates with methods of environmental inquiry, laboratory and computational skills together with ability to utilise basic instrumentation for the analysis of geological systems and processes. Students also receive coursework so to be able to use, both in written and spoken form, at least one European language in addition to Italian. Professional training seeks to develop skills for communication and information management and to prepare graduates for the workforce by cultivating group-working skills as well as a high degree of autonomy. The First Degree in the Geological Sciences is obtained through a single curriculum which provides students an opportunity, in the third year of study, to choose 8 credits of coursework which best reflects personal professional interests.

 

On the other hand, the Second Level Specialist Degree in Geological Sciences offers three curricula:

·         Paleontological Geology

·         Mineralogy, Petrography and Volcanology

·         Environmental Geology

 

These curricula are differentiated by the elective coursework which students can choose after the completion of 55 credits (out of 120) of mandatory foundation courses. In addition to providing a deeper level of understanding beyond what was acquired in the First Level Degree curriculum, the primary objective of the Second Level Specialist Degree is to increase students’ autonomy and provide further professional development in these respective sub-disciplines of Geology. 

 

Graduates of Geological Sciences will be able professionals in a variety of areas: geological and thematic cartography; the evaluation and prevention of geological and environmental risks; geo-diagnostic investigation and exploration of earth resources; the localization, evaluation and management of geo- and hydro-resources; the evaluation and prevention of environmental degradation; analysis and certification of geological materials; territorial management and the evaluation of environmental conditions; conduct geodetic and topographic surveys. These professional capabilities are sought in public and private entities, institutions, associations and companies.

 

The Degree Course in Material Sciences stems from the presence of avant guard research which has been ongoing in the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Calabria. This Degree Course merges the science with the technology of physics, forming graduates who understand not only the properties of materials but also how to perform research on such materials, in addition to understanding how such materials can be produced on an industrial level. Graduates of Material Sciences are also trained to utilize new and standard techniques for characterizing and investigating materials.

The curriculum is comprised of coursework to provide graduates with a sound base of geometry and differential as well as integral calculus, plus fundamental knowledge in classical and modern physics, and a solid understanding of the basic principles of organic, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry. In addition to traditional lessons, the Degree Course in Material Sciences is characterized by laboratories where students will acquire experimental methodologies and hands-on experience with data elaboration. Likewise, students are expected to undertake work placement training in a research laboratory either at UNICAL or at other Italian or foreign universities (through international agreements) or at public and private research entities as well as private and public administrations or even foreign companies, so to obtain experience working in companies. 

 

 

The First Level Degree Course in Material Sciences has the objectives of providing graduates with:

·         General competence for approaching the study and characterization of materials at the from the perspective of the atomic and molecular structure of these materials.

 

·         The ability to extend laboratory research on innovative materials to contexts of industrial production.

 

·         The ability to develop new laboratory techniques for characterizing materials.

 

·         Special competence for utilizing and implementing diagnostic methods based on specialistic and automated instrumentation.

 

·         The ability to critically use technologies and instruments available for collecting, transmitting and analyzing data regarding the property of materials.

 

The Second Specialist Degree Course in Material Sciences aims to provide graduates with:

·         Both a fundamental and integrated knowledge base regarding the physics and chemistry of solid states and be prepared in relevant laboratory and experimental methods.

 

·         Investigative methods and have the ability to apply these to the development of physics models.

 

·         Laboratory skills.

 

·         The ability to understand and utilize appropriate mathematical and computational tools.

 

·         The ability to provide professional scientific support to material science industries and industries dedicated to energy management.

 

·         The ability to effectively utilize, in both written and oral form, at least one additional European language, in addition to Italian, within their specialist areas as well as for general information exchange.

 

Graduates of Material Sciences find ample professional possibilities in industrial laboratories as experts of specialised instrumentation and laboratory managers capable of developing techniques for maximizing the application of available instrumentation for studying and developing novel materials.

 

 

Mathematics is a living science, rapidly and continuously developing: New applications and new fields of mathematics research are established as a result of other sciences and other modern societies (e.g. the “new economy”) and from the internal dynamics of Maths itself. The 3-year First Level Degree Course in mathematics provides graduates the basic knowledge necessary for dealing with the wide spectrum of problems presented by modern society, from the modelling of earthquakes to that of financial markets to theoretical physics to numerical theories.

Contrary to common prejudices and legends, Mathematics is a subject that can interest and involve everyone, especially those who are imaginative and curious. Maths, in fact, is not per se difficult as it should not be learnt through endless hours of study before an exam but through patient and constant study through the type of dedication needed for learning the piano or a foreign language. Maths goes beyond its stereotypical image of purely mechanical algebraic calculations but is a science of problem-solving, with the art being the formulation of a solution using the least possible number of calculations.

 

Graduates of Mathematics will be prepared with not only a knowledge base in Mathematics but also computational and computer science skills. Graduates of the Degree Course in Mathematics will be familiar with mathematical methods and be able to utilize these to describe and model concrete scientific and economic problems.   Graduates should possess adequate competence and capabilities for communicating and managing information and be able to work effectively independently but also successfully in a group.

The Degree Course in Mathematics also provides coursework for learning an additional European language, increasing graduates’ professional qualifications and opportunity for communicating internationally. 

 

·         The curricula for the Degree Course in General Applied Mathematics provides fundamental knowledge in a variety of fields in mathematics along with mathematical methods such as modelling natural, social and economic phenomena and technological problems; numerical and symbolic calculation and various aspects of mathematical and statistical computation.  

 

·         The curriculum for the Degree Course in Applied Mathematics is characterized by a greater amount of coursework in numerical and computational mathematics, modelistic mathematics, statistics, economic and financial mathematics and coursework in programming and elaborating using advanced architectures. 

 

·         The Curriculum for General Mathematics provides rich training in the disciplines of geometric and analytic algebra.

 

In all curricula, training is provided in extra-curricula contexts such as companies, public offices and laboratories as well as at Italian and non-Italian universities and research entities, as organized through international agreements.

 

 

Graduates of Mathematics can undertake professional activity in diverse fields across a range of scientific disciplines, providing expertise in mathematical and computational modelling of processes in industrial, financial and service sectors as well as public administrations. Graduates of Mathematics have a solid knowledge base upon which others can be integrated, creating a new professional figure who can meet the demands of their jobs. In addition, the 3-year First Level Degree allows graduates immediate and direct access to the 2-year Second Level Specialist Degree in Mathematics and various Masters Level Degrees.

To become a Mathematics teacher in schools, it is necessary to complete a Specialist Degree in Mathematics as well as specific coursework regarding the didactics of Mathematics in compulsory education.

 

 

The Degree Course in Natural Sciences provides a transversal balance between the theoretical and the practical so that graduates will be knowledgeable in both Biological and Earth Sciences and be able to describe and interpret innate structures, functions and changes of natural environments, have a global vision of natural phenomena and be able to dialogue with specialists of other scientific disciplines so to work as a team member. Particular fields of study are animal and plant biology and morphology, evolution, animal behaviour, animal and plant physiology, the conservation of Nature and its resources, defining the relationship of living organisms and the environment and knowledge of physical phenomena and geological processes.

A naturalist must be knowledgeable about the environment and be extremely practical with scientific methods for studying how components which are both biological and non are related to environmental problems which may be both natural or man-made in origin. The Degree Course in Natural Sciences aims to impart:

·         Training in environmental management, particularly the restoration of natural habitats;

·         A sound knowledge base regarding a variety of living organisms and the multitude of relations between these and their habitats as an approach to studying processes of evolution.

 

Following the 3-year First Level Degree Course, the professional careers available are numerous:

·         Teaching in secondary schools

·         Docents or curators in scientific museums or botanic gardens; professionals in aquariums; experts in agricultural monitoring etc.

·         Management and protection of natural resources, as professionals in either public or private organizations

·         National or Regional Park services

·         Territorial management and environmental development

·         Research and teaching at the level of tertiary education

·         Informant for environmental causes

 

Following the 3-year First Level Degree Course, graduates may enrol in additional coursework in Natural Sciences to specialize in the following areas:

 

·         Plant conservation

·         Biomointoring of marine environments

·         Calabrian cartography and vegetation

·         Critical species

·         Phytocenosis of Mediterranean habitats

·         Calabrian flora; endemism, cyto-taxonomy and embryology, flora cartography

 

·         Taxonomy, ecological distribution of micromammalian populations in the Mediterranean area

·         Distribution and conservation of at-risk species

·         Distribution and catographic mapping of Calabrian herpeto-fauna distribution

·         Taxonomy of Coleotteri Carabidi

·         Maintenance of biodiversity databanks of protected Regions

 

·         Characterization and investigation of regional rocks and minerals

·         Description and interpretation of Oligocene river beds and deposits to reconstruct sedimentation processes

·         Palaeontology – giant turtle eggs

·         Study of products from Italian volcanic activities

 

·         Evaluation of the status of river bed environments using ecological indicators such as macro-invertebrates, bentonics, and elliptical diatoms

·         Investigating the effect of flow variation on macrobentonic populations

·         Animal biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems for the purpose of environmental conservation and management

The Degree Course in Physics has cultural roots which date far into history, found in the thinking of philosophers and natural scientists of Ancient Greece. The tradition of studying nature was then followed by dramatic advances in the 1600s when Galileo Galilei put forth the theoretical basis of the “Scientific Method”. Along with contributions from other great physicists such as Newton, Maxwell, Einstein and Fermi, the application of such systematic reasoning has allowed for the great advances in technology that is now so much an intricate part of our daily lives.

 

For these reasons, the Degree in Physics aims to sensitize graduates to the characteristics of natural phenomena as well as the products of human actions so to enable graduates to develop models for describing such events. In other words, graduates of Physics must have skills for measuring, critically evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of innovative technologies, understanding the meaning of measurements and constructing interpretive models. Education in Physics should, in addition, impart to the graduate, the capacity to be an autonomous learner so to be able to adapt, with great flexibility, to the needs of not only the problem at hand but also those posed by the rapidly evolving profession of Physics.

 

There are five curricula offered through the Degree Course in Physics at UNICAL. 

The General Curriculum provides graduates the training necessary to continue towards a Second Level Specialist Degree and, for those who wish to pursue a career in physics research, a Doctorate afterwards, especially in the research areas of astrophysics, plasma physics, solid-state and surface physics, molecular physics, molecular biophysics, nuclear physics, experimental elementary particle physics, theoretical high-energy and condensed matter physics.

 

·         The curriculum in Biomedical Physics prepares graduates in professions of human, environmental and substance radio-safety, the management of medical instrumentation and the area of quality control.

 

·         The curriculum in Environmental and Meteorological Sciences prepares graduates for professions in environmental analysis and the modelling of environmental and atmospheric systems.

 

·         Graduates from the Curriculum of Technological and Application Physics are prepared for professions related to laboratory and industrial technologies such as the complex task of preparing liquid crystal displays using clean-room technology. Graduates from this curriculum are also prepared in the didactics of laboratory physics (e.g. electromagnetism, optical waves, production and conservation of energy etc.).

 

·         Graduates of the Curriculum for the Analysis and Modelling of Complex Systems will be prepared for professions involved with the modelling of economic systems as needed by experts of financial risk management.

 

Graduates of all curricula may pursue a Second Level Specialist Degree in Physics.

This Degree Course was activated when Italian Universities underwent a revision of course offerings, prompting the Faculty of Sciences at UNICAL to launch a Degree Course which reflects the need to not only restore but also appropriately manage the rich cultural heritage of Calabria. With this Degree Course in the Science and Techniques for the Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage comes cultural and socio-political sensitization and evolution of public opinion to the fact that what may seem a purely humanistic field is, in fact, one which relies heavily on modern science and technology, especially when it comes to the evaluation and implementation of suitable modern materials. In fact, the last legislation passed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage greatly supported the development of scientific diagnostic methods for preparing and restoring national heritage.

In addition, Calabria has paid particular attention to scientifically approaching the conservation of its cultural heritage, as illustrated by the instrumentation available at UNICAL for this purpose. Recently inter-regional and ministerial funding agencies has placed the protection and restoration of cultural heritage as one of its top priorities, providing such research with increasingly more research funding for advancing technical-scientific methods.

 

The Degree Course in the Science and Techniques for the Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage aims to provide a balance between the theoretical and practical aspects of cultural heritage restoration, based on scientific methods for approaching the restoration and conservation of artistic, architectonic and archaeological heritage. The coursework therefore develops competence that graduates will need to work professionally, using didactics which link the theoretical with the practical so that graduates will be fully operational professionals in this field.

 

The general purpose of this Degree Course is to prepare multi-disciplinary professionals who are capable of integrating knowledge from across a variety of specializations, who, in addition to being able to manage practical necessary laboratory analyses, is also knowledgeable about the theories and culture behind heritage works which must be restored. In light of the renewed level of importance given to cultural conservation and considering the interdisciplinary nature of the Degree Course, a graduate of this Degree Course is a professional in high demand by both private and public entities involved with the conservation and restoration of national heritage.

 

 

The Degree Course in Territorial Management and Development was launched in the 2002-2003 academic year and is the first of its kind in Italy, reflecting the University of Calabria’s response to territorial needs to provide an educational base that ensures immediate application in the local workforce as well as continuing professional education for those who had entered this sector directly from technical high schools. Much of the coursework in this Degree Course is thus provided by experts from the professional Association of Geometers. 

The development of new technologies and their increasingly intensive use has led to new environmental problems arising from human activity. To prevent or solve such problems, it is necessary to seek professionals who can observe, describe and manage the environment appropriately and are able to forecast how physical evolution of natural problems as well as those caused by human intervention will affect the environment and territory. The aim of this Degree Course is to train technicians who have such capabilities. 

 

The Degree Course in Geo-Topo-Carto-graphical Sciences, as indicated by its Italian name, Scienze Geo-Topo-Cartografiche, Estimative, Territoriali ed Edilizie, is a very complex degree which seeks to train not merely a specialist (in and of itself innovative), but a professional who has a wide perspective of territorial problems, capable of intervening effectively by merging wide-ranging expertise, understand updated techniques and one who has a modern vision regarding territorial management. So to be able to deal with delicate but complex modern problems, coursework provides students with a wide profile of technical knowledge which reflects the distinct multidisciplinary nature of this Degree Course, as illustrated by the fact that the teaching staff of this Degree Course come from the three Faculties of Economics, Engineering and Sciences. 

In addition to the necessary coursework providing a knowledge base of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer sciences, the curricula provide students the training necessary to become familiar with the territory and environment and the necessary means to describe, utilize and manage them. Curriculum of the Degree Course is therefore based on a sound base of geodetics, topography, cartography, geology and ecology followed by coursework in engineering and urban development which enables graduates to manage territorial use and generate suitable projects. The last important area of curriculum coursework provides knowledge regarding the economic and legal aspects of territorial management and related professional activities.

Two curricula are offered, distinguished by different coursework – Geo-Topo-Cartography and Eco-Environment. The first curriculum offers coursework rich in the physical and descriptive aspects of geographical and topographical sciences while the Eco-Environment curriculum emphasizes coursework related to ecology.

 

The multidisciplinary nature of this Degree Course opens the door to numerous professions and, for those who wish to pursue further education, most of the credits acquired through the 3-year Degree allow access to many Second Level Specialist Degrees. As for those wishing to immediately enter the workforce, the 3-year Degree in Geological and Topographical Sciences is recognized by many Italian professional associations. Foreign students can obtain additional information from the Degree Course Director.

The Degree Course in Elementary Education reflects a new professional who is specialized in pre-school and elementary school education. This Degree Course at UNICAL is a trans-faculty Degree and the only one in Italy, arising from collaboration between the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Letters. This collaboration reflects the innovative approach to training of one of the most important typologies of teachers, ensuring that a harmonious balance is attained between a humanistic discipline and a scientific-experimental approach to learning and education.

 

Teachers graduating with a Degree in the Science of Primary Education will be trained to approach education scientifically and experimentally. Training in the area of science will therefore no longer be a discipline-specific endeavour in which traditional evaluation of knowledge values passive verbal expressions of understanding but a more hands-on constructivistic approach to discovering science through guided learning and personal reflections, driven by curiosity. Teacher training thus emphasizes the macroscopic aspects of learning which are immediately visible and observable as well as the more microscopic components with the purpose of cultivating skills such as hypothesizing, planning and experimenting – hands-on learning which leads to concrete and deep-level understanding of science.

In both discipline-specific as well as general didactic laboratories, students will learn “how to teach”, i.e. didactic methods and techniques regarding science education and obtain a knowledge base of science which will prepare them for the primary science classroom, being able to choose “what to teach”. The didactic laboratory is, in fact, crucial for students to learn the practicalities of the teaching profession, so to become teachers who can effectively teach young children how to observe nature.

 

 

Today, the primary objective of a natural history museum is draw attention to the importance of conserving biodiversity. In fact, biodiversity conservation is one of the most important global initiatives, motivated by numerous cultural and scientific parameters. The Natural History Museum of Calabria, situated on the campus of the University of Calabria (UNICAL) was established as a multidisciplinary and multifunctional structure which educates visitors about the culture of bio-conservation and the concept of sustainable territorial development.

 

The Natural History Museum of Calabria unites various academic bodies of UNICAL with local institutions to offer information and training programmes regarding local environmental issues which is receiving increasingly more attention from the local population. The Museum thus fulfils an invaluable cultural and educational role. In a non-industrial but morphologically heterogeneous region such as Calabria, the need for centralised data collection, elaboration and information distribution regarding the state of natural resources is especially important. The Museum thus offers a fundamental central body for both environmental education and naturalistic scientific research related to the conservation of biodiversity within the relatively intact natural wealth of Calabria.

 

Given the complexity, diversity and distinction between the natural sciences, The Natural History Museum of Calabria is divided into three separate but well linked sectors:

 

For practical reasons, these sectors manage respective collections, exhibits and scientific data independently. Each sector also manages a specialised library and laboratories which provide information through a variety of media and provides facilities for preparing materials necessary for environmental monitoring.   In addition, through various programmes, the Museum has access to various departmental laboratories across the UNICAL campus (Geological Sciences; Ecology; Botanical Gardens; Cell Biology etc.). Each sector is comprised of two subdivisions, one dedicated to research, archiving, elaboration and publishing data while the other is responsible for the maintenance and updating of the Museum as well as the preparation of teaching and training materials.

 

 

The following exhibits are currently available through the various sectors. 

 

The Department of Ecology ECOLOGY

 

The Botanical Garden

 

Department of Earth Sciences