Di Scienze Della Terra

The dissemination of the knowledge of critical geological issues, such as past environmental and climate change and their correct placement in the geological time scale, is essential to rise the awareness of the huge potential impact of the Earth Sciences on the current and future generations. We selected two examples (the Marguareis and the Langhe and Monferrato areas) to disseminate these topics to a broad audience. Virtual tours, hosted on the PROGEO-Piemonte project website (www.progeopiemonte.it), have been developed with special care to educational purposes and made suitable for mobile devices. These allow us to overcome theoretical problems related to the complexity of geological items (spatial and evolutionary complexity, deep time dimension), with plain language explanations, detailed pictures and dynamic 3D models. The virtual visit overcomes practical difficulties, such as restricted access to high mountain or dangerous areas, and improves the access to detailed geologica...

The multidisciplinary research project ‘PROGEO-Piemonte’ aims to achieve a new conceptual and operational discipline in the management of the geological heritage of the Piemonte region (NW Italy). One of the nine strategic geothematic areas of the project addresses a controversial scientific theme, that of climate and environmental change, by analysing the record of the Messinian salinity crisis in Piemonte. This palaeoceanographic event, which occurred about 6 Ma ago during the late Messinian, was characterised by dramatic palaeobiological, palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic changes that affected the entire Mediterranean area. In the Piemonte region, Messinian rocks outcrop in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin; they record the three stages of the Messinian salinity crisis and the correlative environmental and climate changes. We propose to the general public a virtual geological tour of the main outcrops showing the evolution of this event to be hosted on the PROGEO-Piemonte website ...

A geoethical approach to geodiversity allows better understanding of the value of abiotic nature and enhances its conservation and development. Our basic assumption is that even during an economical crisis, geoheritage sites can serve both public and private interests. A set of nine strategic geothematic areas were chosen to represent the geodiversity of the Piemonte region, north-western Italy, each of which is characterized by great potential for scientific studies, enhancement of public understanding of science, recreational activities, and economic support to the local communities. Specialized research teams individuated critical aspects to advance our knowledge of the geological history of the Piemonte region, through climate and environmental changes, natural hazards, soil processes, and georesources. The scientific concepts and techniques were coupled with geodiffusion actions and products: not only geosites, but also museum collections, evidence of mining and quarrying activ...