The Master's Degree Course in Sustainable Sciences and Technologies for the Environment (STAM) trains professional figures who have multidisciplinary skills necessary to address the issues of environmental sustainability, acquiring both scientific and technological skills related to environmental sustainability, ecological transition and circular economy. At the end of the study course, the STAM graduate has a solid preparation to operate autonomously, assuming responsibility for projects and structures, to perform planning, management, control and coordination activities, also introducing innovative aspects into them.

The training course mainly includes theoretical-practical teachings on contents included in the chemical, geological, biological, ecological, technological and process disciplines with the aim of acquiring, from a systemic perspective, a scientific method of investigation and knowledge of modern detection instruments and monitoring, laboratory methodologies, investigations in terrestrial environments both in natural and anthropised and polluted environments, of the main technologies and fundamental processes in sustainable development and in the ecological and energy transition.

The teaching structure of the master's degree course includes characterising disciplines aimed at providing the master's graduate with a high cultural education of a technical-scientific nature, such as to enable them to promptly enter the world of work.

With these aims, the STAM training course offers in the first year a basis of characterising disciplines which completes the multidisciplinary training acquired with the Bachelor's degree and introduces more advanced specialist knowledge on the abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems, on processes of environmental interest, on process technologies and on the most relevant aspects of environmental legislation. Particular attention is paid to decision-making processes and to management of the environment and territory in order to contribute to socio-economic growth according to the principles of sustainable development. The most innovative aspect of the STAM training course is the activation in the second year of two highly distinctive curricula, the first mainly focused on biological and ecological areas and on the themes of conservation and restoration of natural resources and the development of solutions to promote environmental resilience; the second strongly focused on technological and process issues relevant to sustainable development through the ecological and energy transition.

In particular, the second year is largely dedicated to similar or supplementary training activities. The wide availability of courses offered guarantees adequate flexibility in the presentation of study plans, allowing the student to orient their training path according to specific interests through the choice of advanced courses (see section on the summary description of similar and supplementary activities). The STAM training path involves the acquisition of free choice CFU proposed by the teaching structure or in any case that are consistent with the training project, and CFU relating to a training internship, the verification of knowledge of the English language at B2 level and preparation of a final thesis of an experimental nature.

The following general skills are acquired in the STAM training course: (i) the ability to analyse and critically interpret experimental data and data from monitoring campaigns conducted in the area; (ii) the ability to evaluate the social and ethical implications in the development of interventions on ecosystems; (iii) the ability to evaluate the optimum solutions for environmental resilience and the restoration of natural resources; (iv) the ability to evaluate technologies and processes involved in the ecological and energy transition and sustainable development; (v) communication skills with the use of registers and tools appropriate to the circumstances involving experts and non-specialists; (vi) mastery of the English language for the exchange of general information and in the specific area of knowledge; (vii) knowledge of scientific updating tools combined with the ability to access scientific literature for the disciplines of the sector.

STAM intends to achieve its training objectives through teaching strongly based on the active involvement of the student, dedicating adequate space to practical-applicative activities. The relationships to be established with the components of the operational structures through performing of the practical-applicative internship are functional. In particular, the aim is to underline the importance attributed to the training internship experience to promote professional training. The curricular internship in affiliated institutions/companies promotes the acquisition by students of further professional skills. In fact the internship activity has a high educational value in the development of the students' professionalism, allowing them to obtain practical-professional experience, to acquire work skills, to deal with realities external to the academic ones and to work within a team. Furthermore, the university internship activity is able to promote useful training for facing the world of work, resulting in being able to make informed professional choices. The master's degree course ends with the preparation of a thesis which can take place in university laboratories, research institutions or companies. It must consist of original, experimental scientific research.

function in a work context:

The master's degree course in Sustainable Sciences and Technologies for the Environment (STAM) trains professional figures with multidisciplinary skills to enable them to plan and implement analysis strategies for complex environmental problems in the terrestrial context and to design and manage the most suitable solutions.

STAM graduates acquire the skills and competences to operate in the field of prevention, diagnosis and the solution of environmental and territorial problems and to independently perform planning, management, control and coordination activities of projects, structures and companies in the Green Economy scenario, also introducing innovative aspects. In particular, the professional profile of the STAM graduate includes:

1. analysis and management of environmental resources, of environmental and territorial systems;
2. interventions on the production of goods and services aimed at improving environmental quality;
3. assessment of the quality of the environment;
4. the planning of activities oriented towards environmental sustainability;
5. environmental policy orientation initiatives to contribute to the formation of a critical and proactive consensus among citizens towards the solution of the problems posed by the territory;
6. planning and management of monitoring, control and environmental remediation interventions promoted by the public administration, production systems and private entities;
7. design, implementation and evaluation of environmental impact studies, strategic assessment and environmental risk, as well as safety and related activities;
8. analysis and control of pollutants and management of plants dedicated to their treatment;
9. creation and certification of environmental management systems;
10. diffusion of an environmental culture through training and dissemination activities.

Professional outlets:

Employment prospects for graduates in Sustainable Environmental Sciences and Technologies are present in both the public and private sectors with professional tasks aimed at the evaluation and management of environmental systems in the perspective of the ecological transition also linked to climate change.

In particular, in the public sector, environmental management and services companies, Ministries (e.g. Environment, Health, Cultural Heritage and Activities, Infrastructure, University and Scientific and Technological Research), national and international bodies and organisations (e.g. Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Civil Protection Agency, Regional/Provincial Agencies for Environmental Protection, Higher Institute of Health, Experimental Stations) require professional figures with skills aimed at the evaluation and management of environmental systems. These skills may be of support to the administrations of the Regions, Municipalities and their aggregations, Mountain Communities, Consortia for Industrial Development and other Public Bodies, in sectors linked to the management of complex environmental situations, water management, waste cycle as well as land and biodiversity management.

In the private sector, master's graduates in Sustainable Sciences and Technologies for the Environment have the opportunity to find employment in companies producing goods and services, with organisation, evaluation, management and responsibility tasks, for all problems that may involve an interaction between the production activities and environmental systems.

Pursuant to Italian Presidential Decree 5/6/01 no.328, the Master's Degree in Sustainable Sciences and Technologies for the Environment represents a requirement for admission to the State Exam which, if passed, allows inclusion in the following professional registers:

–Order of agronomists and forestry doctors, Section A (title of Agronomist and Forestry Doctor);

–Order of architects, planners, landscape architects and conservators, Section A landscape sector (title of Landscape Designer);

–Order of biologists, Section A (title of Biologist).