Prof. Alessio Malcevschi PhD

Department of Life Sciences, University of

Parma, Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability

Prof. Loris Borghi

Rector of University of Parma

Prof. Stefano Parmigiani

Department of Neuroscience, University of

Parma

SUSTAINABILITY AND SCIENTIFIC CULTURE:

A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE

Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture

INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS ON PLANETARY EMERGENCIES

Erice 20-23 August 2016

THE NEW MANHATTAN PROJECT

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

Nature 461, 472-475 (24 September 2009)

The Global Economic Forum Report Global

Risk report 2016

Mar 17, 2015 - 11; Colin

P. Kelley, 3241–3246,

/PNAS

The lesson of Easter

Island: people annihilated

their culture by

destroying their

environment? Can we act

more wisely to conserve

our resources?

Role of Universities

University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus. Joint presentation of UniBo

and Fraunhofer industrial research activities to public and private

companies.

Sustainabilty scientists working with city representatives , businesses, non-

profit organizations and citizens on systemic visions and strategies for

urban sustainability in Phenix Arizona (left City hall, right university’s

room)

Science 13 August 2004

Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial know-how to solve

the carbon and climate problem for the next half-century. A portfolio of technologies now exists to

meet the world's energy needs over the next 50 years and limit atmospheric CO2 to a trajectory that

avoids a doubling of the preindustrial concentration. Every element in this portfolio has passed

beyond the laboratory bench and demonstration project; many are already implemented somewhere

at full industrial scale. Although no element is a credible candidate for doing the entire job (or even

half the job) by itself, the portfolio as a whole is large enough that not every element has to be used.

Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with

Current Technologies S. Pacala1, R. Socolow. Science 13 Aug 2004: Vol. 305, pp. 968-972

Its high carbon content and porous

nature can help soil retain water,

nutrients, protect soil microbes. Many

scientists view that biochar is

considered the future black gold of

agriculture. The enhanced nutrient

retention capacity of biochar-amended

soil not only reduces the total fertilizer

requirements, but also acts as a natural

carbon sink keeping carbon in the

ground. If biochar was used

worldwide, CO2 levels could drop 8

parts per million within 50 years

BIOCHAR

Sahara desert (Mali)

«We know more about the movement of the celestial

bodies than about the soil under our feet».

Leonardo da Vinci