Lectio Magistralis                       

"Environment, Disasters, Food and Poverty"

Professor Franco Siccardi - University of Genoa | President of CIMA Research Foundation

Savona University Campus, Lagorio Building, Room LA 218 | 11.00 AM 

Franco Siccardi, Full Professor of Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Genoa since the mid-80s has made a substantial contribution, together with the then Minister of Civil Defence, Zamberletti, to the construction of the Italian Civil Protection system. Such activities have continued afterwards, when the successors of Zamberletti - Franco Barberi, Guido Bertolaso and presently Franco Gabrielli – have been in charge of the Civil Protection Department.

The commitment of Professor Siccardi and other university colleagues, has made possible the foundation and leadership of the National Group for Protection from Hydrogeological Disasters, part of the National Research Council (CNR). In such platform were developed important scientific researches, which have enabled the Italian community to acquire a leading role in the field of Natural Hazards.

It is thanks to Franco Siccardi that the European Geosciences Union has formed a special division dedicated to the study of Natural Hazards and created an international scientific journal, NHESS, dedicated to the research within such field.

In the year 2000 the Natural Hazards Division of the European Geosciences Union, has officially recognized the scientific contribution of Professor Siccardi towards the understanding and mitigation of Natural Hazards impact, assigning him the prestigious Soloviev Medal. Thanks to his commitment, today's methods and organization of the Italian Civil Protection are leaders in the world.

In the early 90's Professor Siccardi was, among others, responsible for the creation of a branch of the University of Genoa in Savona, contributing substantially to its development by leading the graduate program in Environmental Engineering in the Inter-University Centre on Environmental Monitoring, forerunner of today’s CIMA Research Foundation for which Professor Siccardi is the President.

CIMA Research Foundation is an international centre of expertise for the forecast and prevention of Natural Hazards, headquartered in the University Campus of Savona which employs about 50 researchers and technicians engaged in performing research on topics related to flood risk, forest and industrial fires, impact of the climate change on marine (cetaceans) and terrestrial ecosystems and more recently on the liability, legal aspects and governance in risk management.