Final defenses of Cycle 38 of the National PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate change ( May, 11-14 2026)

Sun, 10/05/2026

From May 11 to 14, 2026, the IUSS School for Advanced Studies Pavia will host the final defenses of Cycle 38 of the National PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate change, an event bringing together dozens of early-career researchers working on key challenges of the ecological transition.

The sessions will take place between the Palazzo del Broletto and the Department of Economics of the Università degli Studi di Pavia, and will be organized into six thematic curricula reflecting the highly interdisciplinary nature of the program. These span climate science, energy engineering, public policy, biodiversity, and the social, economic, and health dimensions of climate change.

The defense schedule highlights the breadth of research topics addressed. Projects include studies on river and macroplastic monitoring using artificial intelligence, analyses of extreme climate events in the Mediterranean, modeling frameworks for sustainable river basin management, renewable energy technologies, and innovative approaches to the circular economy. Significant attention is also given to the impacts of climate change on health, agriculture, and marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The National PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate change is one of Italy’s leading advanced training initiatives in this field, involving a network of universities and research centers and promoting an integrated approach to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program aims to train experts capable of combining advanced scientific skills with the ability to analyze public policies and socio-economic dynamics.

On May 14, the “Grand Finale” will take place at the Broletto, featuring a seminar by Carlo Buontempo from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, followed by the award ceremony for the best theses of the previous cycle and the final proclamation of the new PhD graduates.

To conclude the week of discussions, on May 14 at the Palazzo del Broletto, Carlo Buontempo from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts will run a seminar; this will be followed by the award ceremony for the XXXVII cycle theses that have stood out for their social impact in the field of Sustainability and Climate change, and the final conferral of degrees to the new PhD graduates.

The event confirms Pavia’s growing role as an academic hub for climate and sustainability research, in an international context where advanced education is a key tool for addressing global environmental challenges.

The thesis defenses are open to the public and can also be followed online via the following links, organized by session (the detailed agenda is attached and timings are CEST time zone).

Curriculum 1 - 12,13,14 May 2026

CU1 | Partecipazione alla riunione | Microsoft Teams

Curriculum 2 - 13 May 2026

CU2 | Partecipazione alla riunione | Microsoft Teams

Curriculum 3 - 11,12 May 2026

CU3 | Partecipazione alla riunione | Microsoft Teams

Curriculum 4 - 11,12 May 2026

CU4 | Partecipazione alla riunione | Microsoft Teams

Curriculum 5 - 11,12 May 2026

CU5 | Partecipazione alla riunione | Microsoft Teams

Curriculum 6 - 12,13,14 May 2026

CU6 | Partecipazione alla riunione | Microsoft Teams