DSSTTA is committed to understanding how the Earth’s systems (climate, cryosphere, biodiversity, and more) are deeply interconnected, and how they are affected by human activity
DSSTTA Department
The DSSTTA scientific collaboration between institutes by coordinating transdisciplinary project activities and thematic working groups. It provides support in planning strategic and innovative initiatives, facilitating the positioning of excellence and strategic priorities.
DSSTTA also engages in institutional support activities related to research and the promotion of national and international relations, collaborating with the relevant CNR offices.
1500
Staff members temporary & permanent
12
Research Institutes
60
Locations on Italian territory
800
Contributors and staff in training
Promotion, Proposal, Programming, Coordination.
Brochure DSSTTA
Italian version, June 2025
DSSTTA Brochure
English version, June 2025
Mission
The DSSTTA’s mission is to promote understanding of the environment and the Earth by integrating diverse expertise and disciplines, while fostering technological development and the systematic organization of data and infrastructure. The DSSTTA promotes the role of science as an impartial foundation for socio-political-economic decisions, particularly those concerning environmental issues, based on merit and adherence to the scientific method.
In line with CNR’s values, DSSTTA aims to create added value through scientific research, generating knowledge, fostering community interest, promoting sustainable use of resources and upholding research ethics and freedom. It also engages in outreach to raise public awareness of environmental issues and related emergencies, such as climate change and pollution, highlighting the importance of research in the global socio-political context.
Strategic Areas
Earth System Sciences and Geo-Resources
Study of planetary and geological processes, monitoring of natural resources and development of sustainable models for resource management and use. Assessment of environmental impacts and definition of strategies to mitigate supply crises and climate change.
Anthropogenic Impacts and Technologies for Environmental Remediation.
Ecosystem impact assessment, with a focus on emerging contaminants. Development of eco-innovative technologies for environmental monitoring, protection and recovery of ecosystems. Development of interoperable environmental analysis systems for decision support.
Global Changes
Earth Observation
Multidisciplinary research to study the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere and the ocean system. Integration of in situ observations, remote sensing and satellite data, supported by modelling and management of large interoperable databases to study geological, geophysical and environmental processes.
Natural Risks
Assessment and monitoring of natural hazards such as eruptions, earthquakes, floods, droughts and fires, with the development of warning and mitigation systems. Analysis of climate change and the hydrological cycle. Study of marine phenomena for coastal risk management and emergencies related to extreme events and subsidence.
Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Biological Resources
Study of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity and ecological interactions for conservation and sustainable management. Assessment of ecosystem response to natural and anthropogenic forcing. Promotion of circular economy through sustainable use of biological resources, with focus on ecosystem services and sustainable bio-economy.
DSSTTA institutes
Istituto sull’Inquinamento Atmosferico (IIA)
Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria (IGAG)
Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse (IGG)
Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale (IMAA)
Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine (IRBIM)
Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri (IRET)
Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque (IRSA)
Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica (IRPI)
Istituto di Scienze dell’Atmosfera e del Clima (ISAC)
Organisation
Director
Scientific Board
Claudio Faccenna
University Roma TRE (Italy) e GFZ Potsdam (Germany)
Andrea Rinaldo
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, CH
Sabrina Speich
École Normale Supérieure, Paris, FR
Elective Members
Andrea Billi
Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Roma
Gian Luigi Liberti
Istituto di Scienze Marine, Roma
Staff
roberto.bellucci@cnr.it
Claudia Camilleri
claudia.camilleri@cnr.it
Luana Casano
luana.casano@cnr.it
Giuseppina Ciurlia
giuseppina.ciurlia@cnr.it
Giovan Matteo Di Maggio
giovanmatteo.dimaggio@cnr.it
Fedra Francocci
fedra.francocci@cnr.it
Veronica Giuliano
veronica.giuliano@cnr.it
Annalisa Iadanza
annalisa.iadanza@cnr.it
Maria Elena Martinotti
mariaelena.martinotti@cnr.it
Sonia Migliorini
sonia.migliorini@cnr.it
Pier Francesco Moretti
pierfrancesco.moretti@cnr.it
Alessio Neri
alessio.neri@cnr.it
Francesca Nuccetelli
francesca.nuccetelli@cnr.it
Simone Pecce
simone.pecce@cnr.it
Luigi Mazari Villanova
luigi.mazarivillanova@cnr.it
Francesca Zedda
francesca.zedda@cnr.it
Francesca Argenio
francesca.argenio@cnr.it
Lucia Paciucci
lucia.paciucci@cnr.it
Contributors
lorianna.annunziata@cnr.it
Paolo Braico
paolo.braico@cnr.it
Sabina Di Franco
sabina.difranco@cnr.it
Angelo Domesi
angelo.domesi@cnr.it
Giulia Magnavita
giulia.magnavita@cnr.it
Eros Manzo
eros.manzo@cnr.it
Massimiliano Olivieri
massimiliano.olivieri@cnr.it
Isabella Vitali
isabella.vitali@cnr.it
Silvia Pioli
silvia.pioli@cnr.it
Organization-internal articulation
The Scientific Council of the Department was renewed by order of the President CNR no. 108 of 19.07.2019.
Please contact us at: nome.cognome@cnr.it
Working Groups
The Department’s Working Groups: a tool for promoting interdisciplinarity and coordinating departmental activities
Thematic working groups foster connections between the Department and the Institutes, promoting collaboration at both the inter-institutional and interdepartmental levels. Covering all disciplinary fields and the main areas of research management, they aim to develop common themes, encourage transdisciplinary approaches, strengthen networking, generate new ideas, and stimulate participation in calls for proposals and joint initiatives.
Alongside these, technical and institutional groups operate to coordinate and support the Department’s main activities.