Climate change poses growing risks to cultural heritage, affecting not only historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, but also the traditional practices, knowledge and ways of life associated with them. Hydroclimatic extremes, including floods, droughts and extreme precipitation, pose growing risks to both tangible and intangible heritage. At the same time, cultural heritage represents a valuable reservoir of knowledge, experience and practices that can inform adaptation strategies and contribute to building more resilient and sustainable futures.
The course will explore the links between cultural heritage, climate change and societal resilience, highlighting the role of heritage in shaping inclusive and equitable adaptation pathways. Participants will examine the opportunities and limitations of innovative tools and technologies for protecting cultural heritage, as well as the financing mechanisms and investment opportunities needed to support its long-term resilience. The 5-days school will also explore how knowledge, tools and innovative approaches can be translated into practice, considering the conditions that enable their adoption and sustained use. Particular attention will be given to climate justice, considering how climate impacts and heritage loss intersect with social inequalities, multiple crises and the vulnerabilities of different communities.
Through testimonies, interdisciplinary exchange and collaborative group work around the theme “The Heritage of the Future”, the school will encourage participants to connect scientific evidence, traditional knowledge and community perspectives, exploring how cultural heritage can contribute to climate adaptation, social justice and sustainable futures, and collaboratively develop future-oriented approaches to heritage-climate nexus resilience, considering their practical implementation. It will contribute to the broader ambition to strengthen understanding of the societal dimensions of climate change and support more inclusive and equitable responses.
Organized and funded in the framework of SD-WISHEES project.
SD-WISHEES received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the EU nor the EC can be held responsible for them.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze the role of cultural heritage as a source of climate knowledge and adaptation strategies, including traditional and ancestral practices.
- Evaluate the potential and limitations of innovative tools and technologies for enhancing cultural heritage resilience, including challenges related to their accessibility, applicability and uptake.
- Assess funding mechanisms and investment opportunities for climate-resilient cultural heritage, considering the long-term sustainability of adaptation initiatives.
- Examine the links between cultural heritage, climate justice and multiple crisis contexts.
- Integrate knowledge and perspectives from different disciplines and stakeholders to address climate challenges affecting cultural heritage.
- Develop future-oriented strategies for resilient cultural heritage through testimonies, collaborative work and the Heritage of the Future activity, considering opportunities and barriers to their practical implementation.
Giulia Galluccio – Director of the Course
Giulia Galluccio holds a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University and a PhD in Science and Management of Climate Change from Cà Foscari University of Venice. She is Director of the Future Earth Research School and Director of CMCC Advanced Training and Education Center. She is a science policy analyst working at the interface of science, policy and society. She is currently Vice-Chair of the European Joint Initiative on Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe, a pan-European intergovernmental initiative that brings together European countries to jointly coordinate climate research and fund new transnational research initiatives.
Emanuele Romano – Director of the Course
Emanuele Romano is a Researcher at the Water Research Institute of the CNR (National Research Council). He graduated in Physics from the University of Milan and earned a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, conducting part of his research at the Ecole des Mines in Paris. In recent years, his research has focused on assessing the impacts of climate change on water resources and supply systems, with a particular focus on drought events. He is a member of the Major Risks Commission in the “Wildfire and Water Deficit Risk” sector and of the Coordination Committee of the Permanent Observatories for Water Uses established by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), as well as the “Task Group on Water Scarcity and Drought,” a working group established under the current programming of the Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive. Since 2023, he has coordinated the Working Group on “Drought, Scarcity, and Water Crises” of the CNR’s Department of Earth System Science and Environmental Technologies.
He is the Coordinator of the Horizon Europe Project SD-WISHEES (Supporting and Developing WIdening Strategies to tackle Hydroclimatic Extreme Events: impacts and Sustainable solutions for cultural heritage), and Work Package Leader of the Water4All MegaWat Project (Megadroughts in the Water towers of Europe – from process understanding to strategies for management and adaptation).
Location
The course will be held at CMCC Foundation, Milan office – via Solari 11, scala 19, 20144 Milan (MI), Italy.
Food and Accommodation
Participants will be responsible for arranging their own accommodation. Please remember that participation in presence is mandatory.
The School will provide and offer lunches and coffee breaks during course hours. The School will not cover any extra costs.
Transport
The CMCC Foundation office in Milan is located in the city centre and easily reachable by public transport.
Nearest metro stops: Sant’Agostino (M2), Coni Zugna (M4).
Participation to the course is free of charge.
For all participants, the School will cover access to all course activities and materials, lunches and coffee breaks during the course.
Upon successful completion of all activities, participants will receive a certificate at the end of the course.
The School will NOT cover any costs not explicitly mentioned above, including but not limited to accommodation expenses, breakfasts and dinners, visa application fees or related expenses, medical or travel insurance, and travel arrangements.
By registering for a course organized by the Future Earth Research School, participants acknowledge that they have read and understood the FERS cancellation policy.
The School offers limited financial assistance covering accommodation expenses limited to the duration of the course.
We are committed to fostering inclusion and equal opportunities. Financial assistance is available to participants who may otherwise face barriers to accessing the course.
Accommodation arrangements for financial assistance beneficiaries will be made directly by the School and will be limited to the duration of the course.
To apply, applicants must include a statement in the motivation letter within the application form, explaining why they should be considered for financial assistance. Grants are awarded by the Future Earth Research School based on the information provided and the overall application. Meeting the eligibility criteria or expressing interest does not guarantee the award of financial assistance.
General requirements
Our courses are designed for students, early-career researchers and professionals. See How to apply for more information.
Specific requirements
The course is primarily aimed at PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, early-career scientists, and young professionals active in the fields of climate and cultural heritage.
The following are required:
- Basic knowledge of climate change and its impacts on natural and cultural systems.
- Familiarity with cultural heritage concepts and their social, environmental and historical dimensions.
- Previous academic or professional experience in a relevant field, such as climate science, heritage studies, architecture, conservation, urban planning, sustainability or policy.
Admission results
All applicants will be notified upon completion of the selection process. Successful candidates will receive a confirmation email from secretariat@fersschool.it.
Please remember to check your spam or junk folder to avoid missing important communications from the School. If you do not find any messages from us, even in your spam or junk folder, please contact us, as we may have already reached out to you. Where granted, financial assistance will be explicitly stated in the notification.
The decision of the selection committee is final and not subject to appeal. The School is unable to provide individual feedback on applications and reserves the right not to award financial assistance.