From 16th to 18th September 2026, the University of Genoa will host the final conference of the European project CLOE – Training to Complexity, dedicated to the study and enhancement of mountain and rural areas through multidisciplinary approaches.
Over the past five years, the CLOE project has developed a research and doctoral training programme focused on the development and conservation of mountain and rural areas from historical, environmental and legal perspectives. In doing so, it has addressed one of the key objectives of national and regional innovation and smart specialisation strategies: tackling the depopulation and abandonment of so-called inner areas. Through the project, the University of Genoa has trained 15 early-career researchers from across Europe and beyond, thanks in part to collaborations with institutions and companies in the Liguria region, as well as with leading international research centres.
The project has also fostered collaboration among UniGe faculty members and researchers working on mountain and rural studies, contributing to the development of European projects addressing a range of interconnected topics, including the historical processes of marginalisation affecting these areas, living rural heritage, biodiversity and natural heritage conservation, climate change mitigation and environmental risk reduction strategies, as well as issues related to territorial justice and democracy in marginal areas.
The final CLOE conference will bring together the scientific community, public institutions, local stakeholders and citizens to discuss the project's research findings and reflect on strategies and challenges related to the conservation of mountain and rural ecosystems, contributing to the development of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable models.
The programme includes 2 round-table discussions and 4 thematic sessions covering the project's main research areas:
Session I: Environmental Conservation and the Social Dimension
Session II: Integrated Approaches and Historical Perspectives for Environmental Risk Mitigation
Session III: Modelling Emerging Commons and the Regulation of Common Goods
Session IV: Ecosystem Services: Enhancing Resilience to Address Climate Challenges
Registration: open until 20th July 2026 (registration form).
For further information, please visit the project website.
The European project CLOE – Training to complexity is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA – Cofund) and supported by the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo.