The Mediterranean Sea (from the latin medius, "middle" and terra, "land", meaning "in the middle of land") is a sea almost completely surrounded by land: on the north by Europe and Anatolia, on the south by Africa, and on the east by the Levant. The area shows a distinctive geological fingerprint which attracted generations of Earth scientists. Mountain chains, arcuate belts, extensional basins, active volcanoes, violent earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and floods testify the vigorous active tectonics characterizing the area (all these aspects will be addressed in the workshop). The same area, thanks to the favorable climate, the availability of resources (i.e., water and raw materials) and the presence of the sea allowing for trade and cultural exchanges, has been also the cradle of a millenary culture.
Currently, the area is densely populated with a progressively increasing anthropic pressure, which, combined with the peculiar geological setting results in a strong vulnerability to climate changes - enhanced by the CO2 increase -
The Mediterranean in thus a key region to understand the complex and delicate relationships between civilization, natural processes – also catastrophic – safety and protection of the environment.