Prevention and mapping of hydrogeological risk in the Lake Como area: a conference at the Chiostro di Sant’Abbondio, organised in collaboration with the Coe.Insubre Association

Understanding, preventing and managing hydrogeological risk in the Lake Como area through the exchange of data, scientific expertise, technical experience and operational strategies. This is the aim of the conference “Prevention and Mapping of Hydrogeological Risk in the Lake Como Area”, scheduled for Wednesday 30 September, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the University of Insubria, in the Main Hall of the Sant’Abbondio campus, Como. 

The event, organised by the University of Insubria in collaboration with the Coe.Insubre Association, will provide an opportunity for scientific, technical and institutional discussion on hydrogeological risk in the Lake Como area.

The conference stems from the need to reflect on the high-impact events that affected the Lake Como area in 2025 and 2026, promoting a better understanding of the phenomena involved, prevention strategies and effective risk-management tools. The event will also present the preliminary results of the Interreg – RITMO – WP1 Project “Hydrogeological Risks and Climate Change: Safeguarding the Landscape and Cultural Heritage of the Mountainous Territory of Insubria”, providing an up-to-date overview of the area’s critical issues and future prospects for increasingly informed and integrated risk management.

The initiative is part of the Interreg Italy-Switzerland programme, co-funded by the European Union.

The conference will officially open at 10 a.m. with welcome addresses by Maria Cristina Pierro, Rector of the University of Insubria, Umberto Piarulli, Deputy Rector, and Michela Prest, Director of the Department of Science and High Technology.

The scientific session will begin at 10.30 a.m. with Franz Livio, University of Insubria, who will speak on “Hydrogeological risk: one formula, different mitigation strategies”. At 10.50 a.m., Alessandro Maria Michetti, University of Insubria, will continue with “Hydrogeological dynamics and territorial vulnerability”. This will be followed at 11.20 a.m. by Andrea Pozzi, University of Insubria, with a presentation entitled “Fragile Beauty: Lake Como and Its Wounds”, while from 11.40 a.m. to noon Luigi Biffi, agronomist, will discuss “Forest vegetation and hydrogeological risk”.

The programme will continue from noon to 12.20 p.m. with Rossana Canzani, Financial Officer at the Municipality of Grandate, who will address “Administrative aspects: governance, responsibilities and operational tools”. From 12.20 to 12.40 p.m., Elena Maggi and Giulia Pesaro, University of Insubria, will explore “Climate change and the enhancement of cultural and landscape heritage: an economic perspective”. The session will conclude with a question-and-answer segment.

A lunch break, with a light lunch included, is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m.

The conference will resume at 2 p.m. with Marco Pizza, University of Insubria, who will present “Geology: the RITMO project”. At 2.20 p.m., Cristian Scapozza, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), will give a presentation on “Climate scenarios and the evolution of natural hazards”. From 2.40 to 3 p.m., Christian Ambrosi, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), will discuss the “Monitoring of geological phenomena using satellite radar interferometry”.

The conference will be moderated by Giuseppe Devotella, President of the Coe.Insubre Association.

Participation is free; however, attendees are encouraged to confirm their attendance by completing the registration form: https://bit.ly/4robYVH.