by Alessandra Cardone
ROME, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Planet Earth Week kicked off here on Sunday, with over 300 events being organized across the country to raise awareness and respect for environment among Italians.
The initiative, which has reached its fourth edition, represents the largest event aimed at popularizing scientific knowledge in Italy.
Runing from Oct. 16 to 23, the Planet Earth Week is under the theme "Italy to discover Geoscience: a better-informed society is a more engaged society", with a total 313 "Geo-Events" taking place in 230 different locations.
These would include field trips and guided tours, some 90 conferences, educational and experimental labs for children and kids, open days at scientific museums and institutes, walks in historical centers, and visits to natural sites of special geophysical interest such as mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes.
"This event is first and foremost devoted to a young audience, since this is our main mission," Silvio Seno, professor of structural geology at the University of Pavia and co-organizer of the Week, told local media.
Some 800 scientists and researchers from universities and colleges, research institutes and scientific groups will volunteer in the event, which has borne a strong educational intent since its inception.
"Our country undoubtedly lacks scientific culture, and such deficit has an impact on a number of different circumstances, all of them negative," professor Seno also explained to Xinhua.
"This is precisely one of our aims: raise the knowledge of the planet and of our territory, letting then the respect for the environment stem from that," said Seno.
"In such a way, we can also gradually improve the culture of prevention in our country," said the expert.
Social dinners, tastings, artistic and musical activities will add to the Geo-Events to further boost awareness of the deep connection between Italy's natural heritage and its cultural history and food traditions.
"Some of these events have indeed a particular and interactive nature," co-organizer Rodolfo Coccioni, professor of palaeontology and paleoecology at the University of Urbino, explained.
"Besides focusing on geology, and allowing to appreciate the value of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, the initiatives would pertain to culture, humanistic science, anthropology, ethno-anthropology, and arts," Coccioni said.
Related Events would include: a geo-palaeontology exhibition in the central town of Assisi; a field trip to discover where the true landscape behind famous Mona Lisa was painted; a tour inside sulphur mines in Sicily, and another at a uranium minerals deposit in Sardinia.
There will be trips among different Italian vineyards growing on particular terrains like volcano soil, tuff, and clay soil, an excursion on the Alpine glaciers affected by climate change, and an interactive lab allowing visitors to access the Lake Iseo from underneath.
The Planet Earth Week drew some 80,000 people overall in 2015, according to the organizers. This year's target would be to exceed 100,000.
