Communicating and Representing the Earth: Structures and Phenomena in the Italian Context (17th - 19th century)

The aim of the project Communicating and Representing the Earth: Structures and Phenomena in the Italian Context (17th - 19th century) was to investigate the extent of the relationship between theories, images and communication concerning natural phenomena in the field of the Earth sciences, with particular attention to volcanism, within the Italian context from the late 17th century until the 19th century. The research methodology has focused on the study of the perception, description and possible interpretation of the catastrophic natural phenomena, in order to identify roles, objectives, differences and interactions among authors (scholars, scientists, artists, illustrators, etc.), academies and institutions. The activities undertaken by the unit at the University of Insubria were focused to identify and analyze the methods of representation in the early forms of communication of science between mid-18th century and mid-19th century, with particular attention to catastrophic phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, and other meteorological and natural events identified within the new scientific disciplines of the Earth sciences. In particular, a comparative analysis of 18th-19th centuries journals and periodicals has been carried out. The collected data and the digitized full text / images (over 200 records) have been elaborated, organized and classified. All these sources have been analyzed and compared in order to identify thematical and chronological trends. On the basis of the project's results, some actions of public communication of science to raise awareness of natural hazards should be undertaken in collaboration with academic and media partners. The use of images, narratives and representations, traced in the primary sources, can be the starting point to draw up new forms of environmental storytelling tightly dependent on the history of Earth sciences and specifically addressed to the general public. They will be useful to the creation of multimedia contents and interactive exhibits. The target for further development of the project will be also the planning and implementation of a multidisciplinary database. The production, classification and organization of data on volcanic and other catastrophic phenomena will have a significant potential, in order be used not only for the development of historical-scientific research, but also for a dynamic adoption within the fields of risk prevention and enhancement of the territory, as well as within environmental education and scientific dissemination activities.