Integrated Water Monitoring Assessment Across Time and Scale ~ UNIPI

Language: English

Period: 18 – 22 May 2026

Application Deadline: 1 March 2026

Early Bird Application Deadline: 15 January 2026 (for those applicants interested in the available tuition fee waiver)

Program Intensity: Full-time

ECTS: 3

Tuition fees: 750€

Mineral water holds both exclusive socio-economic value, rooted in industrialization and commercialization processes, and deep cultural value significance for local populations who have used spring waters on a daily basis over time.

The complexity of water-rock interaction processes, which give rise to the unique composition of mineral waters, requires integrated and multidisciplinary approaches for their effective characterization.

This Summer School will offer a comprehensive, field-based learning experience, covering a broad range of topics crucial to the study of mineral and thermal waters:

Hydrogeochemistry (gas and physicochemical parameters): to evaluate groundwater natural composition and assess deviations from natural baseline values;
Structural geology: to understand the geometry of groundwater flow path;
Isotope hydrology: to trace groundwater recharge processes and determine groundwater age;
Hydrogeology: to identify groundwater flow paths and support geochemical interpretation of water-rock interaction and mixing with surface water;
Socio-hydrogeology: to assess the socio-economic impact of mineral and thermal waters, and improve communication between scientists and water users.

The Summer School will be held in Corte (Corsica – France) from May 18th to 22nd, 2026.

Corsica is a unique place for testing integrated approaches, characterized by the presence of a multi-composite geological and hydroclimatic context, giving origin to different types of thermo-mineral waters. Indeed, the Mediterranean mountainous Island of Corsica is well known as a geo-diversity hotspot.

Mineral and thermal groundwater are very special water resources characterized by stable and specific geochemical characteristics in terms of dissolved ions and gaseous contents as well as stable, and most of the time, relatively high temperatures. Groundwater circulation in-depth increases the complexity and the multiplicity of groundwater pathways and provides a high diversity of water qualities with potential commercial and health benefits such as for mineral, thermal, alkaline, CO2-rich, ferruginous or sulphurous waters. These processes can be even more complex in the case of long-residence-time groundwater. Integrated geological and environmental tools are very interesting when used together because they can provide information on water origins, chemical properties and mixing processes, as well as an estimation of the timing of the processes.

The Summer School is jointly organised by the University of Pisa (UNIPI, Italy) and the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli (UCPP, Corsica, France). It is chaired by Prof. Viviana Re (UNIPI), Dr. Maria Di Rosa (UNIPI), Dr. Stefano Viaroli (UNIPI), Prof. Sebastien Santoni (UCPP) and Dr. Thomas Leydier (UCPP), with the help of Prof. Emilie Garel (UCPP) and Prof. Frederic Huneau (UCPP), and with the support of the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli.

To learn more about the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli please check the following website, brochure and video.

The Summer School will be activated with at least 8 students. The maximum number of participants is set to 15 students.

The Summer School will be held on campus, in Corte (France).

Students will be hosted at the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli, Corte, France.

Aim

The interdisciplinary Summer School proposes a novel and integrated approach to understand the past, present, and future of water resources through the lens of structural geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology and socio-hydrogeology.

Thanks to hands-on field and laboratory experiences the Summer School will provide participants an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the main disciplines necessary to characterize water quality and quantity and to translate this information into management proposals for the long-term protection of this resource.

After the course participants will be able to carry plan integrated monitoring assessment, use in situ monitoring probes, correctly store and preserve samples for chemical and isotopic analyses.

Participants will learn to identify the main geological structures in the study area, collect and store samples and deepen their understanding of water-rock interaction processes in mineral waters.

Video challenge: Throughout the week, participants will be trained in observation and measurement techniques of the hydrogeochemical properties of different thermo-mineral springs investigated in highly contrasting geological settings. Based on photos and/or field video recordings, each group will be asked to produce a 2- to 5-minute video focusing on an object or a method that they particularly enjoyed. For example, this could be a tutorial video on how to carry out physico-chemical measurements using probes, how to perform colorimetric field tests, how to measure radon gas activity, or a video presenting the full set of activities carried out during a day, starting from the geological context of the investigated site.

Who can apply

MSc students (in Geology, Environmental Sciences or similar fields), PhD candidates, Early-Stage Researchers, Professionals.

Application

Admission Requirements

Being MSc students, PhD candidates and early-stage researchers in Geology, Environmental Sciences or similar fields. Being professionals in the related field.
Knowledge of basic principles of Geology: hydrogeochemistry, hydrogeology, structural geology and geomorphology.
Proficiency in English.

NOTICE: Eligible participants will be admitted following a first come first served rule with subsequent payment of the tuition fees.

Required Documents

Identity Document (*PASSPORT in case you are a foreign student*)
Enrolment Form
Curriculum Vitae
Proof of tetanus vaccination
Medical certificate of physical fitness
Motivational Letter (compulsory only for those interested in the scholarship)

All the documents must be in pdf format, in order to upload them on the portal when required.

Application has to be submitted via Alice portal following the instructions of the “How to apply” page.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

15 January 2026: early bird application deadline for the request of the available tuition fee waiver
1 February 2026: notification of the awarding of the tuition fee waiver
1 March 2026: general application deadline

Fees

Tuition fees: 750 euro

Infomation about the payment method will be published in the coming weeks.

NOTICE:

The amount includes the accommodation on site from Monday to Friday morning.
Participants will be responsible to cover their own transportation cost from their family home to INSPE Corsica (Corte) – the meeting point for the Summer School – and the cost for their visa (if needed).

REFUND POLICY:

There will be no refund of paid tuition fees.

FUNDINGS:

There is one available tuition fee waiver granted by the Department of Earth Sciences.
To apply for the fee waiver interested candidates should submit together with all other required documents a motivation letter explaining the relevance of the Summer School in their academic/working career.
Participants interested in the scholarship have to submit their application by 5:00 pm (Italian time) of 15 January 2026.
Selections results will be notified by 1 February 2026.
Please write to the coordinators for further details.

Contacts

Coordinator
Prof. Viviana Re viviana.re@unipi.it
Dr. Maria Di Rosa maria.dirosa@unipi.it

Summer/Winter School Office support.summerschool@unipi.it

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Integrated Water Monitoring Assessment Across Time and Scale

Admission Requirements

Required Documents

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