Our Master Program is deeply entrenched in our Research Program

"Somewhere, something incredibile is waiting to be know" - Carl Sagan

“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.” - Carl Sagan

“We're made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” - Carl Sagan

“[My study of the universe] leaves little doubt that life has occurred on other planets. I doubt if the human race is the most intelligent form of life.” - Harold Urey

“Very high altitude astronomy only works by ignoring established biological science” - Steven Magee

“I have worked with some of the greatest minds in astrophysics and it is now clear that they were the dunces of astrobiology.” - Steven Magee

“Man must rise above the Earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond—for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.” - Socrates

“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.” - Edwin Hubble

“To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.” - Stephen Hawking

“It is we who live in the extreme environment.” - Thomas Gold

“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” - Carl Sagan

“There should be no boundaries to human endeavor.” - Stephen Hawking

“The origin of life is one of the great outstanding mysteries of science.” - Paul Davies

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” - John F. Kennedy

“Space is for everybody. It’s not just for a few people in science or math, or for a select group of astronauts. That’s our new frontier out there, and it’s everybody’s business to know about space.” - Christa McAuliffe

“Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.” - Mae Jemison

“I know the sky is not the limit because there are footprints on the Moon - and I made some of them!” - Buzz Aldrin

“We are limited only by our imagination and our will to act.” - Ron Garan

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Travel with us to some of the most remote locations of our planet!

Our graduate program is deeply influenced by our research activity. The University of Naples Federico II has a long tradition in the study of the biology, geology and chemistry of extreme environments, and over the decades has significantly contributed to the understanding of the limit of life, the function of our planet and the sustainable use of the biological resources found in extreme locations.

Our faculty are daring, visionary thinkers, actively engaged in research at the frontiers of the subjects they are teaching, creating intellectual excitement and providing cutting-the-edge insight to the students. Ongoing research includes a range of diverse topics aiming at understanding the functioning, resources as well as exploration potential of extreme environments.

Our research is motivated by a series of simple yet transformative questions:

What is the contribution of extreme environments to biogeochemical cycling and planetary habitability?

What is the taxonomic and functional diversity in these diverse ecosystems?

How representative are these environments of early Earth conditions? Can we better understand life emergence and evolution using extreme environments as models?

Do extreme environments hold the key to the next big biotechnological or biomedical discovery? How can we improve the sustainable exploration of their biological resources?

What are the limits of life? What they can teach us about life in the universe?

How common are Earth-like conditions throughout the universe? Are extreme environments a good proxy to study extraterrestrial environments?

What will be the impact of human space exploration? How can we prepare for it?

To answer these questions we are actively involved in a number of different research projects. From the study of the chemical precursors of life’s molecules, to the emergence and evolution of microbial metabolism. From the diversity and ecosystem functioning of some of the most extreme environments of our planet, to the study of the adaptation of Earth’s organisms to space conditions. From the problems associated with crop production in microgravity to the study of nutritional effects of space travel.

Our faculty work at the forefront of their discipline. They are actively involved in collaborations with national parks for conservation actions, biotechnological companies for the development of new enzymes, international research centers and space agencies. On-going research spans the depths of the deep-sea, Antarctica and the Arctic circle as well as shallow-water hydrothermal vents, hot springs, active volcanoes and desert environments. To get a sense of the ongoing projects head our faculty profile page and visit their websites. Our social media channels are also a good place where to get a sense about the ongoing research and the activities of the new master program.