FERS School
14–18 December 2026 | Milan, CMCC Foundation office – via Solari 11, scala 19, 20144, Italy
More information and application
Climate change poses growing risks to cultural heritage, affecting not only historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, but also the traditional practices, knowledge and ways of life associated with them. Hydroclimatic extremes, including floods, droughts and extreme precipitation, pose growing risks to both tangible and intangible heritage. At the same time, cultural heritage represents a valuable reservoir of knowledge, experience and practices that can inform adaptation strategies and contribute to building more resilient and sustainable futures.
The course will explore the links between cultural heritage, climate change and societal resilience, highlighting the role of heritage in shaping inclusive and equitable adaptation pathways. Participants will examine the opportunities and limitations of innovative tools and technologies for protecting cultural heritage, as well as the financing mechanisms and investment opportunities needed to support its long-term resilience. The 5-days school will also explore how knowledge, tools and innovative approaches can be translated into practice, considering the conditions that enable their adoption and sustained use. Particular attention will be given to climate justice, considering how climate impacts and heritage loss intersect with social inequalities, multiple crises and the vulnerabilities of different communities.
Through testimonies, interdisciplinary exchange and collaborative group work around the theme “The Heritage of the Future”, the school will encourage participants to connect scientific evidence, traditional knowledge and community perspectives, exploring how cultural heritage can contribute to climate adaptation, social justice and sustainable futures, and collaboratively develop future-oriented approaches to heritage-climate nexus resilience, considering their practical implementation. It will contribute to the broader ambition to strengthen understanding of the societal dimensions of climate change and support more inclusive and equitable responses.
The School is organised by CMCC Foundation, within the Advanced Training and Education Center (ATEC)’s Future Earth Research School (FERS) in the framework of SD-WISHEES project and funded by the EU.
The Future Earth Research School (FERS) is a permanent initiative of CMCC Foundation, coordinated by its Advanced Training and Education Center (ATEC). It offers advanced, specialised scientific courses, designed to equip early-career researchers and professionals with the tools and skills needed to understand and anticipate future global environmental challenges.
SD-WISHEES is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101095322). It aims to enable strategic coordination and cross-sector collaboration between national funding members, researchers, innovators, and a variety of stakeholders to address together the protection of cultural heritage in Europe and beyond in response to more and more frequent and severe hydroclimatic extreme events.