The CNR Working Group on Planetary Geosciences met in Rome
On March 23, 2026, the meeting of the CNR Planetary Geosciences Working Group (GdL CNR GSP), coordinated by M.T. Brunetti and U. Cortesi, was held in the Marconi Room at the CNR Headquarters in Rome (Piazzale Aldo Moro, 7).
The meeting served as an important opportunity for discussion and professional development for the scientific community engaged in the study of planetary sciences, bringing together researchers from institutes within four departments of the CNR (DSSTTA, DDITET, DISBA, and DSB), the Universities of Chieti-Pescara, Florence, Padua, and Perugia, INAF, and ASI.
The morning session featured three invited presentations focusing on some of the field’s most significant topics: the potential of extreme polar environments as analogues of astrobiological interest; the use of analog sites (lava tubes) and lunar simulators in preparation for future exploration; and the prospects for applying atmospheric models and data assimilation techniques from Earth science to other planetary environments.
Next, the new members of the working group were introduced; they outlined their contributions to the group in terms of expertise and shared infrastructure, attesting to the growth and consolidation of the group within the Italian planetary research community.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to ongoing activities, with presentations on the CNR’s editorial project on Planetary Geosciences, the MARS-LAVA project—a winner of a PRORIS grant—and prospects for collaboration between the CNR GSP Working Group and the PNRR EMM (Earth-Moon-Mars) research infrastructure. The session concluded with an open discussion on new proposals and opportunities for collaboration.
For more info: https://dta.cnr.it/gruppi-di-lavoro/geoscienze-planetarie/
