The BIP is hosted by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and is focused on-field activities and new field methods and techniques. This way, the students will be better trained, exposed to the academic and cultural experience of different universities and countries, will learn new techniques and acquire more qualifications for the job market.

The physical activities of the programme will be field-based, training students on climate change effects on Mediterranean landscapes, including:

• geomorphological risks in coastal zones such as storm floods and erosion,
• nature-based solutions (NBS),
• sea-level rise,
• coastal erosion,
• adaptation and mitigation strategies,
• human-induced impacts.

The 5-day field part will be held on the island of Naxos in Aegean Archipelago - Greece. The entire area is already affected by climate change. The vegetation, the runoff erosion, the flash flood events, the desertification and coastal erosion - they all prove that. The coastal landscape provides spectacular examples of sea-level fluctuations, sea-level indicators of former sea level stands, the interaction between landscape and humans from antiquity until nowadays and well-developed coastal landforms. The active geomorphology, the processes including tectonics are amazingly self-explanatory and it's a unique example for students to better understand the landscape evolution and the effect of climate change to landscape. The area gives an excellent opportunity for discussions about adaptation and mitigation strategies and natural-based solutions. 

The virtual part will combine online pre-recorded lectures and activities with online instructor-led discussions. The virtual component will give students the theoretical background on the subjects of this course but virtually introduce them to the study area of the physical mobility. 

The physical component will take place between 28 October - 1 November 2024 and will be divided into two main parts: the field activities and the laboratory activities. The list below indicates the main subjects that will be discussed and the main activities in the field and in the lab:

• Beachrocks as sea level indicators: how to map them, how to sample them- Coastal erosion and methods
• Coastal evolution. Mapping and sampling
• Coastal geomorphological mapping using GIS tools
• Coastal processes, coastal evolution, discussion
• Future of lagoons
• Palaeogeographical evolution / reconstruction
• Protection of coastal vulnerable environments
• Sand dunes: natural vs human-induced factors
• The role of beachrocks for coastal protection
• Vulnerability
• Aerial photography-aerial photogrammetry
• Analysing coastline based on RTK -GNSS measurements
• Analysing data collected in the field
• Cross section development
• Mapping coastline
• RTK cross sections, RTK-GNSS mapping sand dunes
• Core sampling

Some of the tools/ methods used during the field activities are: ArcGIS field maps, sampling hard coastal formations (e.g. beachrocks), core analysis, drone, GIS, MIKE software, morphological mapping, numerical simulation/ wave propagation. 

Τhe virtual component will be preparatory to set the basis for a better understanding of the physical part. It will introduce students to the theoretical background on coastal zone processes, landforms and evolution, climate change and its effects on the coastal Mediterranean landscape. It will include live presentations but also asynchronous training tools such as multimedia material and recorded lectures.

The online section will also include a virtual fieldtrip provided by the tutors of the host institution, as well as virtual reality tools to 'visit' in advance the sites included in the physical component. The aim is for the students to be acquainted with the study sites prior to the physical mobility so that, once in filed, the focus to be on the application and training in methods and techniques in coastal geomorphological topics.

Some of the topics covered in this part:

• Climate change and landscape evolution
• Coastal processes- Coastal landforms
• Coastal evolution
• Vulnerability based on the geomorphic hazards
• The role of tectonics to the landscape
• Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
• Introduction to the Cyclades environment and the evolution of Naxos coastal zone