Marco Mucciarelli passed away

“It is with great sadness that I inform you that on November 7th, 2016, our esteemed and beloved colleague, Marco Mucciarelli, passed away” –  writes the President of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Prof. Maria Cristina Pedicchio – “The loss of Marco leaves an immeasurable gap as a man, a scientist and a friend; all the OGS staff is shocked by his departure and want to express its grief to the family, and close friends.”

Marco Mucciarelli graduated in Physics in 1983 at the University of Bologna. He worked as postgraduate, contract researcher and non-tenured professor at the Universities of Bologna and Siena; from 1987 to 1998 at ISMES S.p.A., as Head of the Seismology group. Since 1998 he was Associate professor of Geophysics at the Basilicata University; then since July 2012 he operated as Head of OGS Seismological Department CRS – Centro di Ricerche Sismologiche. His main research interest were: Statistical analysis of seismicity data; Estimate of seismic hazard for sites, areas and lifelines; RIS (Reservoir Induced Seismicity); Seismotectonic modelling; Site amplification and microzonation; building monitoring. He participated to E.U. funded projects: as Researcher SCENARIO (ENVIRONMENT), Novovoronezh NPP Seismic Hazard Estimate (TACIS), SEISMOCARE (ENVIRONMENT); Scientific Responsible of Chernobyl NPP Seismic Hazard Estimate (TACIS); Coordinator of FAUST (ENVIRONMENT).
In other main international projects Marco was Director of Nato Science for Peace project 980857, Assessment of seismic site amplification and building vulnerability in former Yougoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Croatia and Slovenia. In Italy, from 2000 and 2007 he coordinated: microzonation studied in more than 50 municipalities in Marche and Basilicata regions; the project "Scenari di scuotimento e di danno atteso in aree di interesse prioritario e/o strategico" in the framework of "Progetti Sismologici e Vulcanologici di interesse per il Dipartimento della Protezione Civile"; the PRIN Project "Tecniche semplificate per lo studio della risposta sismica di sito". From 2009 he participated to the microzonation studies for the recovery after the L’Aquila earthquake.
Beside his scientific interests, Marco was popular for the efforts spent in Teaching and Science Communication. He developed, with colleagues of ANPAS, DPC, INGV and RELUIS the National Campaign “I do not take the risk”, the 6th last edition involved hundreds of municipalities in Italy with about 7,000 volunteers in the squares for warnings the citizens. Marco’s blog was and will remain one of the few clear and loud voices for understanding earthquakes and raising the awareness of population.