Scientific reserach on natural disasters is now implementing new methodologies and aproaches as consequences of: 1. mutating impact of extreme natural events in response to societal change like land use, lifelines, communications, transportation, etc.; 2. development which claim for new urban and industrial territories, often in hazard prone areas; 3. impact of modern society on natural climate variability (climate change) and con sequently, on spatial and temporal frequency of extreme events related to hydro logical cycle. As consequence of the above mentioned items it is necessary to develop a global approach to territory in order to understand reciprocous influence between climate dynamics with their extreme consequences like floods and landslides and socio-eco nomic development. In such a way, and in response to societal change, scientific re search on floods and landslides is beginning to loose the classical mono disciplinary approach and it is starting to be a science of the hydrological processes. The course on "Floods and Landslides: integrated risk assessment" held in Orvieto (Italy) 19-26 may 1996, has been organised by the European Commission specifically with the aim of transferring to young European scientists these new views, in order to contribute to a future scientific community, capable to face with the future environ mental problems.
