Environmental risks come in many forms. Earthquakes and floods are the best known because they are the most common. But modern society is also threatened by other risks, such as climate change, solar storms, and the hazard of impacts from outer space. While the risks from these hazards are worldwide, disasters affect local communities, and an appropriate response to them must engage local communities. World-renowned experts in these fields will meet at Bacau University in May of 2012 to discuss these hazards, and engage the local community in addressing them.

• CLIMATE CHANGES
• RISK FROM SPACE ENVIRONMENT
• RISK FROM EARTH ENVIRONMENT

To encourage young scientists to participate in the conference a young investigators award program has been established in association with the conference, the top three students will receive free registration fees for the next European Geosciences Union (EGU) meeting (in 2013), and a diploma. The young investigators have to submit a high quality manuscripts/poster. In order to be considered, a candidate must:

• Provide documentation that they are either currently enrolled as a student, or have completed a PhD within the last five years
• Submit a senior-authored manuscript (five-page limit) for consideration
• The manuscript must be received by 1 April 2012

In 2011 the University "Vasile Alecsandri" of Bacau celebrated half a century of higher education. Its accomplishments have come in many fields of activity, from literature to mathematics and engineering. A flavor of current research on environmental risks will be brought by the well-known international scientists. "Vasile Alecsandri" has graciously agreed to host this meeting, which will engage students from this University, and other students from Romania and the Moldova Republic. University of Bacau can become, for a short time a meeting point between researchers, valuable academicians and young people eager for knowledge and for opening new horizons.
"Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi has an important research dimension. The permanent focus on interdisciplinary research, on innovation and knowledge transfer as well the quality of the research staff and their commitment for excellence has provided a constant dynamics of the research activities, and the recognition and visibility of the university at international level.