The Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences (DISAT) was established on October 1, 2012, through the merger of the Departments of Environmental and Land Sciences and Geological Sciences; from its name, DISAT declares its objectives in the scientific field: to develop and improve research both in environmental and geological areas, maximizing synergies between the two areas. As of February 1, 2024, DISAT comprises 43 geologists, 25 biologists, 19 chemists, 4 physicists, 3 engineers, and 2 agronomists, belonging to 30 different scientific-disciplinary sectors, as well as 28 technicians.

The scientific level of research conducted at DISAT has been judged very positively in the last rounds of Research Quality Evaluation (VQR 2011-2014 and VQR 2015-2019), resulting in recognition as a Department of Excellence following the presentation and positive evaluation of five-year projects (2018-2022 and 2023-2027) aimed at developing an interdisciplinary approach to the study of climate change.

DISAT has several ongoing projects aimed at enhancing research outputs, including various patent applications with industrial partnerships. It is well integrated with entrepreneurial activities in the region, providing a wide range of analytical services. The department's staff and its laboratories (some of which are of European excellence) have several agreements for third-party activities with external public and private clients. The staff also provides high-profile consultancy services for foreign entities and institutions and contributes to the training and updating of skills for workers and professionals.