Laboratory Details

Laboratory of Experimental Tectonics

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The Laboratory of Experimental Tectonics (LET) is based at the Department of Sciences of the University “Roma TRE”. LET was established in 1994, following the international tradition of experimental modeling, and it was the first Italian analog laboratory.
The scientific work of the LET is centered around five main research themes:

1. crustal deformations (orogenic and rifting processes);
2. lithospheric deformations (subduction, delamination, post-glacial rebound);
3. magmatic processes (volcano-tectonics and intrusive processes)
4. rupture and propagation of faults in the crust/lithosphere;
5. landscapes as interaction between tectonic and geomorphological processes.

The LET research group thus focuses on studying a wide range of process with both theoretical goals and direct applications to natural hazards. The availability of a rheometer and a ring shear tester allows for the selection and the rheological characterization of analog materials.

The recent improvements in logistics and structure of the LET, along with the development of quantification techniques, have strengthened the wide range of national and international collaborations, increasing both their quality and quantity. The LET is thus a reference analog laboratory in the scientific community. This is also mirrored by the involvement of the LET in numerous scientific projects (e.g., PRIN-MIUR, National Civil Protection, EC, NSF, ESF, EUROHORC) and outreach activities (e.g., Committee on Education EGU, Geo&Geo, Discovery’s Science Channel, RAI). Moreover, the LET researchers have received numerous awards for their high-quality scientific work. Some of these awards include the EURYI award in 2006, the Burgen Scholar Award in 2009, the Premio Galileo in 2010, the Prix Viquesnel in 2013, the EGU Stephan Muller medal in 2014, the EGU Outstanding Early Career Scientists Award in 2018, the Burov medal in 2018, the AGU medal 2018, the Beniamino Segre Award in 2019, the Francis Birch Lecturer Award in 2019, the EGU Marie Tharp medal in 2022 and the EGU Holmes medal in 2024..