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.