Scientific Committee

MARIO SPROVIERI

Director of CNR-ISMAR, ITALY

Chair, Scientific Committee

Biography

Mario Sprovieri is Director of ISMAR-CNR and holds a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the University of Palermo. He has served as Professor at the Universities of Palermo and Naples and as a visiting scientist at the Southampton Oceanography Centre and the University of Barcelona. His research focuses on marine pollution, chemical tracers in the Mediterranean, and paleoceanography using multi-proxy approaches. He has coordinated and participated in numerous national and international projects and oceanographic expeditions. He authored over 220 peer-reviewed publications.

PAULA BONTEMPI

Professor, University of Rhode Island – Graduate School of Oceanography

Biography

Paula Bontempi is a Professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. She served as Dean from 2020-2025. Prior, she served as acting deputy director, physical scientist, and program manager in the Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Scientific interests include Earth/ocean remote sensing, phytoplankton ecology, marine bio-optics, ocean worlds, ocean economics, and sensor development. She holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography. She is a Fellow and President of The Oceanography Society, and the inaugural Chair of an ocean advocacy coalition, the Research and Education Coalition for Ocean Sciences.

CHRIS BOWLER

Director of research, CNRS, FRANCE

Biography

Chris Bowler is a CNRS research director and head of the Phytogenomics Laboratory at the Institut de biologie de l’École normale supérieure in Paris. Trained in Ghent and at Rockefeller University, he has led research groups in Italy and France. He is member of scientific academies in France and Italy, and recipient of major distinctions including the CNRS Silver Medal and ERC Advanced Grants. His research focuses on marine diatoms, and he is scientific director of the Tara Oceans project.

VITTORIO ERNESTO BRANDO

Research Director of CNR-ISMAR, ITALY

Biography

Dr. Vittorio E. Brando graduated cum Laude in Environmental Sciences in Venice in 1995 and obtained a PhD in Environmental Systems Modelling in Padua in 2000. His research activities focus on optical oceanography and earth observation of optically complex waters in inland, coastal and marine environments.
Dr. Brando is Dirigente di Ricerca (Research Director) at CNR-ISMAR in Rome where he leads optical and satellite oceanography activities within the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service and in several European collaborative projects.

FABRIZIO D’ORTENZIO

Senior Scientist of CNRS / SORBONNE UNIVERSITY, FRANCE

Biography

Fabrizio D’Ortenzio is a physical oceanographer, specializing in physical-biological interactions. His research integrates satellite and in-situ data to study how physical dynamics interact with biogeochemical cycles. Since 2022, he has served as the director of GdR OMER, a CNRS initiative dedicated to promoting interdisciplinarity in marine science. He is also involved in the leadership of the French Ocean Observing System initiative.

JEAN-MARC DANIEL

Deputy Director in charge of strategy of IFREMER, FRANCE

Biography

JM Daniel is the Deputy Director of Ifremer. He holds a PhD in Earth Sciences. He began his career at IFPEN. His research focused on characterising natural fractures and basins for geomechanical modelling.

In 2015, he joined Ifremer as Director of Physical Resources and the Seabed at ISblue, the interdisciplinary research school in marine science and technology at UBO. He is currently Chief Scientist of the Neptune Mission and co-directs the French Deep Sea Centre of Excellence.

SIRI GRANUM CARSON

Professor, NTNU, NORWAY

Biography

Siri Granum Carson is Professor of Applied Ethics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her primary research area is organizational ethics and responsibility, and she teaches professional ethics across disciplines and organizational levels. As co-chair of EOREA (the European Ocean Research and Education Alliance) she is strongly committed to transdisciplinary collaboration and transformative ocean research and innovation. She was director of NTNU Oceans (2020-2024) and chair of the national committee for the UN Ocean Decade in Norway (2021-2025).

SIEGLINDE GRUBER

Active Senior Advisor of EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Biography

Sigi Gruber worked for more than 30 years at the European Commission in senior management roles, leading international R&I cooperation with the Americas, India and other regions worldwide. In the last decade of her career, she focused on advancing marine R&I strategies and funding initiatives, including the European Ocean & Waters Mission and the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance. Now Active Senior Adviser to the European Commission and co-founder of OceanBRIDGES, she continues to promote a healthy ocean and seas, intergenerational dialogues and global marine cooperation.

PATRIZIO MARIANI

Professor at the DTU, DENMARK

Biography

Dr. Patrizio Mariani, Professor at the Technical University of Denmark leading the group on Observation Technology at DTU Aqua, focusing on the development of ocean technology supporting the next generation integrated ecosystem assessments, linking marine sensor technology, automation and robotics, ocean modeling and applications. He is vice-chair of the European Marine Board, former President of EUROMARINE, principal investigator in several national international research and innovation projects, including scietific coordinator of EU H2020 MISSION ATLANTIC.

ALBERTO NAVEIRA GARABATO

Regius Professor of Ocean Sciences, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON, UK

Biography

Alberto Naveira Garabato is a physical oceanographer focused on the processes governing ocean circulation and its role in climate. He is the Regius Professor of Ocean Sciences at the University of Southampton, and an Honorary Fellow of the British Antarctic Survey.

EVANGELOS PAPATHANASIOU

Senior Active Advisor of HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH, GREECE

Biography

Evangelos Papathanassiou was a Research Director of HCMR. He worked in ecotoxicology, marine biology and ecology and was the coordinator in more than 30 projects, including the EU Projects IASON, SESAME-IP and PERSEUS. He was a National Expert in the EC and for 3 years the Project Manager for Marine and Coastal in EEA. He was the project manager in the RED SEA and NEOM projects for the Red Sea and member of the scientific and advisory committees of EU Programs and initiatives. 

ARISTOMENIS KARAGEORGIS

Director and President of HCMR, GREECE

Biography

Aristomenis P. Karageorgis is a sea-going oceanographer with over 30 years of research experience in sedimentology, geochemistry, and marine optics. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, which have garnered over 2,900 citations and an h-index of 33. Since 2010, he has served as Greece’s National Focal Point to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. Dr. Karageorgis was Director of the Institute of Oceanography at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) from 2018 to 2025 and is currently the Director of HCMR and President of its board.

GIAN MARCO LUNA

Institute Director of CNR IRBIM, ITALY

Biography

Director of CNR IRBIM since December 2020. He holds a PhD in Marine Biology and Ecology. He has coordinated and participated in numerous national and international projects and expeditions, has been a visiting scientist abroad, and is author of over 100 scientific publications. His research focuses on marine ecosystems, particularly the role of marine microorganisms and biodiversity in the ecosystem functioning, and their response to human impact and global change.

MAURIZIO RIBERA

Associate Resercher at SZN and ISMAR-CNR

Biography

Research Fellow at SZN with expertise in marine biogeochemistry and plankton ecology. Formerly the Head of the Laboratory of Biological Oceanography at SZN, he has taught at several Naples universities and has a distinguished record in advanced training, mentoring over 70 graduate students. He participated in numerous research programs, often as coordinator, and serves as an expert reviewer for national and international calls. His research currently explores the structure and internal interactions of plankton webs.

PAOLA MALANOTTE RIZZOLI

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA

Biography

Physical Oceanographer specializing in theoretical/numerical modeling of oceanic/atmospheric phenomena; coupled regional climate models (Indonesian Continent) for prediction of future climate scenarios. Recipient of Recognition Award of the Italian Government for contributing to the fourth IPCC Report, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Working (1971-present) on modeling/prediction of extreme events flooding Venice and the construction of MOSE barriers as consultant of Venice Consorzio Venezia Nuova, 1995-2014

JAVIER RUIZ

INSTITUTO ESPAÑOL DE OCEANOGRAFÍA (IEO-CSIC), SPAIN

Biography

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BARIS SALIHOGLU

Director of INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCES of METU, TURKEY

Biography

Prof. Barış Salihoğlu is a physical oceanographer and the Director of METU Institute of Marine Sciences, METU CLIMATE Center, and national Research Infrastructure DEKOSIM (Centre for Marine Ecosystems and Climate Research). He has extensive experience in coordinating major EU projects such as Black Sea CONNECT CSA and BRIDGE-BS RIA.

ADRIAN STANICA

Director General of GEOECOMAR, ROMANIA

Biography

Adrian Stanica is currently the Director General of GeoEcoMar (Romanian National Inst. Of Marine Geology and Geo-ecology) and Interim Director of DANUBIUS-ERIC (International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems). He is a marine geologist, with expertise in coastal sedimentology, coastal processes, impact of human activities and climate change on river-delta-lagoon- coastal areas. Involved in the development and implementation of the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (coordinator of H2020 DOORS project).

JOAQUIN TINTORÈ

IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), SPAIN

Biography

Associated Scientific Coordination & Methodology

In addition to the Scientific Committee members, the following contributors have played a central role in the scientific design, coordination process, and methodological foundations of the Symposium.

ELENA GISSI

Senior scientist, National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR ISMAR)

Dr. Gissi is a Senior Scientist at CNR ISMAR and Co-Director of the Gendered Innovations in Science, Health & Medicine, Engineering and the Environment project at Stanford University, USA. Her expertise lies in conservation biology and conservation planning for social-ecological systems, with a research focus on natural resource management and sustainability science through interdisciplinary approaches. She works with decision-makers and communities to identify needs and develop science-based solutions and serves as an expert for the UNESCO-IOC Initiative on Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management and the Italian Maritime Spatial Planning process.

Biography

PATRICIA SCLAFANI

CNR–ISMAR, Scientific Programme Coordination & Institutional Liaison

Responsible for the overall coordination of the Symposium’s scientific programme, supporting the Scientific Committee in programme development, institutional engagement, and strategic implementation.

Biography