My research focuses on applied ecology and environmental governance from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives, with the overall goal of contributing to a more integrated and sustainable environmental management. Research topics include: integrated water resources management, nature conservation (especially aquatic ecosystems and populations, e.g. coastal seas, wetlands, salt marshes, elasmobranch fish, rivers, urban watercourses), ecological restoration, reconstructed wetlands, nature based solutions, ecosystem services and underlying processes, ecosystem functioning, ecological modelling (of ecosystems, food webs, populations, water quality, ecosystem services, etc.), environmental impact assessment, fishery management, coastal governance, stakeholder engagement and participatory management, local ecological knowledge as a research and management tool, climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation. I am interested in the science-policy interface and the arts-science-policy nexus. 2022-present Associate Professor of Ecology, University of Padova - Dept. of Biology 2019-2022 Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Ecology, University of Padova - Dept. of Biology 2008-2011 Ph.D., University of Padova - Ph.D. School in Civil and Environmental Engineering Sciences 2006: Master Degree in Environmental Engineering, University of Padova I have worked in many EU-funded and international projects, such as: FP6 Incofish, FP7 KnowSeas, LIFE WSTORE2, LIFE ELIFE, LIFE VIMINE (vice PI), LIFE PROMETHEUS, Horizon2020 REST-COAST (local PI), Horizon Biocean5D, Interreg Italy-Slovenia ECO-SMART and ECO2SMART, EMFF Lagoon Stewardship (vice PI), Interreg Italy-Croatia FishNoWaste (PI), FSE+ Sviluppo di un sistema di supporto alle decisioni per una gestione multifunzionale e sostenibile delle risorse idriche nei corsi d'acqua urbani (PI). I am carrying out research within the RETURN Extended Partnership (Multi-risk science for resilient communities under a changing climate) and the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), funded within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU. Service (excerpta): 2021-ongoing, appointed G.A. representative for the University of Padova in the EuroMarine science network 2021-ongoing: representative for the Dept. of Biology – University of Padova in the participatory governance process “Contratto di area umida per la Laguna nord di Venezia” coordinated by IUAV University of Venice 2020-ongoing: coordinator of a Memorandum of Understanding between public bodies (University of Padova, Veneto Region, Provveditorato Interregionale alle Opere Pubbliche, Venice City, and Consorzio di Bonifica Acque Risorgive) to extend the salt marsh conservation actions of the concluded EU-funded project LIFE VIMINE to the whole Venice Lagoon

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My research focuses on applied ecology and environmental governance from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives, with the overall goal of contributing to a more integrated and sustainable environmental management. Research topics include: integrated water resources management, nature conservation (especially aquatic ecosystems and populations, e.g. coastal seas, wetlands, salt marshes, elasmobranch fish, rivers, urban watercourses), ecological restoration, reconstructed wetlands, nature based solutions, ecosystem services and underlying processes, ecosystem functioning, ecological modelling (of ecosystems, food webs, populations, water quality, ecosystem services, etc.), environmental impact assessment, fishery management, coastal governance, stakeholder engagement and participatory management, local ecological knowledge as a research and management tool, climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation. I am interested in the science-policy interface and the arts-science-policy nexus.

This is a general list of topics for bachelor/master thesis projects; depending on the project, work may be experimental (on field and/or in the lab) or desk-based work (modelling), or a combination of these approaches. More details are available upon request. Original ideas from students are very welcome. Possible working topics: - environmental governance - integrated water resources management - nature conservation (especially aquatic ecosystems and populations, e.g. coastal seas, wetlands, salt marshes, elasmobranch fish, rivers, streams, urban and periurban watercourses) - ecological restoration - nature based solutions and their multifunctional design/management (e.g. reconstructed wetlands) - ecosystem services and underlying physical, chemical and biological processes - urban ecology and ecosystems - invasive species - ecological modelling (of ecosystems, food webs, populations, water quality, ecosystem services, etc.) - environmental impact assessment - fishery management - coastal governance - stakeholder engagement and participatory management - local ecological knowledge as a research and management tool - historical ecology - climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation - science-policy interface - arts-science-policy nexus

Last update: 17/07/2025