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Team

Dr. Luigi Ceccaroni

MICS scientific coordinator

Luigi manages innovation and strategic research at Earthwatch, the independent research organisation which coordinates MICS from Oxford, UK. He was vice-chair of the European Citizen Science Association until 2020. If you have a complaint about MICS, this is the person you want to talk to (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).


Claire Williams

Senior Programme Manager at Earthwatch

Claire has worked at Earthwatch for over 10 years in various Programme Management roles.

She has led a number of Earthwatch’s large corporate engagement programmes and is now managing the four EU H2020 projects Earthwatch is involved in; GroundTruth 2.0, MONOCLE, EU-Citizen.Science and MICS.

She has a BSc in Biology and MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Leeds.


Dr. Uta Wehn

Associate Professor of Water Innovation Studies, IHE Delft

Dr. Uta Wehn is Associate Professor of Water Innovation Studies in the Integrated Water Systems and Governance Department at IHE Delft. She is a social scientist from the field of science, technology & innovation studies, with a background in ICTs. Her work at the intersection of data and knowledge co-creation, digital innovations, and water and environment focuses the social dynamics of innovation and how to harness digital transformations for participatory environmental governance and sustainable development. Her current Citizen Science projects include case studies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, using LivingLabs principles and tailoring user-centred and multi-stakeholder co-design methods to Citizen Science.


Dr Hannah Joyce

Science and Technical Officer, River Restoration Centre

Hannah Joyce is a fluvial geomorphologist, exploring the dynamic interactions between sediment, flow and channel morphology to support process-based river management and restoration. Hannah completed her PhD at Durham University, which involved using historical sources of information and remotely sensed data, coupled with detailed field investigations to understand channel planform adjustment patterns and controls over the last 150 years on 270 rivers in the Lake District, UK. Hannah’s role at the River Restoration Centre involves providing technical advice relating to fluvial geomorphology and river restoration as well as developing research opportunities and training courses. Hannah is interested in working with academics, stakeholders and the public to understand river processes and implement river restoration.


Balázs Kozák

Project Manager, Geonardo

Balázs is an Environmental Engineer and holds an MSc in Regional and Environmental Economics both from Budapest University of Technology and Economics, where Balázs is completing a specialized degree on Urbanism. He studied at Lund University, Technical University of Vienna and at the University of Graz too. Balázs has experience in INTERREG CENTRAL-EUROPE project development and took part in FP7, H2020, LIFE and INTERREG projects as a researcher and project manager. He has gained experience in the field of sustainable urban energy planning, urban mobility, local climate change and adaptation, and local sustainability. He is an active member of several NGOs at local and at regional level.


Dr. Bruna Gumiero

Fluvial Ecologist

Dr. Bruna Gumiero is a fluvial ecologist with over 30 years of experience. Currently she holds a position as adjunct professor at the University of Bologna (Italy) and provides environmental consultancy in various projects. She is co-founder of CIRF (Italian Center for River Restoration) in 1999, and was a member of European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR) Board between 2005 and 2011. She led national (in collaboration with University of Florence) and international (EU projects ERMAS, NICOLAS, with Consortium Acque Risorgive and Veneto Agricoltura Autorithies) research projects focussed on river restoration and water management. She organized and chaired the Scientific and Technical Committee of the IVth ECRR International Conference on River Restoration 2008 in Venice. Currently she is leading and developing citizen science activities in Italy mainly focused on freshwater ecosystems in partnership with CIFLA (Fondazione Flamina Center for innovation). Her research has led to about 60 peer-reviewed, popular science publications and policy briefs.


Albert Scrieciu

Scientific Researcher, GeoEcoMar

Albert Scrieciu is an environmental geologist and his main expertise is on sediment studies for river, deltaic and coastal present-day systems, dealing also with hydrological measurements and data interpretation. He obtained his BSc degree in Geological Engineering from University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, and MSc degree in Environmental Geological Engineering from the same University. He uses his work experience in geo-ecology for the better management of natural protected areas, from the Danube wetlands to the Danube Delta, which is also part of his PhD work on “Management of Protected Geological Areas” at the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest.

Albert has been working at GeoEcoMar for seven years and from 2016 he is coordinating the “Danube River Research Team”. He is also Partner coordinator in H2020 projects NAIAD, MONOCLE and MICS and has experience in FP7, CBC and INTERREG research projects, working also at the preparation of the ESFRI proposal for the International Centre for Advanced Studies for River-Delta-Sea systems – DANUBIUS-RI.

His fieldwork activities help him to gain durable and solid collaborations with the main stakeholders from Danube River – Danube Delta – Black Sea macro-geo-system.


Dr. James Sprinks

Senior Research Manager, Earthwatch

Dr James Sprinks is a Senior Researcher in Citizen Science at Earthwatch Europe, based in Oxford, UK. His research considers how citizen science platforms can be designed and implemented to both ensure that the data generated is in a usable format and scientifically robust, while still maintaining a user experience that results in volunteers enjoying and learning from the process. This process encompasses elements of environmental science, remote sensing, Human-Computer Interaction, GIS, ergonomics and human factors research.

With a background in astrophysics and planetary science, James has previously been a part of several European projects including i-mars.eu and provide-space.eu, taking the role of project coordinator for two citizen science platforms; Mars in Motion and Planet Four: Craters. He is also interested in in scientific outreach and education and how novel display and interaction techniques in public spaces can be used to facilitate the process. To this end, he is a Co-PI of the MarsCAPE project (www.marscape.wordpress.com), An engaging and informative display that communicates key aspects of the Martian landscape to the public, including the nature and scale of landscape forms, using a unique combination of physical landscape models and synchronised 3D perspective views.


Dr. Sasha Woods

Researcher - Impact and Innovation, Earthwatch

Sasha Woods is Researcher for Impact and Innovation at Earthwatch. In the MICS project she leads WP5, the work package focused on dissemination and outreach. Sasha has a background in scientific research; she obtained a BSc in Natural Sciences from the University of Birmingham, an MSc in Reproductive and Developmental Biology from Imperial College London, and a PhD in Medicine from the University of Bristol.


Stephen Parkinson

Earthwatch

Stephen is a Research Assistant at Earthwatch. Previously, he coordinated research for FreshWater Watch, a water quality citizen-science project run by Earthwatch. Stephen obtained a BA degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge (UK).


Dr. Marc Naura

Science and Technical Manager, River Restoration Centre

Dr Marc Naura is an ecologist, geomorphologist and Decision Support System (DSS) software developer. He did his research on ecological and habitat modelling and decision support development with a specific reference to the organisational and cultural factors affecting the uptake of DSS in organisation. He has a wide range of interest in topics related to the application of science in organisations and with the public. He is trained both in ecology, geography and statistical science as well as anthropology. Marc’s task at the RRC is to deliver science and technology to third sector organisations and members of the public. He has published in ecology, geography, modelling and DSS development.


Martin Janes

Managing Director, River Restoration Centre

Martin Janes has 22 years of experience focussed on delivering river restoration on the ground, liaising with local communities, involving businesses and members of the public, and influencing government agencies and local authorities. As such, he has extensive experience in co-designing and delivering projects with and for the public and he has advised on over 150 projects ranging from small stream enhancements to large river restoration schemes


Dr. Steven Loiselle

Senior Research Manager at Earthwatch and an Associate Professor at the University of Siena (Italy)

Dr Steven Loiselle has led international research projects on Mediterranean coastal lakes (MEDCODYN), Great Lakes in Africa (ECOTOOLS, EAGLO), wetlands in the Paraná delta (IBERA, REGWET) and shallow lakes in the Yangtze valley (CarboLakes, BioGeoLakes). At present, he is leading Earthwatch’s global FreshWater Watch programme, which brings together more than 40 agency and research institutes and supporting the monitoring and management of 2000 waterbodies on six continents. He has developed a range of analytical and monitoring techniques that combine Earth observation and in-situ approaches to manage risks and degradation of aquatic ecosystems. His research has led to more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, as well as numerous book chapters and publications for the general public.


Ömer Ceylan

Chief Operating Officer, Geonardo

Ömer has more than 10 years of international experience in conceiving and implementing EU-funded projects and EC contracts, predominantly under the EU’s research and innovation programmes (FP6/7, Horizon 2020, CIP, LIFE). He oversees the implementation of GEO’s projects, coordinating a multidisciplinary team of project managers. Earlier he was involved in the strategic development and implementation of communication campaigns in the field of the environment under contract with DG ENV, and acted as an expert for the LIFE+ Information Sessions in Malta and UK under contract with DG ENV’s LIFE Units. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing targeted capacity-building activities and communication campaigns within the framework of projects in the energy and environmental fields. Ömer is an Environmental Engineer graduated from Istanbul Technical University and holds an MSc in Environmental Management from Aalborg University.


Francesco Zaffanella

AAWA

Francesco Zaffanella is a civil hydraulic engineer graduated at University of Padua. He also follow a specific course on the Landscape management. He collaborated to many international projects related to flood risk and crisis management and crowdsourced/EO data assimilation (H2020 projects: beAWARE, EOPEN, WeObserve). His main scientific interests focus on hydrometeorology, flood risk, hydrological-hydraulic modelling 1D and 2D, water resources management modelling, flood forecasting systems, flash-flood modelling, groundwater modelling, EartObservation Data management. Author of several articles. He is also a Civil Protection Volunteer with experience in several emergencies (flood, earthquakes), and he is a former for the National Civil Protection Deparment.


Dr. Laura Dal Pozzo

AAWA

Dr. Laura Dal Pozzo works for the Eastern Alps District Basin Authority as a naturalist. She graduated from Padua University, specializing in natural science teaching, and also studied at the University of Rome III. She deals with public communication, consultation and public participation on water management and flood risk. She coordinates the external communication activities of the Authority and designs and organizes courses for teachers and educational interventions in secondary schools. She organizes information campaigns for the public, information and educational activities, web information pages, editing and content for dissemination material.
She has over twenty years of experience in organizing exhibitions on water resources for schools, events for the Water Days and Science Weeks, environmental teaching activities in educational and museum centres with proposals tailored to the different types of public (adults, school groups, tourists, disabled people) and educational activities (scientific laboratories, educational outings).
She has designed and prepared educational materials in the museum environment. She has also supervised projects for the protection of the territory with particular attention to the naturalistic-environmental aspects, the contents and editing of educational panels and information material for nature trails. She is a Bureau Veritas certified Auditor for the ISO 14001 standard and also an environmental-naturalistic guide in field.


Dr. Daniele Norbiato

AAWA

He is a civil hydraulic engineer and PhD in Environmental Hydronomy at University of Padua. He is in the AAWA team that developed an innovative geomorphoclimatic hydrological model and realised an operative Flood Forecasting System for Veneto Regional Civil protection's Emergency Control Centre. He was involved in the redaction and implementation of the Flood Risk Management Plan of the AAWA District (flood directive 2007/60/EC). He was involved in many Civil Protection activities in case of natural disasters. He collaborated to many international projects related to flood risk and crisis management and crowdsourced/EO data assimilation (H2020 projects: beAWARE, EOPEN, WeObserve; FP7 projects: KultuRisk, WeSenseIt; ESA projects: CROWD4SAT) and water resources management projects (FP7 MARSOL; LIFE07 TRUST). His main scientific interests focus on hydrometeorology, flood risk, hydrological-hydraulic modelling 1D-2D, water resources management modelling, flood forecasting systems, flash-flood modelling. Author of several articles.


Michele Ferri

Manager, AAWA

Michele Ferri is responsible for the applied hydrological emergency field in AAWA, coordinating scientific activities with Regional Civil protection's Emergency Control Centre. He completed postdoctoral research in Hydrodynamic and environmental modelling at the University of Padua. He was responsible for AAWA in FP7 projects (KULTURisk, WeSenseIt, MARSOL) and in CROWD4SAT (ESA project). Currently he is responsible for AAWA in H2020 projects (beAWARE, EOPEN, WeObserve).

Previous team members

Katrin Nolland

Project Manager at Earthwatch

Katrin is a Project Manager at Earthwatch and has a background in running projects for various NGOs. She manages several EU Horizon 2020 projects that Earthwatch is involved in and managed MICS from 2020 - 2021. She has a BA in International Cruise Management and a MA in Sustainable Tourism Management.


Dr John Wheatland

Science and Technical Officer, River Restoration Centre

John is a sedimentologist interested in how the physical properties of aquatic sediments influence their transport behaviour, and once settled, the development and stability of fluvial landforms. Before joining the River Restoration Centre John worked as a researcher at Queen Mary University of London, developing multi-scale 3D imaging methodologies to characterise suspended sediment aggregates. He has an interest in data visualisation and science communication and training.


Dr. Mohammad Gharesifard

Postdoctoral Researcher, IHE Delft

Mohammad Gharesifard is a postdoctoral researcher at IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. He has a background in Water Resources Management and several years of consultancy and project management work experience in water and sanitation projects. Since 2014 he has been conducting research in the context of a number of EU-FP7 and Horizon 2020 research & innovation projects, including WeSenseIt, Ground Truth 2.0 and WeObserve. Mohammad is interested in qualitative and quantitative research about social, institutional, technological and political aspects of water and environmental management, as well as research in the areas of sustainable development, participatory governance processes, citizen science, stakeholder engagement and co-creation of knowledge.


Dr. Stéfani Novoa Gautier

Earthwatch

Stéfani was Research and Evaluation Manager at Earthwatch’s Science, Policy & Innovation group and was a member of the MICS project team from the project kick-off (January 2019) till August 2019. She has participated in European research projects on citizens' observatories for the coast and ocean monitoring (Citclops), coastal water remote sensing (HIGHROC) and integrative systems for assessing and restoring aquatic ecosystems (WISER). She has published several peer-reviewed articles in the field of remote sensing of aquatic environments and marine pollution.