Profile

Ricardo Serrão Santos [RSS] is a Doctor in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Liverpool. He is a Principal Honorary Scientist at the Institute OKEANOS, University of the Azores. RSS was a Member of the European Parliament [2014-2019] and Minister of the Sea of the XXII Government of Portugal [2019-2022]. RSS has been Pro-Rector/Dean at the University of the Azores [2003-2014], Director of the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries [1997-2011] and President of IMAR-Institute of Marine Research [2006-2014]—chair of European and Vice-Chair of European Marne Board. RSS is dedicated to the study of marine biodiversity and ocean ecosystems. It has more than 400 published works, including more than 230 papers in SCI. RSS has supervised around 25 PhD students and 23 Postdocs. RSS has been member of several international Steering Committees. RSS has been a member of the Scientific Council for Natural Sciences and Environment (MCE/FCT-Portugal) and coordinator of the FCT Marine Sciences panel. He was the Portuguese Delegate to the Committee of Research Infrastructures at the EC-DG Research (6FP) and the ESFRI (Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures [2002-2005]). He has coordinated and/or partnered on several national, European, and international scientific projects. He has wide experience in ocean scientific cruises, including those involving manned submersibles and ROVs. From October 2018 until December 2020, RSS served as a member of the “Executive Planning Group” to support the development of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In 2002, he was awarded a “Gift to the Earth” by WWF-International; in 2007, RSS was nominated “Maritime Ambassador” by the EC Commissioner Joe Borg; in 2008 received the Rotary Prize 2007-2008 on education; in 2009 received the Prize “Seeds of Science” in the category “Earth, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences” awarded by “Ciência Hoje” (Portugal); in 2009 (4th of June) was awarded the City of Horta “Merit Gold Medal”; in 2012 was granted by the Legislative Parliament of the Azores and the Azores Government with the “Autonomic Insignia Recognition” [Insígnia Autonómica de Reconhecimento], in 2013 was knighted “Chevalier de l’Ordre de Saint Charles” by SAS Le Prince Albert II de Monaco, in 2017 received the Prize Excellens Mare awarded by PwC Portugal, in 2021 was knighted “Officier de l’Ordre de Saint Charles” by SAS Le Prince Albert II de Monaco. RSS is a “Comité Éthique en Commun – INRAE-Cirad-Ifremer-IRD” member and Co-Chair of the Global Deep Sea Consultation Scientific Committee at the International Panel of Ocean Sustainability (IPOS). Ricardo Serrão Santos is an Emeritus Member of the Portuguese Navy Academy, a Full Member of the Portuguese Academy of Sciences and a Member of the Portuguese Geographic Society.