Silvia Ceramicola
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PhD. in Marine Geology (2001) from the University of Gent (Belgium), with a thesis on the first geophysical evidence of bottom current deposits in lacustrine environment (Lake Baikal, Russia). In 1995, Fulbright at the SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography (San Diego, USA). From 1993 to 1995 in Brussels (Belgium) to conduct lobbying and management of European marine policies. At OGS since 2000, involved in the development of the European project STRATAGEM, showing that the North Atlantic continental margin does not respond to thetheoretical subsidence model proposed by McKenzie. In 2005, lead scientist of OGS scientific activities of the European project HERMES, where she contributed to the discovery of a new mud volcano province in relation to the Calabrian accretionary wedge in the Ionian Sea, with the research vessel OGS Exlopra. Since 2008 she coordinates OGS activities of the MAGIC project, funded by the Department of Civil Protection, in order to carry out the first geohazard maps of the seabed in the Ionian Calabrian and Apulia margins. Finally, collaborates with ISPRA for the geologic mapping of the Calabrian Ionian margin in the CARG project. Chief scientist of numerous oceanographic cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. Author of numerous scientific publications. Supervisor of doctoral dissertation and master's degrees in sedimentology, geomorphology and marine geology. From 2014 Chair of the Geosciences Committee of the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM). Chairperson of international sessions and workshops. Active in communication and outreach. She is fluent in English and French.
Science management:
- Chair of the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) Marine Geoscience Committee (2013-'19)
- Training in European Maritime and Natural Hazards Polices in Brussels at EC DG Research and at the Alliance of Maritime Regional Interests in Europe, AMRIE (1993-'95)
Research and Development in Europe, Russia and Africa:
Collaboration with national and international
- Universities
- Research Centres,
- Geological Surveys
under the umbrella of European funding system (FP5, 6 and 7) ; National funding (ISPRA,Civil Protection, MIUR flagship projects), OGS co-funded research
Collaboration with Industries:
- Statoil,
- Norsk Hydro,
- Total,
- E.oN
Media and outreach
- 'Le scovazze in fondo al mare...alla scoperta degli ambienti marini profondi dove la spazzatura è arrivata prima di noi… al Caffè San Marco, Trieste. Intervento organizzato in collaborazione con Legambiente Trieste (5 aprile 2018)
- Archeologia subacquea Radio 3 FVG (2017) Porgramma RADAR Podcast
- Quei canyon sommersi, un pericolo per le coste italiane (2015) Repubblica, Scienze
- Al largo della Calabria alla ricerca dei gas idrati:(2014) Corriere della Sera, Scienze
- Earthquake in Emilia Romagna (Italy): (2014) Rai News 24 documentary Terra Liquida by Flaviano Masella
- Tsunami risk: Maremoto io non rischio and the International drill Twist (Tidal Wave In Southern Tyrrhenian Sea) (2013) the Italian Civil Protection
- Underwater Mud Volcanoes: Euronews documentary (2006)
Teaching and student's supervision
- Classes on Continantal margins at the Marine Geology course (University of Trieste, Italy)
- Supervision of Master and PhD students on submarine canyon dynamics, seabed mapping, underwater mud volcanism
- Geological processes occurring at seabed and in the nearbottom and their link to deeper structures
- Mediterrenean basin geodynamics
- Marine Geohazards
- Seabed Mapping
- Mud volcanoes and fluid venting in relation to accretionary prisms
- Study areas: Ionian Sea, Taranto Gulf, Alboran Sea, Nile fan, Ligurian Provencal Basin
TAP Project - Seismological Assessment along the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (2013)
Research industry collaboration OGS-EoN.
OGS lead scientists: Dario Slejko for Seimological assessment and Silvia Ceramicola for Marine Geohazards assessment. Study areas: Adriatic sea and Gulf of Taranto.
RITMARE - La ricerca italiana per il mare (2012-2016)
RITMARE Flagship Project is one of the National Research Programmes funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the overall project budget amount to 250 million euros, co-funded by public and private resources. The aim of RITMARE is to implement what is suggested in the Blue Paper in terms of research and innovation, by means of a national programme of scientific and technological marine research. More specifically, RITMARE has been structured around the following three objectives:
1) to support integrated policies for the safeguard of the environment (the health of the sea);
2) to enable sustainable use of resources (the sea as a system of production);
3) to implement a strategy of prevention and mitigation of natural impacts (the sea as a risk factor).
Operative Unit UO5 Marine geohazards is lead by OGS. Lead scientist: Silvia Ceramicola. Study areas: Ionian Calabrian and Apulian margins (Ionian sea).
MAGIC Project - Marine Geohazards along the Italian Coats (2007-2014)
The MaGIC project is a national project funded by the Italian Department of Civil Protection with the aim of assessing marine geohazards of the continental margins of the Italian seas in order to improve risk mitigation and management of emergency. MAGIC involves all the Italian research groups actively engaged in the field of Marine Geology. University of Nice (France) is also involved and is experiencing marine geohazard assessment in French territorial waters. OGS - GEOS is responsible for the coastal areas of Calabria and Puglia overlooking the Ionian Sea. 8 maps 1:50,000 will be produced by OGS. The project will formally end in 2014 with an international conference which will present the first atlas of marine geohazards of the Italian coastal areas.
OGS study areas: Ionian Calabrian and Apulian margins (Ionian sea); OGS lead scientist: Silvia Ceramicola
SARAS - South Alboran Research in Active Systems (2013) - EU Eurofleets
The overall goal of the SARAS Project is (1) to image active tectonic structures and sedimentary systems, (2) to provide the data required for a seismic hazard assessment for the margins of the western Mediterranean basins and, (3) to enable establishing the link between surface morphology and deeper structures.The SARAS projects is co-funded by EUROFLEETS Cruise Programme and the SARAS cruise was carried out on board of the R/V Ramon Margalef in 2012 as a cornerstone of an international (French Spanish Italian Maroccan and Belgian) initiative to understand the Neogene-Quaternary inversion of the Moroccan margin in the framework of Mediterranean geodynamics. The strong seismic activity in this area and numerous gravitational instabilities may generate tsunamis and constitute geologic hazard to society and infrastructures.
Study area: Alboran sea
HERMES - Hotspot Ecosystem Research along the Margins of European Sea (2004-2009) - EU Integrated FP7
OGS lead scientist: Silvia Ceramicola. Study areas: Ionian Calabrian Continental margin.