Mario V. Balzan Email & Phone Number

I am an applied ecologist with a multidisciplinary background in environmental sciences. Through my work I seek to improve our understanding of human impacts on biodiversity and the contributions of biodiversity and ecosystem services to human well-being. I hold a PhD in agroecology and have over 15 years of experience in science education and graduate training. During this time, I have held research and lecturing positions in Malta, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom. My PhD research has assessed how habitat management approaches at local and landscape scales can improve the conservation of biodiversity and provide multiple ecosystem services in Mediterranean social-ecological systems. I have recently coordinated the ReNature Horizon 2020 project, which aims to establish a strategy to promote research and innovation for nature-based solutions that improve human well-being whilst tackling environmental challenges. My research has received funding through the Horizon 2020, ARIMNET2, the European Commission, the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). A more detailed overview of my ongoing research is available from: https://www.mariobalzan.info/researchI collaborate with stakeholders and practitioners from various sectors, and have acted as an expert in biodiversity and ecosystem science, urban ecology, agriculture and agri-environment, research and innovation, and science communication.Ongoing research projects: Principal Investigator for the Horizon 2020 project GOGREEN ROUTES (GO GREEN: Resilient Optimal Urban natural, Technological and Environmental Solutions)Coordinator of the Horizon 2020 project ReNature (promoting Research Excellence in NAture-based soluTions for innovation, sUstainable economic GRowth and human wEll-being in Malta).Work Package Leader, R&I-2016-031T Crop Intelligent Tools (CIXT), MCSTPrincipal Investigator for the ARIMNET2 project DIVERCROP (Land system dynamics in the Mediterranean basin across scales as relevant indicator for species diversity and local food systems)

Listed skills include R, Chemistry, Biodiversity, Lecturing, and 20 others.