THE TEAM
Prof. Stefano Mancuso
Team coordination and dissemination activities
Bio
Stefano Mancuso is Full Professor of Plant Physiology at University of Florence. He is the Founder and the Director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology based in University of Florence and Kitakyushu. He plays a pioneering role in the field of plant biology, plant technology and innovation, and we can safely affirm that he is one of the leading scientists in the world within his fields. In 2002 he was awarded with the “European Award for Innovation & Research”. In 2007 has been pointed out as “International expert on traditional knowledge for sustainable development” – UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). In 2010 he was invited at the TED Global Conference in Oxford and in 2011 Stefano Mancuso and his ideas have been chosen to appear in the BRIGHT GREEN BOOK of United Nations. In 2013, the New Yorker mentioned prof. Stefano Mancuso, in the list of the “world changers”. He authored several awarded books, including the best seller “Verde Brillante”, translated in 19 languages, and the more recent “Plant Nation”.
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Camilla Pandolfi, PhD
Chief executive officer and IPR manager
Bio
Camilla has a background on Plant stress physiology, Biomimetics, and obtained her PhD in Space Life Science at the University of Florence in 2008. In 2010 she moved to Tasmania, Australia, thanks to an Endeavour Research Fellowship, granted by the Australian Government. There she conducted studies on plant growth in salinity conditions. In 2011 she started a Post Doc in the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency (ESA), in the Netherlands. There she was project manager for space biology and Biomimetics research project. She also assisted the board of directors in the development of road maps for the strategic future of ESA. In 2013 she was granted a Marie Curie IEF – Fellowship and moved back to Italy in the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology directed by Prof. Mancuso, where she coordinated her own research team. Since 2015 she is full time dedicated to the management of Pnat. Since 2017 she is Fixed-term researcher at University of Florence.
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Antonio Girardi, PhD, Architect
Architect, Chief technical officer
Bio
Antonio Girardi graduated in Architecture at the University IUAV of Venice, and in 2015 he obtained a PhD in
Technology of Architecture on Seawater as a valuable resource. His background concerns architectural technology, building engineering, biomimicry and sustainable architecture. He is cofounder of the design studio, Studiomobile and designed the first concept of the Jellyfish barge, which was later developed by Pnat. In 2009 Studiomobile’s project “Seawater Vertical Farms” was included in the list of “The 100 green design” of 2009. He was awarded with the prize “WT Smart City 2013” for the work “Jellyfish Barge”, and participated at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 with the work “Networking Nature”. He has a wide experience on the idea of using seawater for farming, and authored the chapther “Seawater Vertical Farm” of the book “Visions of Architecture and Urbanism” edited by R. Klanten and L. Feireiss. For Pnat, he is responsible for the technical aspects of the R&D process, and strategies related to materials, structural aspects and greenhouse climatic control.
Technology of Architecture on Seawater as a valuable resource. His background concerns architectural technology, building engineering, biomimicry and sustainable architecture. He is cofounder of the design studio, Studiomobile and designed the first concept of the Jellyfish barge, which was later developed by Pnat. In 2009 Studiomobile’s project “Seawater Vertical Farms” was included in the list of “The 100 green design” of 2009. He was awarded with the prize “WT Smart City 2013” for the work “Jellyfish Barge”, and participated at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 with the work “Networking Nature”. He has a wide experience on the idea of using seawater for farming, and authored the chapther “Seawater Vertical Farm” of the book “Visions of Architecture and Urbanism” edited by R. Klanten and L. Feireiss. For Pnat, he is responsible for the technical aspects of the R&D process, and strategies related to materials, structural aspects and greenhouse climatic control.
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Cristiana Favretto, Architect
Chief communication officer
Bio
Cristiana Favretto graduated in Architecture at the University IUAV of Venice, her background concerns bio-design and urban development. After worked as designer in Spain and UAE she cofound the design studio Studiomobile. In 2009 Studiomobile’s project “Seawater Vertical Farms” was included in the list of “The 100 green design” of 2009. She was awarded with the prize “WT Smart City 2013” for the work “Jellyfish Barge”, and participated at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 with the work “Networking Nature”. In 2011 she attend the New York School for Design+Science. She focused on research in the field of urban farming, and co-authored the chapter “Seawater Vertical Farm” of the book “Visions of Architecture and Urbanism” edited by R. Klanten and L. Feireiss. She gave lectures in international universities and organized workshops and public urban installations in collaboration with museums, public institutions and governative organizations. She has a wide experience in creative and artistic direction for various international brands, and for Pnat she is responsible for the design and the communication activities.
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Elisa Masi, PhD
Chief Research officer
Bio
Elisa Masi is Associate Professor of General Arboriculture and Plant Physiology at the University of Florence. She graduated in Agricultural Sciences and has a PhD in Horticulture. Her main research topics are: plant physiology and electrophysiology, stress physiology and plant metabolomics for varietal characterization, ambient intelligence in agriculture (wireless sensors, remote controlling, data managing), and seawater farming. From 2013 she is Associate Editor of the journal “Advances in Horticultural Science (AHS)”. She has coordinated and coordinates national and international scientific projects in the field of sustainable agriculture. She is the scientific interface between the research activity of International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology (LINV) and Pnat.
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Elisa Azzarello, PhD
Chief administrative officer
Bio
Elisa Azzarello graduated in Agricultural Sciences, with a PhD in Agrobiotechnology and phytoremediation (use of plants to remove pollutants from the soil). She has a research position at the University of Florence. Her main research topics are focused on the study of plant physiology and electrophysiology under the most important abiotic stress, in particular she is involved in the use of plants for remediation of polluted sites. She is a member of International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology (LINV). From 2013 she is Associate Editor of the journal “Advances in Horticultural Science (AHS)”. She has been co-investigator in numerous national and international projects. For Pnat she coordinates the phytoremediation projects and supervises the administration activities.
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