Agata Di Stefano

Actual position:

Full Professor SSD GEO/02 (Stratigraphic Geology and Sedimentology)

Member of the Commission for the attribution of the National Scientific Qualification (ASN21-23) for the SC 04/A2.

Education and Training:

• July 1993: Achievement of the title of Doctor of Research (PhD);
• November 1990: Achievement of qualification as a professional Geologist, registered in the Regional Order of Geologists of Sicily (Special List n. 705);
• 1989-1992: Frequency of the 5^th cycle of the Doctorate Course in “Geological evolution of Mediterranean-type orogens” (University of Catania);
• July 1989: Degree in Geological Sciences (University of Catania);
• July 1984: High School Diploma at "Gulli e Pennisi Liceum et Ginnasium" (Acireale).

Academic path:

• 01.10.2016 - to date: Full Professor, SSD GEO / 02 (University of Catania, Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences);
• 30.09.2014 - 30.09.2016: Associate Professor, SSD GEO / 02 (University of Catania);
• 30.12.2002 - 30.09.2014: University Researcher, Sector GEO / 02 - Stratigraphic Geology and Sedimentology (University of Catania);
• 1999/2002: Research Fellow at the Dept. of Geological Sciences of the University of Catania;
• 1994/1997: CNR fellow in the context of the National Geological Cartography project.

Institutional offices:

• January 2018 to date: Head of the "Marine Geology" Laboratory of the University of Catania;
• April 2017 to date: Coordinator of the PhD course in Earth and Environmental Sciences (University of Catania);
• 18 December 2014 - October 2020: Coordinator of the PhD course in Geological, Biological and Environmental Sciences (University of Catania);
• Head of the Erasmus Project and Lecturer for International Action of the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Catania (from 01.11.2012 to 28.05.2019), formerly responsible for the Erasmus Project within the Faculty of Sciences MM.FF.NN. for area 04 (Earth Sciences).
• February 2015 - May 2017: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Consortium for the management of the Marine Protected Area of ​​the Cyclops Islands";
• Deputy director of the University Center for the protection and management of natural environments and agroecosystems (CUTGANA) of the University of Catania (2013-2017).
• Member of the Board of Directors of the "Consortium for the management of the Marine Protected Area of ​​the Cyclops Islands" (2011-2013 and 2014-2017 three-year periods)

Teaching activity:

• Courses held, starting from the 2003/2004 academic year, at the University of Catania, as part of the three-year degree courses in Geological Sciences (L-34), Environmental and Natural Sciences (L-32), Planning and environmental sustainability of the territory and landscape (L-21): “Geology”; "Stratigraphic Geology", "Marine Geology"; “Elements of Geology for Territorial Planning”; "Micropaleontological Stratigraphy"; and in the master's degree courses in Geological Sciences (LM-74) and Science for the Protection of the Environment (LM-75): "Sedimentology"; "Environmental Geology".
• Supervisor, to date, of 3 theses for the achievement of the five-year degree in Geological Sciences, of about 50 theses for the achievement of the three-year degree in Geological Sciences, 25 of the master's degree in Geological Sciences and 10 of the three-year degree in Environmental and Natural Sciences.
• Tutor of six doctoral theses (Doctorate in Geological Evolution of Mediterranean Orogens, UNICT: A. Smedile, 15 ° cycle; G. Sturiale, 21 ° cycle, M. Firetto Carlino, 23 ° cycle. Doctorate in Biological Sciences, Geological and Environmental, UNICT: S. Distefano, 30th cycle, L. Borzì, 32nd cycle; Doctorate in Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNICT: N.M. D'Andrea, 36th cycle).
• Scientific Responsible of 9 Erasmus Studio Agreements.
• Scientific Coordinator of the UNICT / CNR-ISMAR-BO Convention for Student Training and Orientation Internships.
• Lecturer for the Advanced Training course "Geophysical and volcanology research for monitoring natural and environmental risks and for the protection and use of local resources" - Vulcamed INGV Project.

Main Research Lines:

• Integrated stratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy of Neogene-Quaternary sequences in oceanic areas;
• Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy;
• Stratigraphic-sedimentological analysis and paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions of Neogene-Quaternary successions of the Mediterranean area;
• Temporal scan of geological events in orogenic sectors, with particular interest in the Neogene-Quaternary interval in Sicily and southern Apennines;
• Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Mediterranean, with particular attention to the pre-evaporitic interval;
• International (ODP / IODP) and national (CNR) oceanographic legs;
• Analysis of sediments resulting from boreholes in polar areas (Andrill Project);
• Geological cartography (CARG project) with the role of analyst and manager-expert of stratigraphy and biostratigraphy;
• Studies of coastal dynamics, estimation and causes of coastal retreat; environmental analysis for the prevention of natural and anthropogenic risks.

Coordination of national and international research projects

• Interreg V 2014-2020 Italy Malta: SIMIT_THARSY (Tsunami HAzard Reduction System) project. Scientific Responsible for Project Partner 3 (University of Catania) and Member of the Steering Committee;
• MIUR-PRIN 2012: The GSSP (Global Stratigraphic Section and Point) of the Burdigalian Stage: the missing tile in the Neogenic interval of the Geological Time Scale. National Coordinator;
• OP Italy Malta 2007-2013: SIMIT project Establishment of an integrated Italian-Maltese cross-border civil protection system. Scientific Responsible for Project Partner 3 (University of Catania) and Member of the Steering Committee;
• POR FESR 2007/2013 intervention line 4.1.1.1: Hot Earth project, Scientific coordinator for the University of Catania from 01.11.2014;
• POR FESR 2007/2013 line of intervention 3.1.3.3: project Le Vie della Lava, itineraries of memory between culture and nature - pact for the contemporary - contemporary artistic models applied to the enhancement of the urban and naturalistic heritage. Scientific director for the University of Catania;
• PNRA / MIUR 2007-2011 ANDRILL Project (Antarctica Drilling); Responsible for the following task: Calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy at Site South Murdoc Sound.
• MIUR-PRIN 2006: In search of the Global Stratopye Sections and Points (GSSPs) of the Burdigalian and Langhian planes and paleoceanographic implications. Head of Research Unit.

Positions in national and international research organizations:

• Corresponding member of the "Subcommission on Neogene Stratigraphy" of the "International Commission on Stratigraphy" (from 2013 to today);
• Member of the "Executive board" of the "Regional Committee on Mediterranean Stratigraphy (RCMNS)" (five-year period 2000-2015 and 2016-2021);
• Elected member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Geological Society (three-year periods 2018-2020 and 2021-2023).

Affiliation to the following Scientific Societies:

• Società Geologica Italiana (SGI);
• Italian Association for Sedimentary Geology (GEOSED);
• National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences (Conisma, Unit of Catania);
• International Nannoplankton Association (INA);
• Gioienia Academy of Catania (Corresponding Member).

Other significant activities in Italy and abroad:

• June 2013: Invited Professor; University of Athens, Erasmus project teacher mobility;
• October 2012: Invited Professor; University of Malta, Malta-Italy bilateral Cultural Procolol;
• May-June 2011: Researcher on board; “CNR-MAGIC” oceanographic cruise (n / o Urania, Sardinia Channel-Gulf of Naples);
• September 2010: Researcher on board; “CNR-ARCOSE” oceanographic cruise (n / o Urania, Sardinia Channel-Gulf of Naples);
• October - December 2009: Invited researcher; UMR CNRS, PaléoEnvironnements et PaléobioSphère, University of Lyon (France);
• May 2006: Researcher on board; “CNR-CORSARO” oceanographic cruise (n / o Urania, Reggio Calabria - Corfu);
• November 2002: Invited researcher; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover (Germany);
• August - October 1998: Researcher on board; Leg 181 of the Ocean Drilling Program (South Pacific Gateway) Sidney (Australia) - Wellington (New Zealand).

Editorial and review activity

• 2019 Guest-Editor Special Issue “Tectonic and sedimentation in the Mediterranean area: a tribute to Fabio Lentini”, Italian Journal of Geosciences;
• 2010-2012 Guest-Editor Special Issue “Progress towards the definition of the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Langhian Stage”, Stratigraphy Journal.
• June 2015 to date: Associate Editor International Journal of Geoscience;
• January 2014 to date: Member of the Advisory Board of the Italian Journal of Geological Science;
• Reviewer of scientific articles for numerous international scientific journals, including: Paleo3; Terra Nova; Marine Micropaleontology; Marine Geology; Geo-marine letters; Stratigraphy; Geologica Acta; Geodynamics Acta; Carpathica Geologica; Sedimentary Geology; Journal of Mediterranean Earth Science; Quaternary International; Geosciences; Quaternary Research; Geosciences Journal; Lethaia Journal; Italian Journal of Geoscience.

Awards and Acknowledgments

• April 2013: certification of "Feature Article" by the magazine "Ocean & Coastal Managment" for the article "Antrhopogenic influence on coastal evolution: a case history from the Gulf of Catania shoreline (eastern Sicily, Italy") ", by Di Stefano A., De Pietro R., Monaco C., Zanini A., O&CM doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.02.013
• February 1994: Winner of the Young Researchers Award, "Earth Sciences" discipline awarded by the Gioienia Academy of Catania.

Last edit: 01/28/2021

Projects in progress:

• Interreg V 2014-2020 Italy Malta: SIMIT_THARSY (Tsunami HAzard Reduction System) project. Scientific Director of Project Partner 3 (University of Catania) and Member of the Steering Committee;
• Agreement between University of Catania (DSBGA) and Edison E&P: Sediment sampling and benthic fauna analysis in the context of environmental monitoring of the seabed at the Vega A platform (off-shore Pozzallo, RG), Scientific Responsible;
• Agreement between the University of Catania (DSBGA) and Edison E&P: Sedimentological analysis of sediment samples and updating of the Territorial Information System as part of the environmental monitoring of the seabed at the Vega A platform (off-shore Pozzallo, RG), Scientific Manager;
• Agreements between University of Catania (DSBGA) and Maurel et Prom (Scientific Responsible: Prof.ssa Rosanna Maniscalco): Geological-geophysical study in the Iblei Mountains; responsible for biostratigraphic analysis with nannofossils;
• Research Project at University of Catania (CUTGANA) "SAND: Sediments And Natural environments to Defend", Scientific Responsible.

Scientific Director of the Museum of the Lachea Island Sea Studies Station.