Veronica Ranno

WORK EXPERIENCE

[31/10/2022 – Present]
PhD Candidate – University of Catania, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences
Research on the effects of climate change on Mediterranean plant diversity. Case study: high-mountain vegetation of Mount Etna.

[18/03/2024 – 31/07/2024]
Junior Teaching Assistant – University of Catania
Support in teaching and lab activities in Botany for the Bachelor's degrees in Biological Sciences and Environmental and Natural Sciences.

[22/03/2021 – 22/06/2022]
Research Fellow – University of Catania
Project: CARE-MONITORING – Monitoring the in situ and ex situ conservation of threatened flora in Sicily.

[19/10/2020 – 20/03/2021]
Substitute Teacher – School in Maniace
Teaching Mathematics and Science.

[16/10/2020 – 18/10/2020]
Substitute Teacher – School in Castel di Iudica
Teaching Mathematics and Science.

[30/01/2019 – 21/10/2019]
Research Scholarship – CUTGANA (University Centre for the Protection and Management of Natural and Agro-Ecosystems)
Master’s thesis activities within the NATURE project.

[13/07/2018 – 13/11/2018]
Research Scholarship – University of Catania
Study of wild populations of the genus Bituminaria (Fabaceae).

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

[24/11/2022]
Professional License – Biologist (Section A) – University of Catania

[12/03/2020]
24 CFU Interdisciplinary Teaching Course – Ecampus Telematic University
Psychology of Education, Cultural Anthropology, General and Social Pedagogy, Teaching Methodologies and Technologies.

[21/10/2019]
MSc in Environmental Biology (LM-6) – University of Catania
Thesis: "Effects of temperature on the regeneration of Betula aetnensis Rafin. (Betulaceae), a narrow endemic of Sicily."
Supervisor: Prof. Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo; Co-supervisor: Dr. Cristina Blandino
Grade: 110/110 cum laude

[27/11/2017]
BSc in Environmental and Natural Sciences (L-32) – University of Catania
Thesis: "Spontaneous and threatened species of Sicily. In situ conservation and germplasm management."
Supervisor: Prof. Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo
Grade: 110/110 cum laude

[18/02/2019 – 11/03/2019]
Internship – Botanical Garden of Catania
Field and laboratory germination of Astragalus siculus and Saponaria sicula.

[20/03/2017 – 12/05/2017]
Internship – Botanical Garden of Catania
Collection and ex situ conservation of native plant germplasm.

[07/2014]
High School Diploma – Scientific Track – Liceo Statale "Ettore Majorana"
Grade: 95/100

SKILLS AND PERSONAL COMPETENCES

Languages:
Italian (native), English (C1 Cambridge level)

Technical skills:

• Germplasm conservation techniques

• QGIS, Microsoft Office

CERTIFICATIONS AND COURSES

[04/06/2022] Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English – CEFR Level C1
[25/05/2017] Workplace safety course – 12 hours
[10/09/2010] EIPASS – Basic computer skills

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL)

• Sciandrello S., Puglisi M., Miraglia G., Meli F., Ranno V., Tamburino V., Giusso del Galdo G. (2024). Vegetation classification and survey of the Alcantara valley (Sicily): first outcomes. 57th International Congress of the Italian Society of Vegetation Science, 6–8 June 2024 (oral presentation).

• Ranno V.*, Sciandrello S., Minissale P., Meireles C., Pinto Gomes C., Tavilla G., Giusso del Galdo G. (2023). Fagus sylvatica woodlands on Mt. Etna: diachronic analysis and conservation. XV International Seminar Biodiversity Management and Conservation, 6–10 June 2023 (oral presentation).

• Tavilla G., Lanfranco S., Stevens D.T., Henwood J., Lamoliere A., Ranno V., Gabarretta J., Attard V., Adamo M., Tomaselli V. (2023). Salt marsh habitat analysis of the Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk SAC (Malta). XV International Seminar Biodiversity Management and Conservation, 6–10 June 2023 (oral presentation).

• Ranno V.*, Tavilla G., Minissale P., Giusso del Galdo G. (2023). Vegetation mapping of Mt. Etna (Sicily). 31st Conference of the European Vegetation Survey, 21–25 May 2023 (poster).

• Tavilla G., Crisafulli A., Lamoliere A., Ranno V., Bacilliere G., Cambria S., Minissale P., Giusso del Galdo G., Sciandrello S. (2022). Use of drones for environmental monitoring and rare plants conservation status: a new tool for botanical research. 117th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society – VIII International Plant Science Conference, 7–10 September 2022 (poster).

• Ranno V.*, Tavilla G., Bacilliere G., Sciandrello S., Giusso del Galdo G. (2022). Betula etnensis woodlands of Mt. Etna (Sicily): diachronic analysis and monitoring. IAVS 2022 – 64th Annual Symposium, 27 June–1 July 2022 (poster).

• Sciandrello S., Cambria S., Minissale P., Puglisi M., Ranno V., Tavilla G., Giusso del Galdo G. (2022). Orophilous vegetation of Juniperetalia hemisphaericae in Sicily. XIV International Seminar on Biodiversity Management and Conservation, 6–11 June 2022 (oral presentation).

• Giusso del Galdo G., Ranno V., Siracusa G., Brullo S. (2021). Systematics of Betula aetnensis (Betulaceae), a critical Sicilian species. Scientific Meeting of the Floristics and Systematics Group, 12 November 2021 (oral communication).

• Tavilla G., Cristaudo A., Giusso del Galdo G., Ranno V., Minissale P., Sciandrello S. (2021). Anthemis messanensis (Asteraceae): a neglected endemic species. 116th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society – VII International Plant Science Conference, 8–10 September 2021 (oral presentation).

• Giusso del Galdo G., Ranno V. (2021). In situ conservation of threatened plant species. Annual meeting of the Sicilian Section of the Italian Botanical Society, 4 June 2021 (oral communication).

• Blandino C., Falcone E., Federico C., Ranno V., Giusso del Galdo G. (2021). Effect of volcanogenic heavy metals on seed germination of Mt. Etna native plants. 1st Conference of Young Botanists, 6–7 February 2020 (oral communication).

• Ranno V.*, Blandino C., Giusso del Galdo G. (2021). Betula aetnensis: thermal and water potential thresholds of seed regeneration. 1st Conference of Young Botanists, 6–7 February 2020 (oral communication).

• Ranno V.*, Blandino C., Giusso del Galdo G. (2019). Betula aetnensis: thermal control of seed regeneration for a narrow endemic high mountain Mediterranean birch. Seed Ecology VI Conference, 29 July–2 August 2019, University of Regensburg (oral presentation).