Giovanni Chimienti
Dr. Giovanni Chimienti is a marine biologist at the University of Bari and at the National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences (Italy). He is also a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and National Geographic Explorer. His main scientific research is about corals and benthic habitats, with particular reference to taxonomy (order Antipatharia, Alcyonacea and Pennatulacea), biodiversity, and population structures. He uses submersibles and remotely operated vehicles for deep-sea explorations, as well as data collected during fishing operations. He also studies the effects of anthropogenic impacts on coral populations. In the course of his work, Dr. Chimienti has discovered some spectacular mesophotic and deep coral habitats in different areas of the world, described new species and participated in the process of protecting some of the most strategic coral habitats in the Mediterranean Sea. Dr. Chimienti has received several prestigious scientific awards for his research, including from Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, the Mediterranean Science Commission, the Deep-Sea Biology Society, and Prince Albert II of Monaco.