Agnese Riccardi

There is a growing interest in Marine Social Science and in the understanding the Ocean Literacy at global scale. It is now clear the critical importance of identifying adequate communication strategies to increase awareness, pro-ocean behavior and finally share knowledge and tools with decision makers aimed at marine conservation measures. That is also particularly helpful and important to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals and the Starfish 2030 EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’.

In this framework, my Ph.D. is focused on the Ocean Literacy evaluation and its increase also through the local biodiversity study and valorization; the project, aims to define communication and engagement strategies in order to increase societal awareness and commitment in conservation measures (Marine Protected Areas). Structuring and disseminating Citizen Science protocols will be one of the tools used to achieve the objectives of the project. Indeed, I’m currently working on the Heterobranchia Monitoring Protocol, address to specific stakeholder such as scuba divers, free divers and snorkelers. This monitoring protocol is primarily focused on distribution and trophy of Heterobranchia subclass (Mollusca: Gastropoda) and will allow me in collecting data useful to understand climate change effects on particularly sensitive marine organisms.