I am a geologist with a strong passion for marine geology, which I have cultivated over the years by focusing my studies on advanced seismic acquisition techniques in marine environments and the intricate processes governing the continental shelf and the formation, erosion, and transportation of marine deposits. During my undergraduate studies at the University of Palermo, I actively participated in a stimulating oceanographic campaign in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea aboard the research vessel "Minerva UNO" of the National Research Council (CNR) in Naples, contributing significantly to seismic data acquisition. In the following academic year, I study the sediment cores collected from the seafloor of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, conducting detailed analyses of their content and characteristics at the sedimentology laboratory of the CNR in Naples.
In 2022, I seized a significant research opportunity by obtaining a scholarship within the framework of the "SPHERITAGE - Lessons for the future from the cultural heritage of the past" project. During this project, I played a key role in editing a detailed geomorphological map (scale 1:25,000) of the continental shelf in front of the archaeological site of Balzi Rossi, utilizing high-resolution bathymetric data. Additionally, I acted as a scientific supervisor aboard the research vessel "Portovado I" during a high-resolution seismic data acquisition campaign in the Liguro-Provençal continental shelf. Subsequently, I conducted the processing and interpretation of seismic data.
My current research project aims to identify submerged areas that were once exposed during periods of low sea level and may have hosted human settlements. The research integrates geological, geomorphological, and archaeological approaches to reconstruct the paleoenvironment and sea-level variations. The work includes modeling submerged marine terraces, sedimentological analysis, core dating, and the utilization of sea-level curves extracted from glacio-hydro-isostatic models. This trajectory reflects my dedication to underwater exploration and understanding the dynamics shaping the seafloor.
Academic Background:
- B.Sc. in Geological Sciences at the University of Palermo, 2018. Thesis title: "Stratigraphic and tectonic evolution of the Crati Basin (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)."
- M.Sc. in Geological Sciences and Technologies – Curriculum Exploration Geology at the University of Palermo, 2021. Thesis title: "Seismostratigraphic characteristics of sedimentary structures diagnostic of bottom currents in the Sant'Eufemia Gulf."
- Ph.D. Student in Geosciences and Environment at the University of Pisa, 2023-present.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Marine Geomorphology
- Sea-Level Variations
- Continental Shelf
- Paleoenvironmental reconstruction
- Prehistoric Communities
Research project: Geomorphology of the Continental Shelf: An Unexplored Archive of Sea-Level Changes and Human Migrations.
Supervisors:
Professor Marta Pappalardo (DST-UNIPI)
Professor Matteo Vacchi (DST-UNIPI)
Gabriella Raffa
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia