Ecowave

Social cooperative for the marine environment

Our team

Mirto Tourgeli Provata

Mirto has obtained a Biology Bachelor at the University of Patra, in Greece and she holds a second Bachelor of Social Science. Additionally, She holds an MSc in Coastal Management and currently, She is pursuing an MSc in Bioinformatics and Neuroscience. She has been working as a project manager for the last 6 years on several environmental projects. Currently, She is conducting Ph.D. research on Marine mammal acoustics. Moreover, She is an experienced Environmental consultant and has participated in several offshore and coastal projects in Europe and Asia. She is highly skilled in managing environmental projects from the budget to the client communication, the field sampling, the management and coordination of the personnel, and finally the high-quality report delivery. She has long experience in statistical analysis, mapping, and modeling of environmental data. She has conducted habitat modeling for deep-diving cetacean species for two years at the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), where she lectured for two years. During her MSc in Bioinformatics, she has been working on modeling complex biological and cellular systems, graphs, and network analysis, and management and analysis of neural biosystems.

Ioanna Koutsomihou

Ioanna Koutsomichou is a highly skilled Oceanographer and Marine Mammal Observer with an MSc in Oceanography – Management of Marine Environment and a Bachelor’s in Geology from the University of Athens. With extensive experience in both academic and field environments, she has contributed to various research projects focused on coastal and marine environments, including quality assurance in engineering projects and sediment analysis. Her roles have ranged from controlling environmental quality to scientific associate, where she actively engaged in multidisciplinary collaborations. Ioanna is adept in laboratory work, data interpretation, and environmental management, demonstrating a results-oriented approach alongside a commitment to maintaining high professional standards. Fluent in Greek, English, and French, Ioanna possesses exceptional communication skills, further enhanced by her role as a trainer for Marine Mammal Observers in Mauritania and Angola. She has participated in numerous offshore operations across the Mediterranean, North Sea, East Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea, showcasing her expertise in MMO-PSO & PAM practices. Her dedication to environmental stewardship is reflected in her involvement with global partnerships and adherence to marine conservation guidelines. Ioanna is a full member of the Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) and has authored multiple publications on sea-level change and integrated coastal management, solidifying her position as a knowledgeable and versatile professional in her field.

Elpida Karadimou

Elpida Karadimou is a biologist specialized in the field of ecology with a robust academic background punctuated by a PhD in Temporal Variation Patterns in Plant Species Composition and Biodiversity in Islands Ecosystems (University of Patras, 2016) and by dual master’s degrees in Sustainable Management of Protected Areas (University of Ioannina, 2010) and in Integrated Management of Coastal Zones (University of the Aegean, 2021), with a strong publication record in international scientific journals. Armed with extensive fieldwork experience and data analysis skills, she focuses at the intersection of ecosystems and biodiversity research and ecological restoration. Elpida is currently working as an environmental biologist with over 10 years of experience in biodiversity and ecosystem management, specializing in habitat mapping, data analysis, and ecological monitoring. Her expertise spans coastal, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, where she employs innovative methodologies to gather, analyze and interpret data, focusing on vegetation ecology, plant community dynamics, the spatial and temporal patterns of diversity, and ecosystems conservation. Driven by a passion for the complex relationships within Mediterranean ecosystems, Elpida actively contributes to multidisciplinary projects as a research assistant but also as a project scientific manager. Moreover, she’s an experienced environmental consultant on habitat types plant biodiversity involved in various national high-impact projects across Greece’s Natura 2000 network as well as a number of environmental impact studies.

Andrea Ramirez

Andrea Ramirez is an oceanographer, diver, and ocean enthusiast, dedicated to the protection, exploration, and conservation of marine ecosystems. She has worked as a research associate in various projects in Greece and abroad, focusing on the study and restoration of marine habitats. Specializing in aquaculture, microplastics, and diving, Andrea has contributed to studies on benthic organisms and the restoration of macroalgae. Her experience as a certified Divemaster and sailor, with over 15,000 nautical miles of sailing experience, allows her to operate effectively in challenging marine environments. Andrea holds a degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Cádiz and has participated in international marine ecology programs in Portugal and Brazil through scholarships. In addition to her scientific work, she is passionate about environmental education, inspiring the next generation to understand and protect the ocean.

Maria Rakka

Maria holds a B.Sc in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC). In 2022 she completed a PhD in Marine Sciences at the University of the Azores in Portugal, where she specialized on deep-sea ecosystems. During the last ten years, she has participated in several national and international research projects in Portugal, Ireland and Canada, where she gained extensive experience in experimental physiology, benthic ecology, as well as statistical analysis and development of species distribution models.  Maria has authored several publications in international scientific journals, focusing mostly on the biology and ecology of deep-sea corals. She is a skilled scuba diver and certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor with expertise in scientific diving. Maria is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Dalhousie University, where she studies the effects of climate change on deep-sea benthic ecosystems.