Who we are
conservation of the environment and of the biodiversity
The Mission
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Gaia Research Institute Onlus is a non-profit organization of social utility. The goal of Gaia is the protection and conservation of the environment and of biodiversity.
Gaia accomplishes its mission through the realization of research and monitoring projects, aimed at the knowledge and protection of nature and biodiversity, and to direct actions for environment and biodiversity conservation.
Gaia promotes sustainable development, the protection of the animal’s rights, protection of the sites, fauna and flora, and carry out activities about the environmental information and education, also through the promotion of sports activities immersed in nature and respectful of the environment.
Our research activity is conducted independently or in collaboration with other Entities/Organizations (i.e.: ISPRA, Department of Life and System Biology of the University of Turin, Department of Biology University of Bari, Thalassa, etc.)
The members of Gaia collaborate to the drafting of action plans for the conservation of species and habitats, in collaboration with technical Agencies, public Administrations and Universities.
The results of research and monitoring activities are also employed to promote the environmental sensitivity of the citizens involved in the activities of the Association and of the general public.
The headquarters of Gaia are Italian, but its members come from all over the world and they carry out their activities in the whole world.
Gaia Research Institute Onlus was founded in 2010
Story
Gaia Research Institute Onlus was born in 2002 by the love of nature and science of its members, that got together for exploring, studying and protecting the environment and biodiversity. Gaia was finally founded in 2010 by Marta Azzolin, Federica Celoni, Luca Nelli and Elena Papale. Its founding members are PhD and MSc in Natural Sciences and Biology, with expertise on cetaceans and birds. Within Gaia, the projects previously developed by individual members have found their institutional role. The skills acquired in the course of many years of study, training abroad, work in the context of multiple Organizations and Associations, are finally employed for the management of research projects on wildlife conservation. In recent years new members have been added to the Board of Directors and the species studied have expanded also to reptiles and amphibians.
The members of Gaia are the vital force of the association and Gaia Research Institute Onlus is open to anyone who wants to promote its goals.
Anyone can apply for becoming a member of Gaia. Then the membership application needs to be approved by the Board of Directors. Minors under the age of 18 years must submit a document signed by one of the parents together with their application form.
All members are required to pay an annual membership fee. In order to maintain their rights, members must renew annually the payment of the membership fee.
The membership is free and voluntary, but it commits the members to the respect of the resolutions taken by its representative authorities, according to the statutory competencies.
Members are also required, according to their professional skills, to collaborate actively to the achievement of the goals of the association. The rights and duties of shareholders are stated in the statute of the association.
Board of directors
Marta Azzolin, President
Lecturer at the Life Science and System Biology Department of the University of Turin (Techniques and methods for behavioural studies on cetaceans). Since 1993, she carries out research in the marine environment, particularly working with cetaceans. Lines of research: population studies; ecology; acoustics; behaviour; interaction with human activities. She has got a PhD in Science and High Technology, with a thesis on the acoustic identification of cetaceans (Life and System Biology Department of the University of Torino). In the framework of her Master on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, she cooperated with the Ramoge Agreement working on the legal and scientific status of protected species inside the Ramoge area, and analyzing the spatial distribution (GIS) of Paramuricea clavata inside the Ramoge area (University of Ravenna). She graduated in Natural Science studying the development of behaviour of a bottlenose dolphin calf in a controlled environment (Biology Department of the University of Torino).
Marta is Gaia’s expert on acoustic and behaviour. Director and observer of the following Gaia’s projects: “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2009-recent; “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2008-2014, 2016-recent; director of “Cetaceans Monitoring from ferry-ANPA”, 2014-recent; Monitoring biodiversity in Greeks waters 2014-recent.
Andrea Giovannini, Vice-Presidente
Lecturer of the Life Science and System Biology Department of the University of Turin (GIS and models of the distribution of organisms). He started doing research during his thesis for graduation and he deepened his work on spatial analysis and distribution modelling of amphibians in the framework of his PhD in Science and High Technology (Life and System Biology Department of the University of Torino).
Andrea is Gaia’s expert on spatial analysis, spatial modelling, and data mining.
Matteo Costantino, Treasurer
He graduated in Natural Science (3 years) and Biology of the Environment (2 years) at the Life Science and System Biology Department of the University of Torino. He is involved in research activities since 2017.
Matteo is Gaia's expert on plankton and litter (macro floating/beach) monitoring. Observer for the following project: “Dolphins in the GOC”, 2017-2021; “Cetaceans Monitoring from ferry-ANPA”, 2017-recent; “Plankton monitoring in the GOC”, 2019; “Beach litter monitoring in the GOC”, 2019.
Promoter members at 2022
Arianna Zampollo, a member since 2013, PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, is an expert on spatial modelling.
Guido Pietroluongo, a member since 2016, veterinary, PhD student at University of Padova, project supervisor.
Sebastien Saintignan, a member since 2018, with a Master in Oceanography at the Institut OSU Pytheas Marseille in 2017, is involved in communication and educational projects.
Mariangela Carpenzano, a member since 2013, collaborator for the activities dedicated to the “young members”.
Paola Merlo, a member since 2011, administrative assistant.
Luca Repetto, a member since 2011, captain and head of the technical activities at the sea
Other promoter members
Serena Guichardaz, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2017
Angela Amadei, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2017
Alice Nestola, observer project “Cetaceans Monitoring from ferry-ANPA”, 2016-2017
Laura Pintore, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2016
Eleanora Turano, observer for the project “Cetaceans Monitoring from ferry-ANPA”, 2014-2016
Gennaro Pingitore, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2014
Andrea Pelusi, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2013 and “Cetaceans Monitoring from ferry-LIBA”, 2012-2014
Maria Ceraulo, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2012
Elena Papale, founder, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC” 2009 and 2012, and “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2010-2011-2012
Giulia Fedele, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2010, and “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2011
Melissa Reggente, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2010, “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2011
Marianna Anichini, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2009 and “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2010.
Nora Arena, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2010
Alice Galli, observer for the project “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-Greek Islands”, 2009, and “Dolphins in the Ionian Sea-GOC”, 2010
Luca Nelli, founder; ornithologist