The Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts and The Cyprus Institute, on the occasion of the publication of the Report of the Task Force on Marine Environment & Resources and the workshop of the IAP Project “Threats to the Mediterranean Marine Ecosystems in a Warming World,” cordially invite you to a Public Lecture and Panel Discussion on

Speaker

Dr. Aristomenis P. Karageorgis.  Director and President of the Board, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)

Panel

Convenor:
Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts & The Cyprus Institute); Principal Investigator of the IAP/Cyprus Academy Project

Panelists:
• Mike Norton, Former Environment Programme Director, European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC)
• Prof. Zvi Ben-Avraham, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities & Tel Aviv University

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea is a climate change hotspot, warming significantly faster than the global ocean average. This lecture explores the profound consequences of this accelerated change. We will examine how increasing sea temperatures affect marine biodiversity and facilitate the spread of invasive species. The lecture will also address the interconnected impacts of ocean acidification on marine calcifiers, as well as the alarming sea-level rise threatening coastal communities and ecosystems. Furthermore, we will discuss how the increasing frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves further compound these stressors. By synthesizing the latest scientific data, this lecture aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current and future challenges facing the Mediterranean, underscoring the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation strategies to safeguard this unique marine basin.

About the Speaker

Aristomenis P. Karageorgis is a sea-going oceanographer with over 30 years of research experience in sedimentology, geochemistry, and marine optics. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Since 2010, he has served as Greece's National Focal Point to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. He is the coordinator of the EMME-CCI Task Force on Marine Environment, and the lead author of the Task Force’s Report.

Dr. Karageorgis served as Director of the Institute of Oceanography at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) from 2018 to 2025, and is currently the Director and President of the HCMR Board.

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