CIESM institutional mission to Cyprus — Scientific cooperation, national dialogue and shared Mediterranean priorities
CIESM Director General Dr. Laura Giuliano recently led an institutional mission to Cyprus, accompanied by Prof. Christian Gorini (Chair of Committee 6, Sorbonne University) and Dr. Lucien Montadert, expert in petroleum geology and Eastern Mediterranean geodynamics. The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation with national institutions on key scientific and environmental topics — including seismic risk, invasive species, advanced monitoring technologies, and the alignment of national actions with CIESM’s regional mission.
The delegation began its programme in the Troodos mountains, where it met with Dr. Zomenia Zomeni, Senior Geological Officer and Head of the Engineering Geology and Geohazard Section at the Geological Survey Department (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment). This first field visit included discussions on the geological significance of the region, as well as the environmental recovery of the former asbestos mines of Amiantos, part of a large-scale rehabilitation project within a Natura 2000 protected area. The conversation also laid the groundwork for the planning of a future CIESM scientific workshop in Cyprus, with local anchoring and regional outreach.
The following institutional meetings focused on how science and data can better support national strategies for risk preparedness, habitat resilience, and sustainable coastal development. In Nicosia, the delegation met with Dr. Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou, Director of the Geological Survey Department, and with Mr. Stelios Nicolaides, Director of the Hydrocarbons Service at the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. The exchanges addressed the use of seismic and geological data in national planning, especially in the context of growing vulnerability of coastal zones to natural hazards.
At the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (Ministry of Agriculture), Dr. Giuliano was welcomed by Dr. Marina Argyrou, Director and Cyprus delegate to the CIESM Board, along with her team. The discussions focused on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of invasive marine species, the role of habitat mapping in tracking climate-induced changes, and the potential for sustainable valorisation of species such as lionfish. This meeting also served as a valuable moment to align CIESM’s ongoing scientific programmes with national efforts, confirming the shared priorities of the Commission and this active Member State.
The mission concluded with a visit to the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) in Larnaca. There, the delegation met with CEO Dr. Zacharias Siokouros and Dr. Louis Hadjioannou, Senior Researcher in Marine Ecology. The CMMI team presented the Institute’s forward-looking positioning at the crossroads of research, technology and policymaking. Exchanges covered coral resilience, marine innovation, and the application of advanced monitoring tools — including autonomous vehicles (AUVs), seismic equipment, and AI-based technologies — to support evidence-based marine governance.
Throughout the mission, Dr. Giuliano reiterated the importance of embedding scientific knowledge into national strategies, and of considering both technological and human dimensions — particularly local risk perceptions — in managing Mediterranean marine environments.
CIESM extends its sincere thanks to all institutional partners and individuals who contributed to this productive and insightful mission:
Dr. Zomenia Zomeni and Dr. Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou (Geological Survey Department),
Dr. Marina Argyrou and her team (Department of Fisheries and Marine Research),
Mr. Stelios Nicolaides (Hydrocarbons Service),
and Dr. Zacharias Siokouros and Dr. Louis Hadjioannou (Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute).
