Georgios Kazanidis

Dr Georgios Kazanidis is a marine biologist focusing on deep-sea ecosystems. He completed his graduate studies in Greece, and his postgraduate studies in oceanography at the National Oceanography Centre of the University of Southampton, UK. He holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. His doctoral thesis focused on the ecology of deep-sea sponges, showing for the first time their key role in biodiversity and in the elemental cycling in cold-water coral reefs.

In the context of his postdoctoral research for Η2020 ATLAS project at the University of Edinburgh, Dr Kazanidis explored the structure and function of deep-sea ecosystems in the northeast Atlantic, focusing on the impact of human activities and climate change on biodiversity of cold-water coral reefs and deep-sea sponge grounds.

In collaboration with Dr Covadonga Orejas from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, he co-led an ATLAS team of experts. Their aim was to enable the implementation of the European Commission’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive / achievement of “Good Environmental Status” in the deep ecosystems of the North Atlantic. This particular ATLAS team consisted of more than twenty, internationally renowned marine biologists from Europe, Canada and the USA, who joined forces in order to facilitate the implementation of this ambitious policy concerning the deep sea of the North Atlantic.

In recognition of his efforts to further human knowledge on deep-sea ecosystems and conserve them for future generations, in 2018 Dr Kazanidis was nominated by the UK government to participate in the Pool of Experts for the United Nations’ Second World Ocean Assessment. In November 2020, he was Highly Commended in the “Nature of Scotland – Conservation Science Award for Early Career Researchers” in recognition of his efforts to advance scientific knowledge and conserve deep-sea ecosystems for future generations.