BOLDROCCHI GINEVRA

Ginevra Boldrocchi is a Research Fellow (RTD-A) in Ecology (BIOS-05/A) at the University of Insubria, Italy. In 2024, she obtained the National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for the position of Associate Professor in Ecology. She has conducted research and training activities in Italy, the United States, and Djibouti, and earned a PhD cum laude in Chemical and Environmental Sciences from the University of Insubria.
Her research lies at the interface between marine ecology, ecotoxicology, biodiversity conservation, and science communication. She develops interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding marine ecosystems through the integration of ecological, toxicological, and conservation approaches, with particular emphasis on species distribution, habitat use, trophic interactions, and ecosystem responses to anthropogenic pressures.
Her ecotoxicological research focuses on the occurrence, distribution, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of contaminants in aquatic food webs, including trace elements, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), microplastics, and emerging contaminants. Her work investigates contaminant transfer across trophic levels, from planktonic organisms to top predators, and evaluates implications for ecosystem health, biodiversity conservation, and human exposure through seafood consumption.
She serves as Principal Investigator and Scientific Coordinator of several national and international research programmes. These include the project Assessment of the Contamination Status of the Whale Shark in the Indian Ocean, funded through a competitive grant scheme at the University of Insubria; the National Geographic Society-supported project Habitat Use and Movements of the Whale Shark in Djibouti; The Canyon of Caprera project, supported by the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative and developed in collaboration with One Ocean Foundation; and Marine Adventure for Research & Education (M.A.R.E.), an initiative combining scientific research, environmental education, citizen science, and public outreach.
Throughout her career, she has established and coordinated collaborations involving universities, research institutions, governmental agencies, NGOs, and conservation organizations operating in the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Indian Ocean.
She is the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications in the fields of marine ecology, ecotoxicology, and biodiversity conservation. Her research has been published in international journals including Environmental Science & Technology, Scientific Reports, Environmental Pollution, Science of the Total Environment, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Marine Policy, Ecological Indicators, and Chemosphere. She also acts as reviewer for numerous international scientific journals in ecology, marine sciences, and environmental toxicology.
Alongside her research activities, she is actively involved in higher education through teaching and student supervision at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. She teaches courses in ecology, aquatic ecosystems, environmental communication, and science outreach, and has supervised numerous Bachelor's and Master's students.
A significant component of her work is dedicated to public engagement and science communication. Through educational programmes, citizen science initiatives, public lectures, and collaborations with foundations, institutions, and NGOs, she promotes ocean literacy and public awareness of marine conservation challenges. Her research and conservation activities have received extensive media coverage from national and international outlets, including CNN, Rai, National Geographic Italia, Corriere della Sera, La Stampa, Focus, and Il Post.
Her scientific activities have contributed to the international recognition of areas of high conservation value, including the designation of the Caprera Canyon as a Mission Blue Hope Spot and the recognition of Djibouti as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group.