Also the 2016 edition of the TCM wants to pay a tribute, in this case to three people that have pioneered (altogether with others) the field of modern Mediterranean oceanography. They are Dr. Marta Estrada, Dr. Jordi Font and Dr. Jordi Salat, who have developed practically all their careers at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Barcelona and that this year have reached the retirement age.

 

Marta Estrada

Degree in biology and medicine and PhD in biology, research professor at the Institute of Marine Science in Barcelona (CSIC). A pioneer of biological oceanography in Spain, her career has focused on the ecology of marine phytoplankton and particularly on the diversity and dynamics of phytoplankton communities and the interactions between physical and biological processes in pelagic ecosystems. Her work has developed from the analysis of observations obtained in numerous oceanographic cruises in the Mediterranean Sea and across the global oceans. In 1995 the Generalitat de Catalunya awarded her with the Narcís Monturiol Medal for her merits in science and technologhy, in 1999 was appointed as Academic of the Reial Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona, and in 2004 the Generalitat de Catalunya awarded her with the Creu de Sant Jordi.

 

Jordi Font

Degree and PhD in Physics, research professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Barcelona (CSIC). One of the pioneers of Spanish physical oceanography, his career has focused on the dynamics of ocean surface layer, the measurement of ocean currents and ocean remote sensing, with special interest in Western basin of the Mediterranean Sea. He has been the Principal Investigator of the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission of the European Space Agency. In 2011, his career was recognized by the Consell Nacional de la Cultura i de les Arts in the category of Scientific knowledge and culture.

 

Jordi Salat

Degree in mathematics, researcher of the Institute of Marine Sciences, CSIC. Is one of the pioneers of Spanish physical oceanography. He is a versatil researcher with a long experience in the acquisition and processing of oceanographic data and an extensive knowledge on water mases and marine processes. He has often applied his knowledge on ocean dynamics to the understanding of marine populations, specially in fisheries. His studies on ocean dynamics and water masses have focused mainly on the Western basin of the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean.