Academic Background

Title: DOCTOR – PH.D. IN GEOGRAPHY OF PUBLIC GREEN SPACES, TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, IRELAND

Research Experience and Interests

Integration of Nature in the City: Ideals in the Construction of Public Green Space in Urban Contexts

  • Exploring the mutual influences and dynamics existing between landscaped nature and urbanism
  • Historico-geographical, social, architectural and political aspects behind the construction and/or deconstruction of public green space
  • Exploration of ideas contributing to the expression of human creativity in the landscaped city of the future
  • The search for a harmonious equilibrium between, on the one hand a human need for control and security, and on the other, the need to protect biodiversity

Presentations at International Conferences

Conference of Irish Geographers – NUI Maynooth, May 7-9, 2004. Ireland

Conference of Irish Geographers – Trinity College, Dublin, May 2-4, 2003. Ireland

Seminar, Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 29 October, 2002. Singapore

7th World Leisure Congress, Kuala Lumpur, 21-25 October, 2002. Malesia

Conference of Irish Geographers- University of Ulster, Derry, May 3-5, 2002. U.K.

Irish Geography Postgraduate Training Consortium, 3rd annual Meeting, Bellinter House, Navan Co. Meath, 8-10 February 2002. Ireland

Conference of the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers, Belfast, January 2-6, 2002. U.K.

Seminar, School of Architecture, UCD, Dublin, 23 November, 2001. Ireland

11th International Conference of Historical Geographers, Quebec City, August 12-18, 2001. Canada

Irish Geography Postgraduate Training Consortium, 2nd annual Meeting, Bellinter House, Navan Co. Meath, 19-21 January 2001. Ireland

Academic Awards and Distinctions

2004 Freeman Scholarship, Department of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin.

2002 Thomas Dammann Memorial Trust Award, The Arts Council (Ireland) Survey of a Spanish city’s park system: Parc Güell/Barcelona. Project sponsored by The Arts Council.

2002 Historical Geography Research Group Award (U.K.)

2001-2004 Government of Ireland Research Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Ireland)

2001 The Canadian Studies Travel Scholarship (Canada) Research Placement in the Université de Montréal: Study and survey of a Canadian city’s park system – Supervisor: Prof. Michèle Dagenais. Project sponsored by The Canadian Studies Travel Scholarship.

2000 Trinity Award (Ireland)

1999 “Leonardo Project” research Scholarship, to the National Natural History Museum of Paris (France)

1997 “Supremae Dignitatis” medal for graduation result achieved in the Laurea Degree, University of Pisa (Italy). Result: 110/110 cum laude.

1995-96-97 Awarded maximum university fees waiver for achieving highest annual undergraduate examination results in the Natural Sciences (University of Pisa, Italy)