Javier Arístegui

Javier Arístegui is a Full Professor of Ecology at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and Coordinator of the Biological Oceanography Group at the Institute of Oceanography and Global Change (IOCAG). He has held leadership roles, including Director of the Marine Technology Service (SITMA) (2015-2018) and Director of the Canary Islands Observatory for Harmful Algae (OC-HABs) since 2020. His research focuses on marine ecosystems, climate change impacts, mesoscale processes in upwelling regions, and ocean-based CO₂ sequestration strategies like artificial upwelling and ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE).

He has supervised 17 PhD students and numerous Master’s students in biological oceanography. With over 170 publications (h-index 47), his work spans high-impact journals like *Science* and *Nature*. He coordinates 37 research projects and has participated in 40+ oceanographic campaigns globally, including the Southern Ocean. Arístegui is a co-Editor-in-Chief of *Deep-Sea Research Part II*, and a member of key scientific bodies like SCOR Working Groups 155 and 161, addressing Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems and mesopelagic respiration.

His research trends emphasize experimental approaches (mesocosms), ocean carbon cycle dynamics, and the biogeochemical impacts of climate engineering. Recent articles highlight OAE’s effects on plankton communities and artificial upwelling’s role in carbon sequestration. Awards include the Helmholtz International Fellow Award (2015) and a UNESCO Chair (2021).

Advising and grants: 17 PhD students, 37 projects (national/European). Labs/teams include IOCAG, SITMA, and OC-HABs. His work bridges field observations, experimental mesocosm studies, and global modeling to address climate change and marine sustainability challenges.