Dr. Mariana Mayer Pinto

Biography

Mariana Mayer Pinto is an Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney, specializing in Marine Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of Sydney (2009), a Master of Science in Zoology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2004), and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the same institution (2001). Before embarking on her academic career at UNSW in 2013, she worked as a private consultant, leading data analyses for significant environmental projects in Australia, including the Gorgon Project for Chevron. Her research primarily focuses on understanding the mechanisms underpinning biodiversity and functioning within marine ecosystems, with a particular interest in anthropogenic stressors such as urbanization and contamination. Mariana is a co-leader of the Living Seawalls project, which aims to enhance marine life along concrete coastlines globally. She adopts a multidisciplinary, field-based approach in her research, which has significantly advanced knowledge and provided critical information for policy and marine management. In recognition of her contributions, her project has been a finalist for the Earthshot Prize and has received several awards, including the NSW Sustainability Award in the biodiversity category.

Research Interests

Awards