“I think careers are a 20th Century invention and I don’t want one.

You don’t need to worry about me; I have a college education.

I’m not destitute. I’m living like this by choice”.

Christopher McCandless

Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Ph.D. is an Italian ecologist, conservation biologist, and evolutionist. He is an Associate Professor of Biological Diversity and Conservation at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) of the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Italy, where he is also a member of the BIOME – Biodiversity and Macroecology Lab.

From 2015 to 2021, he served as an Associate Professor at the Biological Institute and as the Head and Scientific coordinator of the International MSc Program in Biodiversity at the Tomsk State University, in Russia.

In parallel to his professorship in Russia: in 2021, he also worked for a semester as an Associate Professor of Ecology at the Polytechnic of Rouen (UniLaSalle) in France; in 2020-2021, he received the prestigious Senior Research Fellowship of the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition in Austria; in 2018-2019, he joined the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources of Purdue University in the USA as a Research Associate; and in Summer 2019, he was a Visiting Professor of the Beijing Forestry University in China to teach Biodiversity to international Ph.D. students.

In 2018, he was included among the 105 interdisciplinary “visionary smart thinkers” by the renowned magazine “Motherboard” of the Vice Media Group.

His research deals with the differing shades of Biological Diversity and Conservation (plant, animal, ecosystems), and Global Environmental Protection occurring, therefore, at the interface between macroecology, evolutionary biology, biogeography, and behavioural ecology.

In his spare time, he also writes books and popular scientific articles, paints naturalistic watercolours, hikes and works as a freelance documentary photographer and wildlife filmmaker.

He coordinates geographic and scientific explorations of some of the most remote places on Earth.

He studied at a Science High School and then graduated in Biology (Bachelor’s Degree, BSc), defending a thesis in Marine Ecology (“Demersal Mediterranean marine resources monitoring”), and in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (Master’s Degree, MSc) at the University of Bari, Italy, defending a thesis in Zoology and Anthropology (“Primate visual system and stereopsis”).

He holds a PhD in Forest Ecology earned at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy, studying the tropical forests of Africa and their biodiversity (PhD in Tropical Forest Ecology), defending a thesis titled “The anthropogenic impacts on tropical forest ecology and dynamics”.

He holds a PhD in Forest Ecology earned at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy, studying the tropical forests of Africa and their biodiversity (PhD in Tropical Forest Ecology), defending a thesis titled “The anthropogenic impacts on tropical forest ecology and dynamics”.He holds a PhD in Forest Ecology earned at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy, studying the tropical forests of Africa and their biodiversity (PhD in Tropical Forest Ecology), defending a thesis titled “The anthropogenic impacts on tropical forest ecology and dynamics”.He holds a PhD in Forest Ecology earned at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy, studying the tropical forests of Africa and their biodiversity (PhD in Tropical Forest Ecology), defending a thesis titled “The anthropogenic impacts on tropical forest ecology and dynamics”.

He also holds with Hons a II Level Master’s Degree in International Policies and Global Environmental Protection earned at the Tuscia University in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of the Environment, defending a thesis on “Africa: biodiversity and climate change”.

He attended the School of “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services” at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany with an internship in Peyresq, Alpes de Haute-Provence, France.

He conducted research for two years, as a post-doc in tropical ecology and biodiversity, at the Impacts on Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems Division (IAFENT) of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC)-University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy).

He conducted research for two years, as a post-doc in tropical ecology and biodiversity, at the Impacts on Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems Division (IAFENT) of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC)-University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy).He conducted research for two years, as a post-doc in tropical ecology and biodiversity, at the Impacts on Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems Division (IAFENT) of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC)-University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy).He conducted research for two years, as a post-doc in tropical ecology and biodiversity, at the Impacts on Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems Division (IAFENT) of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC)-University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy).

During the last 8 years, he has been conducting field research in Europe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, India, Indonesia, Serbia, Australia, Russia, China and USA.

During the last 8 years, he has been conducting field research in Europe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, India, Indonesia, Serbia, Australia, Russia, China and USA.During the last 8 years, he has been conducting field research in Europe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, India, Indonesia, Serbia, Australia, Russia, China and USA.During the last 8 years, he has been conducting field research in Europe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, India, Indonesia, Serbia, Australia, Russia, China and USA.

He collaborated as an ecoguide and video-photographic consultant with the “Fondation Italo-Gabonese pour l’Ecoturism” (FIGET). At the beginning of 2015, funded by FIGET program, he walked for 150 km in the unexplored part of the Ivindo National Park in Gabon to raise awareness of its delicate and unique ecosystems and document the incredible wildlife hosted in the park and their fragility to human activities.

He wrote and published several guidebooks, a novel-essay book, three academic textbooks in English, Italian and Russian, and five photographic books.

He collaborated with the University of Calcutta, India, for research studies on biodiversity and ecosystems of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve.

He led groups of university students in tropical forests of Africa for 3 years to supervise their thesis’ data collection and analyses. He was co-supervisor of two bachelor’s degree thesis on the ecology and biodiversity of the tropical forest of Africa at the Tuscia University, Italy and a Ph.D. thesis on Sundarbans mangrove ecosystems at the University of Calcutta, India.

For four years he worked as an environmental advisor at the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Water and Earth), and for many years he was a member and consultant of the WWF Italy.

He is a member of the CEM (Commission on Ecosystem Management), SSC (Species Survival Commission) and the WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas) of the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature).

For the IUCN he is also the co-team leader of to the Climate Change Adaptation Group, with which – in November 2010 – he published a book titled “Building resilience to climate change: case -studies and lessons from the fields”, IUCN, 2010 Special Series.

For the IUCN he is also the co-team leader of to the Climate Change Adaptation Group, with which – in November 2010 – he published a book titled “Building resilience to climate change: case -studies and lessons from the fields”, IUCN, 2010 Special Series.For the IUCN he is also the co-team leader of to the Climate Change Adaptation Group, with which – in November 2010 – he published a book titled “Building resilience to climate change: case -studies and lessons from the fields”, IUCN, 2010 Special Series.For the IUCN he is also the co-team leader of to the Climate Change Adaptation Group, with which – in November 2010 – he published a book titled “Building resilience to climate change: case -studies and lessons from the fields”, IUCN, 2010 Special Series.

He is a member of the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI).

He coordinated for five years, with the WWF and the State Forestry Corps in Italy, as a biologist, the recovery and first aid of wildlife in trouble for wildlife rehabilitation centers (CRAS) of Puglia and he was an ecoguard in antipoaching patrols on the Ischia island and in Puglia.

Since 2014, he serves as the scientific director of two WWF protected areas in Southern Italy.

Since 2014, he serves as the scientific director of two WWF protected areas in Southern Italy.Since 2014, he serves as the scientific director of two WWF protected areas in Southern Italy.Since 2014, he serves as the scientific director of two WWF protected areas in Southern Italy.

In 2007, he worked in the WWF Protected Area “Le Cesine” in Lecce on fire monitoring and the study of the dunal-saltwater ecosystem.

In 2008, he worked at the Center for sea turtle recovery of the CTS Brancaleone (RC) for the monitoring of nests, rehabilitation, and reintroduction of injured sea turtles, taking care of health in the containers and underwater accompaniment during the release.

In 2009, he worked in Indonesia, at the recovery center “Cikananga Wildlife Center” on the island of Java, making studies of ethology (especially on orangutans), collaborating on forensics and autopsy on rare Java leopards found injured or killed and paying attention to the rehabilitation of wounded animals (orangutans, langurs, gibbons, moon bears,leopards, crocodiles, birds of prey, etc.).

He conceived, after participating in some university research studies on Mediterranean marine resources, a system for 3D biometric laser measuring of ichthyofauna named “Tredifish”, which can be used in scientific studies of morphometrics and population dynamics.

He conceived, after participating in some university research studies on Mediterranean marine resources, a system for 3D biometric laser measuring of ichthyofauna named “Tredifish”, which can be used in scientific studies of morphometrics and population dynamics.He conceived, after participating in some university research studies on Mediterranean marine resources, a system for 3D biometric laser measuring of ichthyofauna named “Tredifish”, which can be used in scientific studies of morphometrics and population dynamics.He conceived, after participating in some university research studies on Mediterranean marine resources, a system for 3D biometric laser measuring of ichthyofauna named “Tredifish”, which can be used in scientific studies of morphometrics and population dynamics.

In Italy, he taught Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Bioethics at several academic and research institutions of Puglia and Lazio.

He offered consultancy for technical and scientific commissions on alternative methods to animal testing in the field of ecotoxicology and biomedicine and he tested, for the research consortium “Digamma”, the stereoscopic system of the platform “Tredimed” designed for teaching surgical 3D to target students and to those graduating in medicine and surgery at the Policlinic of Bari. This experimental system allows learning surgical and microsurgical techniques directly on human patients during surgery, avoiding the use of laboratory animals.

He collaborated, as a journalist, with some Italian newspapers and magazines such as La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Il Giornale del Territorio, Il Levante, La Piazza e La Rivista della Natura.

He collaborated, as a journalist, with some Italian newspapers and magazines such as La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Il Giornale del Territorio, Il Levante, La Piazza e La Rivista della Natura.He collaborated, as a journalist, with some Italian newspapers and magazines such as La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Il Giornale del Territorio, Il Levante, La Piazza e La Rivista della Natura.He collaborated, as a journalist, with some Italian newspapers and magazines such as La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Il Giornale del Territorio, Il Levante, La Piazza e La Rivista della Natura.

In 2015, he collaborated with the Italian magazine BioEcoGeo.

Since 2017, he collaborates with the naturalistic magazine In Natura.

From 2004 to 2007, he directed the magazine on the environment and human rights “Controcorrente”.

Since 2010, he writes articles on scientific issues for the journal Villaggio Globale, for which he writes a column entitled “The Ecological Network” and in 2014 he became scientific director of the quarterly magazine.

He is an Editorial Board member of the scientific journals Ecological Modelling (Elsevier), Biological Theory (Springer) and Sustainability (MDPI).

He is an Editorial Board member of the scientific journals Ecological Modelling (Elsevier), Biological Theory (Springer) and Sustainability (MDPI).He is an Editorial Board member of the scientific journals Ecological Modelling (Elsevier), Biological Theory (Springer) and Sustainability (MDPI).He is an Editorial Board member of the scientific journals Ecological Modelling (Elsevier), Biological Theory (Springer) and Sustainability (MDPI).

After 4 years of research in the field, in 2010, he published the book “Environments, flora and fauna of the Murgia of the southeast. Nature trips between Bari and Taranto” published by Adda Editore, Bari.

In 2013-2014 he published with Villaggio Globale editor the guide “Nature trips in the Murgia’s Puglia” and photographic books “India: the colours of the soul”, “Indonesia: the realm of beauty”, “Australia, the encyclopedia of life”, “Africa: where people and nature meet”, “Cina: cradle of pandas and the East” and “South Africa, the outpost of wildlife”.

Vegetarian and promoter of the union of economics and ecological sciences, in 2011 he founded the Society for the Economological Studies, for which he served up to 2015 as the editor-in-chief of the scientific international journal “Economology Journal”.

He published several papers in international scientific journals, including some articles that received international scientific interest on climate change biology, the autocatalytic nature of biodiversity, the ecological niche theory, on animal self-awareness, the fractal dimension of the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity, the endosymbiotic origin of biodiversity, and the global patterns of human development and environmental protection.

He also published textbooks on environmental education for primary and secondary schools such as: “We make trees from your wastes…”, WWF Ed., 2003; “We work for the environment,” Amb. Ed., 2004; and “At the school of ecology,” Amb. Ed., 2005.

He also published textbooks on environmental education for primary and secondary schools such as: “We make trees from your wastes…”, WWF Ed., 2003; “We work for the environment,” Amb. Ed., 2004; and “At the school of ecology,” Amb. Ed., 2005.He also published textbooks on environmental education for primary and secondary schools such as: “We make trees from your wastes…”, WWF Ed., 2003; “We work for the environment,” Amb. Ed., 2004; and “At the school of ecology,” Amb. Ed., 2005.He also published textbooks on environmental education for primary and secondary schools such as: “We make trees from your wastes…”, WWF Ed., 2003; “We work for the environment,” Amb. Ed., 2004; and “At the school of ecology,” Amb. Ed., 2005.

To conduct his research studies he travels widely in tropical areas and in particular in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, where he spends months studying ecology, biodiversity and the impact of human activity on ecosystems. These travels, the encounters with indigenous people and the life in the wild, inspired him to write the novel-essay “The Parado x of Civilization” published by Adda Editore in 2013 and already in its second edition.

In 2014, he published with LibreriaUniversitaria.it Editions, an academic textbook for students, teachers, and researchers on the study and analysis of biodiversity entitled “Biodiversity in theory and in practice.” This book, besides a practical approach to collect samples, estimate indices, calculate statistics and realize graphs and plots, provides the first formulation of new author’s theories on biological diversity evolution and patterns.

In 2014, he published with LibreriaUniversitaria.it Editions, an academic textbook for students, teachers, and researchers on the study and analysis of biodiversity entitled “Biodiversity in theory and in practice.” This book, besides a practical approach to collect samples, estimate indices, calculate statistics and realize graphs and plots, provides the first formulation of new author’s theories on biological diversity evolution and patterns.In 2014, he published with LibreriaUniversitaria.it Editions, an academic textbook for students, teachers, and researchers on the study and analysis of biodiversity entitled “Biodiversity in theory and in practice.” This book, besides a practical approach to collect samples, estimate indices, calculate statistics and realize graphs and plots, provides the first formulation of new author’s theories on biological diversity evolution and patterns.In 2014, he published with LibreriaUniversitaria.it Editions, an academic textbook for students, teachers, and researchers on the study and analysis of biodiversity entitled “Biodiversity in theory and in practice.” This book, besides a practical approach to collect samples, estimate indices, calculate statistics and realize graphs and plots, provides the first formulation of new author’s theories on biological diversity evolution and patterns.

In 2017, he published an academic textbook in Russian entitled “Biodiversity: theoretical basis” (“Биоразнообразие: теоретические основы”; VG Ed.).

In 2018, he published a new academic book in English entitled “Biodiversity in Time and Space” (352 pp., Nova Science Publishers, New York).

In 2021, he published his latest book entitled “I am the environment. The post-pandemic manifesto of an environmental biologist”.

His free e-learning academic course in Ecology and Biodiversity are available on the Coursera platform.

He was recently quoted in the book “Beyond the barbed wire of Green Hill. The vivisection still exists. Why and how to overcome it” (G. Felicetti & M. Kuan, Sonda Editions, 2014), within “the internationally renowned researchers” who oppose animal testing.

He was also quoted by the well-known ethologist Marc Bekoff in the book “Canine confidential” for his pioneering study on the conscience of dogs and his innovative olfactory test for self-awareness in animals that do not respond to the visual mirror test.

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