Dr Ant Türkmen is a marine scientist and science-policy facilitator based in Lecce, Italy, where he serves as Scientific Networking Officer at LifeWatch ERIC, Europe’s e-Science research infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystems. Drawing on more than 20 years of work in ecology, spatial planning and blue-economy governance, he designs engagement strategies that connect researchers, policymakers and stakeholders and guides thematic working groups that translate cutting-edge science into practical solutions.

Dr Türkmen is a Lead Author of the IPBES Nexus Assessment, analysing the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food, health and climate change, and an Expert in the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS), contributing to global reporting on the state of the marine environment. Within UNESCO’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Global Programme he acts as thematic expert on MSP and the Sustainable Blue Economy, and he co-leads working groups in the EU-COST Action SEA-UNICORN, which advances knowledge on marine connectivity. He also supports capacity-building and summer-school programmes at the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Blue Economy (EMUNI University, Slovenia).

Earlier in his career Dr Türkmen led projects on marine protected areas, integrated coastal-zone management and ecosystem-based fisheries management across the Eastern Mediterranean, and directed marine operations for Turkish and international NGOs. His portfolio spans policy briefs, technical guides, environmental and social impact assessments, coastal sensitivity mapping, marine habitat mapping and oil-spill contingency planning.

Areas of specialisation

• Sustainable Blue Growth & Ocean Governance

• Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP)

• Ecosystem-based Management & MPA resilience

• Sustainability of Ecosystem Services & Climate-change impacts

• Transformative Technologies & Data Literacy

• Environmental & Social Impact Assessment

• Coastal Sensitivity and Habitat Mapping

• Oil-spill Response & Contingency Planning

• Health & Safety Management for field operations

• Underwater video/photography & documentary production

Passionate about harnessing transformative technologies to strengthen science-policy-society interactions, Ant Türkmen continues to build collaborative networks that drive innovative, evidence-based stewardship of marine and coastal ecosystems.