Dr. Ifigenia Kagalou is a Professor in the field of "Water Environment Protection & Ecology" at the Department of Civil Engineering of the Polytechnic School , Democritus University of Thrace. She has a  doctoral degree  in ecology & water hygiene and postdoctoral studies at the University of Western Australia (Perth) and her research activity extends to the monitoring, protection and management of  aquatic ecosystems combined with applied practice in "real conditions" where decisions affect society, the economy and the environment She is the author and/or co-author of  70  scientific articles in scientific journals, 130 conference proceedings, 3 book volumes and more than 100 scientific communications .  She has received funding from more than 25 European and National research projects  and is a reviewer in more than 10 scientific journals. She was for 14 years in the role of President of Lake Ecosystem Management Bodies (Pamvotidas and Karlas), she is a National representative for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, while she was also a regular member of the NATURE 2000 Committee.