Barbara Mikac is a Junior Assistant Professor at the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Bologna, Italy. She holds a BSc in Biology (University of Zagreb, UniZg), MSc in Oceanography (UniZg) and PhD in Marine Sciences (UniZg). Her research interests encompass benthic zoology and ecology, natural and anthropogenic impacts on marine environment, marine biodiversity, conservation of marine species and habitats, integrative taxonomy, and spreading of alien biota in the Mediterranean Sea. She has worked on various research projects, applied studies, and environmental impact assessment studies at different research institutions in Croatia and Italy. She has also been engaged in marine environmental monitoring, environmental education, and science dissemination activities.