Dr. Athena Economou-Amilli is an emeritus professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and served as director of section ecology and systematics in the Department of Biology, as well as in the Botanical Museum and the Botanical Garden. Her expertise in Aquatic Hydrobiology is associated with her knowledge of microalgae, both in systematics and ecology, and the publication of over 100 scientific papers in international journals. She served as president of the IDS and as a member of editorial boards of relevant international journals, as well as in separate editions. She has organized many international conferences and participated in scientific projects at an international level.