Dr. Vakalas Ioannis has more than 20 years of experience in a wide aspect of geological subjects (sedimentology, petroleum geology, hydrogeology, soil and rock mechanics). He has served as a sub-contractor for major firms of the Energy Sector in Greece (Energean Oil and Gas, Repsol, Hellenic Petroleum Upstream, Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company), supervising many projects of Oil and Gas Exploration. He received a BSc from the Geological Department of Patras University and an MSc from the National Technical University of Athens. His PhD thesis (Geology Department, Patra University) focused on the paleogeographic evolution of submarine fans in western Greece and the distribution of potential sandstone reservoir units. He has more than six years of teaching experience as a lecturer and assistant professor in the fields of sedimentology and physical geology, general geology, geological mapping, and analysis of coastal processes. He has participated in and supervised various research programs in the fields of marine and petroleum geology. His research interests are currently focused on basin and reservoir analysis, structural geology, sedimentology, and marine geology. Since 2022 he has held an assistant professor position in the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens.