Dr. Ifigenia Kagalou is a Professor in the field of "Protection of the aquatic environment" Ecology in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic School of the University of Athens. She is a biologist (AUTh) with a PhD in water ecology from the University of Ioannina. Her research interests focus on ecology, monitoring, protection and management of inland waters, assessment of trophic conditions in (mainly) lake systems and analysis of factors affecting their structure and function. She has received funding from more than 30 European and national research projects and is a reviewer in more than 10 scientific journals. She combines research in the field of water ecosystems' management and protection with applied practice in "real conditions" where decisions affect society. She has held the role of President for 14 years in protected areas management bodies (Pamvotida and Karla Lakes), while she is a national representative for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (ECOSTAT). Further, she is a regular member of the Natura 2000 Committee. She is the author and/or co-author of more than 60 articles in scientific journals, 120 conference proceedings, 3 book volumes and more than 100 conference announcements (h-index >25).