Prof. Inġ. Claire De Marco graduated with a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Malta (UM) and obtained a doctorate and post-doctorate from the University of Reading, UK, researching Tearing of Packaging Materials and Tearing of Ships’ Plating upon Grounding, respectively. She is currently a member of the Department of Engineering at the University of Malta (UM). Her research is mainly in Maritime Engineering and Applied Engineering Mechanics, predominantly in the field of naval architecture, light weight composite materials and sandwich structures, impact mechanics, structural analysis and fracture mechanics. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications and scientist reports. Claire is the coordinator of the area of study in Maritime Engineering, Chair of the University Maritime Platform and the University representative for the Malta Maritime Forum and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, RINA, UK. Prof. Inġ. Claire De Marco has coordinated a H2020 EU-funded project, several UM Maritime Seed Awards and the Malta Council of Science and Technology (MCST) and UM research awards, and has been an investigator in several local and internationally funded projects.