Mariana is a Senior Project Manager for Geonardo Environmental Technologies focusing on EU funded projects in the areas of Blue Economy and Science Education. She was the coordinator of AQUA-LIT project, focusing on developing with the aquaculture sector a toolbox to bring together existing, upcoming and implemented tools, case studies, best practices, policy recommendations and action plans for addressing the 3 main components of marine littering: prevention & reduction, monitoring & quantification, and removal & recycling. Currently, she is helping develop the Knowledge Exchange Platform for the COASTAL project, focused on bringing evidence-based solutions and policy recommendations for creating synergies and business opportunities between the coastal and rural areas in Europe.