Prof. Laura De Gara is a Full Professor of Plant Physiology at the Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health at the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (UCBM) in Italy.

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Beginning her academic journey with a Laurea in Biological Science in 1981, she quickly ascended the ranks, serving as an Assistant Researcher in 1982, and later becoming a Researcher at the Department of Botany at the University of Bari in 1984. Subsequently, she held positions as an Associate Professor in 1998, and later as a Full Professor of Plant Physiology, first at the University of Bari in 2005 and then at UCBM in 2009.

Her influence extends beyond her academic duties. She has held numerous key roles in various prestigious organizations and committees. Notable among these are her presidency of the Italian Society of Plant Biology, her position as Deputy Vice Chancellor and Prorector for Education at UCBM, her vice-presidency of the Italian Society of Plant Biology and her secretary-generalship of the Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology.

Her research focuses on plant resilience to climate change and environmental stresses, redox signaling and oxidative stress in plants, polyphenols, fructans, prebiotics, functional foods, and biodiversity. She has made significant contributions to the field, evident from her extensive publication record comprising 188 publications and an impressive H-index of 45 according to Scopus as of March 2024.

Beyond her academic and research pursuits, she actively engages in international cooperation and holds a passion for nature.

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Talk: "Plant Biodiversity: from the challenges of climate change to the valorization of ethnobotany"