Alice Puppin
We will host a Virtual Coffee Hour with Alice on August 10th, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT.
You can register here for the event.
Tell us about yourself:
I'm an environmental scientist and currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) in Venice, Italy. I hold a PhD in Geosciences from the University of Padua. My research spans coastal wetland ecogeomorphology, blue carbon, and the assessment of nature-based solutions and climate adaptation strategies, with the overarching goal of supporting more sustainable and resilient coastal management. I enjoy working at the intersection of geomorphology, sedimentology, ecology, carbon cycling, environmental assessment, and governance because understanding and managing coastal socio-ecological systems requires a truly interdisciplinary perspective. What motivates me most is helping bridge scientific understanding with practical decision-making to support healthier coastal ecosystems and more resilient communities.
What is your research about?
My research focuses on understanding how coastal ecosystems respond to environmental change and how science can support effective climate adaptation. During my PhD at the University of Padua, I investigated the ecomorphodynamics and blue carbon potential of salt marshes in the Venice Lagoon and other northern Adriatic coastal wetlands, exploring how these ecosystems store carbon and respond to climate change and other human pressures. By combining field observations and laboratory analyses, I contributed to improving our understanding of carbon storage in these environments and to developing one of the most comprehensive assessments of blue carbon in the Venice Lagoon. At CMCC, my research has expanded to evaluate the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and adaptation strategies in coastal socio-ecological systems.
What excites you about your research?
What excites me most is the process of discovery. I enjoy collecting data, analyzing it, and uncovering patterns that reveal how natural systems work. Every dataset tells a story, and I find it incredibly rewarding when different pieces of evidence come together to answer a scientific question. I also love that my work takes me outdoors, from salt marshes and tidal channels to conversations with the people who live and work in these environments. Being able to combine fieldwork, data analysis, and collaboration makes every project unique. Most importantly, I value knowing that the knowledge we generate can contribute to better environmental management and help society address the challenges of climate change.
What broader importance does your research have for society?
When people think about climate solutions or coastal protection, nature-based solutions such as wetland conservation and restoration are rarely the first approaches that come to mind. Yet these ecosystems quietly sequester and store carbon, reduce flood risks, support biodiversity, and sustain coastal communities. My research aims to provide the scientific evidence needed to quantify and communicate these multiple benefits and to help decision-makers manage coastal environments more sustainably. I am particularly interested in demonstrating the value of nature-based solutions as effective strategies for climate adaptation and resilience. Ultimately, I hope my work contributes to a broader shift toward seeing people and nature as interconnected parts of the same system, encouraging decisions that benefit both ecosystems and society over the long term.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Earth Science?
I've always been curious about how the natural world works. Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors—in the mountains, the countryside, and by the sea—and I loved learning to recognize plants, animals, and rocks. At school, I discovered that science was a fascinating way to understand the processes shaping our planet. As I learned more about challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, I realized I wanted to contribute to finding solutions. Earth science offered the opportunity to combine my curiosity about nature with the possibility of generating knowledge that can help protect ecosystems and improve the way we interact with our environment.
What are your short and/or long-term goals in your EPSP journey?
In the short term, I hope to continue developing as an independent researcher while expanding my collaborations with scientists from different disciplines and countries. I believe that exchanging ideas and perspectives is one of the most valuable parts of science. In the long term, I would like my research to have a tangible impact by supporting evidence-based decisions for coastal management and climate adaptation. My goal is to contribute knowledge that is not only scientifically robust but also useful for society, helping build more sustainable and resilient coastal communities.
Given unlimited funding and access to resources, what is your dream project that you would pursue?
I would develop an international, long-term research program combining extensive field observations, remote sensing, experiments, and modeling to better understand how coastal wetlands respond to climate change and different management strategies. The goal would be to build reliable tools capable of predicting the outcomes of restoration projects and nature-based solutions under future scenarios. An equally important part of the project would be working closely with local communities, policymakers, and other stakeholders. By combining scientific data with local knowledge, we could co-develop solutions that are both scientifically sound and practical, making it easier to implement and scale up effective nature-based solutions worldwide.
What else do you do? Any hobbies or interests outside of work?
Outside of research, rugby is a significant part of my life. I play competitive rugby in Italy, and the sport has taught me resilience, teamwork, and the importance of working toward a shared goal, qualities that I also bring into my research. Beyond the competitive side, I appreciate the strong sense of community that rugby can create, and I enjoy building relationships and being part of a team where people support each other while striving to achieve something meaningful together. Beyond rugby, I enjoy spending time outdoors through hiking, cycling, and exploring nature, especially when I can share these experiences with people close to me. In the future, I would like to continue contributing to my community through activities that promote science communication and sustainability awareness, bringing the knowledge and perspectives I gain from my research into everyday conversations and local initiatives. I believe that meaningful change also begins at a community level, through sharing ideas and building connections.