Silvia Blanco Gonzalez

Silvia Blanco González is an environmental scientist focused on sustainable seaweed cultivation and bioactive compound research. Her research ranges from Caulerpa spp. farming projects in Samoa to Ulva spp. cultivation, with particular attention to Asparagopsis taxiformis and its remarkable capacity to produce high-value bioactive metabolites. She strives to combine ecological understanding with practical innovation to advance efficient and resilient seaweed production.

She holds a PhD from the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia), where she investigated the culture and bioactive natural products of the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis. She also holds a Master’s in Aquaculture and Fisheries from the University of the Algarve (Portugal) and a Master’s in Chemical Science and Technology from the UNED (Spain).

In 2018, Silvia moved to Bantry Marine Research Station Ltd. (Ireland), where she worked for three years on a nationally funded project focused on the cultivation of the brown kelp species Alaria esculenta and the characterisation and quantification of its bioactive compounds. During this period, she also managed the seaweed farm operations. Between 2018 and 2019, she contributed to the Methane Reduction in Cattle project, funded by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which aimed to quantify bromoform in different seaweed species present in Irish waters. Silvia is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the International Society of Applied Phycology (ISAP), where she contributes to advancing the global application of seaweed science and promoting sustainable development within the phycology community.