Dr. Laura Giuliano is in charge to enhance dialogue among 22 Member States around innovative research topics, and to strengthen CIESM relations with other inter-governmental Commissions / networks of Funding Agencies. Her efforts range from the conception and organization of the ‘CIESM-SUB’ multidisciplinary oceanographic campaigns to the advising of Funding Agencies on Mediterranean common marine research priorities and regional specificities (i.e. she co-edited CIESM contribution to the EU Green Paper on Marine and Maritime Policy). Direct responsible for collaboration with ICES, EU, ESF-MB, EUCC and the WATERBORNE platforms (MARCOM+, EU CSA, fp7). Fully engaged in the organization of the 38th and 39th CIESM Congresses (the last one with a record number of about 1000 participants of different nationalities, and over 900 communications in 50 distinct sessions). In the spirit of using research cooperation to advance towards a better policy, she has built-up the CIESM programme on biotechnology matching it with a multi-cultural / multi-sector analytical exercise aiming to advance towards IPRs related issues and the equitable sharing of benefits derived from ‘bioprospecting’ in the Mediterranean. This action evolved along research workshops, large-scale debates, a pilot study (in cooperation with WTO, and CBD), and direct interventions at UN level (NY, USA, 2011). Dr. Giuliano’s commitment towards the harmonization of research and policy practices includes efforts in benchmarking Mediterranean national strategies, facilitating debates on common strategic options, spreading base-line protocols, advocating the sharing of information (including research data) through co-managed databases etc. Previously a researcher (DRII) at CNR (IT), appointed Head of the Horizontal Axes ‘Sustainability of Earth and Aquatic environments’ (integrating 16 research axes and 87 researchers) at the Direction of the Dept. “Earth and Environment”, and major responsible for its operational strategy and future perspectives at national and international level. Member of national and international science evaluation committees for the selection of proposals to be granted (EU fp6, fp7 INCO 2003, 2011 PNEC-Fr 2001-2004) or for reporting on research laboratory activities (CNRS, FR). Italian Ambassador for ISME. Referee and Guest Editor of various international journals (FEMS Deep-Sea Res. Microbial Biotechnology). Author of more than 40 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals (including PNAS, Science, Nature).