Santander Bay
The Bay of Santander is an important economic, recreational and natural area in the northern coast of Spain (Gulf of Biscay), with a total extension of 22.5 km2. The estuarine ecosystem was significantly stressed by urban and industrial continuous untreated discharges of more than 250,000 inhabitants until 2001, when the new sewer system came into operation. The main discharge points of urban wastewater, at present, are Combined Sewage Overflows (CSO) and are located in the left side. At the left side is located the Santander’s port. The harbor of Santander is a natural harbour with four docks for general cargo. In addition, there are five marinas of recreational navigation. There are three bathing waters located inside the bay and as well, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) included within the Natura 2000 Network. The intertidal zone of the Bay (67% of the total area) is concentrated mainly in the moor of the right margin. In this intertidal zone the shellfishing of different species and bait for fishing is done by fishermen using traditional techniques. In that sense the Bay of Santander is a complex study area with environmental, social and economic services.
To promote the sustainable management and deeply understand the complex system of the Bay of Santander and its coastal environment the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the University of Cantabria “IHCantabria” carries out research, knowledge transfer and training of specialists in the water cycle. IHCantabria was founded in 2007 integrating two university departments with over twenty years of expertise in the fields of: marine and river environmental sciences; water quality; natural and anthropogenic coastal risks; hydrodynamics; sediment transport; coastal evolution; coastal structures; coastal/ports/river engineering, estuarine dynamics; transport processes; numerical and physical modelling of water-related processes and integrated coastal and river basin management.
José A. Juanes de la Peña
Biologist; PhD in Biology (University of Oviedo). Professor at the University of Cantabria. Director of Academics and Training of IHCantabria. Coordinator PhD programme on Coastal Engineering, Hydrobiology and Environmental Management of Aquatic systems (IH2O) of University of Cantabria. Research focus: marine ecology, water quality monitoring, environmental risk assessment and integrated management of aquatic systems. José has published more than 100 papers in scientific books, SCI journals and conference proceedings. He has been Principal Investigator in national and international R&D projects (CEPAL, PNUD, EC, etc.). Co-author of the Spanish National Port Recommendation of “ROM 5.1 Quality of coastal waters in port areas”.
Raul Medina Santamaría
Civil Engineer; PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Cantabria). Full Professor at the University of Cantabria. Director of IHCantabria. Vice-President of the Environmental Hydraulics Institute Foundation. Research focus: Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Planning, coastal numerical modelling, beach morphodynamics, wave hydrodynamics and wave-structure interaction, flooding risks. Raul has published 14 book chapters and more than 100 papers in scientific journals. He is Scientific Advisor of the Inter-American Development Bank, Reviewer of European Union Projects and ANEP Projects. Raul has been Principal Investigator in projects funded by Spanish CICYT, European Union as well as by several international public administrations.
Iñigo Losada Rodríguez
Civil Engineer; 2 PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Cantabria, SP; Delaware University, USA). Full Professor at the University of Cantabria. Director Research of IHCantabria. Research focus: marine renewable energies, climate change, hydrodynamics and coastal infrastructures, coastal flooding risks, adaptation and mitigation capacity. Íñigo has co-authored over 150 publications and is ranked in Essential Science Indicators as one of the top cited scientist in engineering. Member of the ASCE Coastal Engineering Research Council and of the PIANC-PTGCC Working Group on climate change adaptation for maritime and inland port and navigation infrastructure. He has been Principal Investigator in many research and transfer of knowledge projects for the EU, Spanish Ministry of Science and private companies and administrations such the Interamerican Development Bank, United Nations or the World Bank Institute.
Javier L. Lara
Civil Engineer; PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Cantabria). Professor at the University of Cantabria. Head of the Coastal Hydrodynamics and Coastal Infrastructures Group at IHCantabria. Research focus: numerical and experimental modelling of wave-structure interaction including waves, infragravity waves and tsunamis, computation fluid dynamics applied to coastal, ocean and hydraulic engineering, wave interaction with ecosystems and adaptation of coastal infrastructure to climate change. Javier has published more than 40 papers in scientific journals on these subjects. He has participated in several projects funded by the European Union and has been the main researcher in several national research projects. He is a recipient of the De Paepe-Willems Award from PIANC.
Araceli Puente Trueba
Biologist; phD in Marine Sciences (University of Cantabria). Professor at the University of Cantabria. Head of the Littoral Ecosystems Group at IHCantabria. Director of the Master on Integrated Water Systems Management of the University of Cantabria. Research focus: environmental risk assessment, monitoring of estuarine and coastal ecosystems, spatial-temporal patterns of benthic communities. She has published 5 book chapters and more than 20 papers in scientific journals and several conference proceedings. Araceli has participated in many national and international R&D projects, and has been the principal investigator of national research projects.
Andrés García Gómez
Civil Engineer; PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Cantabria). Professor at the University of Cantabria. Head of the Oceanography, Estuaries and Water Quality Group at IHCantabria. Research focus: operational oceanography, estuarine hydro and morphodynamics, water quality of inland and coastal water bodies, impact of urban and industrial discharges in water systems, oil spills. Andrés has published more than 20 papers in scientific journals. He has participated in many national and international R&D projects, and has been the principal investigator of national research projects
Ana J. Abascal Santillana
Marine Scientist; PhD in Marine Sciences (University of Cantabria). Postdoctoral researcher at IHCantabria. Research focus: numerical modelling of oil spills in the marine environment, operational oceanography, methodologies and tools to support spill response, numerical modelling of storm surge and astronomical tide. Ana has published several scientific papers. She has been involved in national and international research projects and has been the main research of several national research projects. She is a recipient of the Repsol Foundation Award and the Extraordinary Doctorate Award.
Aina G. Gómez
Chemist; PhD for the University of Cantarbria. Postdoctoral researcher at IHCantabria. Research focus: environmental risk assessment, management of water quality in port areas, innovation tools in education. Aina has published more than 10 scientific papers and several conference proceedings. She has been involved in many national and international R&D projects related to water quality in harbours, environmental impact of dredging operations and environmental risk of oil and chemical spills. She is the responsible of the MOOC “ROM 5.1 Port water quality”. Co-author of the Spanish National Port Recommendation of “ROM 5.1 Quality of coastal waters in port areas”.
Bárbara Ondiviela Eizaguirre
Marine Scientist; PhD in Marine Sciences (University of Cantabria). Postdoctoral researcher at IHCantabria. Research focus: monitoring indicators of intertidal and subtidal coastal ecosystems, environmental management of aquatic systems, environmental impacts of human activities in coastal areas, effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems. She has published more than 10 scientific papers and several conference proceedings. Bárbara has participated in many national and international R&D projects, and has been the main researcher of national research projects. Co-author of the Spanish National Port Recommendation of “ROM 5.1 Quality of coastal waters in port areas”.
