Organizing Committee

Alexandra M. Hillebrand-Voiculescu

Raluca I. Băncilă

Traian Brad

Catalina Haidău

Mihai Hristescu

Ruxandra Nițescu

Șerban Sârbu

Founding member of the Group for Underwater and Speleological Exploration

"Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy of Sciences Associate Researcher, Biologist

"Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy of Sciences.

Researcher, Ecologist and paleoecologist

President of the Group for Underwater and Speleological Exploration (GESS).

“Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Museum Curator

Member of the Group for Underwater and Speleological Exploration

"Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy of Sciences. Senior researcher, Biochemist Executive director of the Group for Underwater and Speleological Exploration

"Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy of Sciences Senior researcher, Biologist

"Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy of Sciences, Senior researcher, Ecologist

Şerban is an experienced cave explorer, biospeleologist, and cave diver, who he has spent four decades studying sulfur-based subterranean ecosystems, focusing primarily on food-web studies using stable isotope ratio analysis.

Alexandra’s research focuses on the study of subterranean ecosystems and in particular on underground microbiomes. With a strong background in molecular biology, microbiology, protein biochemistry, and cell biology, she is interested in understanding life in extreme environments.

Raluca’s expertise lies in population ecology, with focus on population dynamics, community structure and diversity, as well as biodiversity monitoring and conservation.

Traian’s background and expertise are in cave biology and groundwater ecology in general, and taxonomy of groundwater amphipods in particular.

Cătălina’s background is in molecular biology, microbiology, and ecology. Her research focuses on the study of subterranean ecosystems with special interest in underground microbiomes. She studies microbial life in extreme environments and explores the use of microbiological research in reconstructing past environments and climatic conditions.

Experienced speleologist, photographer, and subterranean explorer, mastering vertical caving and cave diving techniques.

Ruxandra’s background in both philology and ecology allows her to bridge humanities and ecological research, focusing on biodiversity assessment, management of natural history collections, and chiropterology. Her work integrates curatorial practice with science communication through public outreach and photography.