Dr. Salvatore Aricò has been leading the International Science Council as CEO since January 2023, overseeing its strategic priorities to guide the organization’s global mission.
Dr. Aricò is a biologist, ecologist, oceanographer and marine policy expert by training. For nearly thirty years, he has worked at the science-policy interface – contributing to initiatives such as the Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the IPCC, the creation of IPBES, and the Global Environment and Biodiversity Outlooks. He has also played an active role in shaping key international agreements, including the UN Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the implementing agreement on Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
He has served as Secretary to the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, Head of Marine Biodiversity at the Convention on Biological Diversity, Head of Science at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and Senior Science Advisor at UNESCO.
His scholarly work has been affiliated with the United Nations University’s Institute for Advanced Studies, the University of Delaware, the University of Terengganu in Malaysia, and other institutions, where he has held or continues to hold academic positions and supervise students. His 100+ publications range from academic studies to policy briefs.
The page was updated in February 2025.
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