Guillermo García Montero

Professional Positions:

1991 to date, Senior Researcher, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in Cuba

1990 to date, Director of the National Aquarium of Cuba

1983 to date, Chairman, National Oceanographic Commission

1987 to date, Chairman, Organizing Committee, Marcuba 1st to 6th National Congress on Marine Sciences

1995, Member, Scientific Committee, Coastal Change Conference (Bordeaux, France)

1994, Member, IOC/UNESCO Delegation to Global Conference on Small Islands Sustainable Development (Barbados, 1994)

1994, Member, Steering Committee, Second International Conference on Oceanography (Lisbon, November of 1994)

1987-1990, Member, Coordination Board of the First Scientific Research Program of the Cuban Research Vessel “Ulises”

1982-1983, Chief Executive, Cuban Shelf Submarine Research Program (Cooperative Program of the mini-submarine Argus and the Research Vessel RIFT, of the former Academy of Sciences of the USSR)

1980-1981, Chief Executive, Cuban Scientific Expedition to the Submarine Laboratory Hydrolab in Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands

1980-1990, Director of the Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of Cuba

1978-1980, Deputy Director for International Relations at the Nuclear Research Institute

1976-1978, Head Laboratory, Neutron Activation Analysis, Nuclear Research Institute

1970-1976, Junior Researcher, Nuclear Research Institute

Professional Membership:

Since August 2004, Member, Consulting Group on Capacity Building of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO)

2003-2005, Vice chairman, Intergovernmental Committee of the Global Ocean Observing System (I-GOOS) of IOC/UNESCO.

2002-2006, Vicechairman, IOC’s Regional Sub commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Areas (IOCARIBE)

2002-2003- 2004, Jury Member, International Prize “Pensamiento Caribeño” (sponsored by the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico)

1999 to date, Co-chairman, Steering Committee for the Establishment of a Regional component of the Global Ocean Observing System (IOCARIBE-GOOS)

1995-1999, Member, IOC’s Group of Experts on Training, Education and Mutual Assistance

1995-1999, First vice chairman of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

1995 to date, Member, Executive Council, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO

1991-2001, Member, IOC’s Group of Experts for the Study of the Development, Operations, Structure and Statutes (DOSS)

1989-1995, Vice chairman, IOC’s Regional Sub commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE)

1989-1990, Member, Commission on Natural and Exact Sciences for the Cooperation Committee between the Academies of Sciences of Cuba and of the USSR

1987-1991, Member, Executive Council, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

1980-1989 Cuba’s Representative to the Council of the Scientific Problem of the “World Ocean”

1980 to date, Cuba’s Representative to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Publications and Lectures:

He has contributed more than 30 reports and scientific publications, initially dedicated to geochemistry of marine sediments of Cuba and to sandy beaches erosion and recovery. In recent years he has written on the role of science to coastal zone management, and on international cooperation, training and capacity building in marine science. He has attended more than 80 national and international governmental and scientific meetings, to which he contributed more than 40 scientific presentations.

Awards and other National Recognitions:

2003, Medal / National Order “Carlos J. Finlay”, the highest National Recognition awarded by the Council of State of Cuba to those with outstanding contributions in the field of sciences

2004, Medal / National Distinction “Juan Tomas Roig”, for contributing during more than 25 years working in sciences

2002, Medal / National Distinction “Labor Feat” (“Hazaña Laboral”) by the Council of State of Cuba to those with extraordinary contributions in his professional work

2002, Diploma and Statuette “La Giraldilla de la Habana”, Recognition of the Government of the City of Havana to personalities distinguished by extraordinary successes

1974, Medal / National Distinction “Forgers of the Future” (“Forjadores del Futuro”) for Young Researcher Relevant Contribution