Rafael Sardá Borroy

Scientific Researcher

Department

Marine ecology

Research group

Social-ecological systems in coastal and marine environments

Contact

sarda@ceab.csic.es

Publication profiles

NºORCID:

http://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-2059-9017

Rafael Sardá Borroy

Scientific Researcher

Socioecologist. Bachelor Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Barcelona (1979). PhD in Marine Biology (Extraordinary Award of the University in 1984). Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar in the Marine Biological Laborartory of Woods Hole (MA-USA, 1986-1988). Master in Business Administration (MBA) by the ESADE Business School of Barcelona (1989). Associate Scientist fellowship of the Boston University (1995). Rafael Sardá is Senior Scientist of the National Council of Research since 1991, “Investigador Cientifico” since 2008 (www.csic.es). With recognized compatibility since 2015, he is also Associate Professor of the Department of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences at ESADE Business School (www.esade.edu), a school with which he has collaborated since September 1990 teaching Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Courses. Cofounder of the Business and the Environment Faculty Group of the Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS) (www.cems.org) where he is lecturing.

Rafael Sardá is developing research and applications in the frontier between social and natural systems, how they work and interact, how to cope with present and emerging, local and global environmental problems and the role, if any, that science and regulations might play in it. His most basic topics of research include integrated coastal zone management, ocean governance and planning, benthic sediment systems and sustainability. Recently, awarded by the Financial Times for a 2023 work as the best work of the year in the category “Academic research award: problem solvers for the planet”. Author of around 200 research papers, mostly peer-reviewed, and a large number of environmental reports. He has been the responsible leader or co-leader in 20 national research projects and he participated in 9 integrated European projects. He has been the Director of 12 Doctoral Thesis and a large number of Master Thesis.

He represents the CSIC in international expert group consultations on coastal and marine research affairs, very active in the ICES working group of coastal zone management and maritime planning (ICES WGMPCZM). Member, among other committees, of the working group on maritime planning and management of the Spanish State of the MITERD (Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge). He is also a member of the Sectorial Commission for Research and Environmental Policies in the “Consell Catalá de Cogestió Marítima de Catalunya” and a member of the Commission of Sustainability of the CSIC.

Extensive experience in training programs (graduates, masters and executives) associated with national and international business administration schools, in the field of environmental management, sustainability, and corporate sustainability, Author of the book, Sardá R. & S. Pogutz “Corporate Sustainability in the 21st Century: increasing the resilience of social and ecological systems. Routledge book. Professor (“lecturer”) in business schools at different prestigious international universities; Cologne University (Alemania), St. Gallen University (Suiza), Corvinus University (Hungria), Warsaw School of Economics (Polonia), Stockholm School of Economics (Suecia), HEC Paris (Francia), Louvain School of Business (Bégica), Bocconi University (Italia), Smurfit Business School (Irlanda) or EGADE Monterrey (Méjico). He has also taught in science education programs or at other technical universities such as Boston University, the University of Barcelona, Girona, and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, among others.

PROJECTS

Identification and Delimitation of anchoring areas on the Costa Brava (CAPACIDAD CARGA).

The objective of this contract is to carry out an evaluation of the current information that allows carrying out the necessary studies to carry out the spatial analysis of the nautical load capacity on the Costa Brava.

Scientific approaches in the implementation of marine strategies: management tools (ACCION+)

For marine strategies of the State. Improvement of scientific knowledge about the state of the marine environment at the national level.

Evaluation and assessment of the potential ecological and social impacts of offshore wind farms in areas of high Biodiversity and high Landscape value: the example of Cap de Creus/Golf de Roses(BIOPAIS)

Evaluation of the potential ecological and social impacts of offshore wind farms in areas of high biodiversity and great landscape value of the Spanish Mediterranean, taking as a case study the wind farm proposed in the area of Cap de Creus/Gulf of Roses, to contribute to avoid or minimize the impacts of offshore wind on marine biodiversity and the landscape.

Regulatory challenges for the deployment of sustainable and resilient offshore wind energy (SOFTMAR)

The starting hypothesis of this study is that to develop a sustainable and resilient offshore wind industry in Spain, it is necessary to implement methodologies and regulatory schemes that address the particularities of this technology, referring to the administrative authorization regime, financing schemes, protection and governance of the marine environment, and coexistence with other activities.

Nature-inclusive Designs For Reconciling Offshore Renewables With Ocean Protection (NiD4OCEAN)

The overall goal of NiD4OCEAN is to advance the emerging field of NiDs (and NBS in general) for offshore renewables, and provide effective, context-dependent solutions.

Data and Scenarios for a Sustainable Mediterranean Blue Economy (MEDSEAPLAN)

The main objective of MEDSEAPLAN is to develop a comprehensive tool based on scientific knowledge for the application of the Ecosystem-based Approach to be used in PEM processes with the intention of promoting a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Mediterranean.