Eddo Rugini, Ph.D. - Plant Biotechnology Advisor

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PROF. EDDO RUGINI, PH.D.

Agricultural biotechnologist

Professor Rugini was a long tenure CNR (Italian National Research Centre) researcher at the Olive Growing Study Center in Perugia, Italy, and university professor at the University of Tuscia, of which he was also dean of the Faculty of Agriculture.

BIOGRAPHY

After enrolling at the University of Perugia in the 1968/1969 academic year, he graduated in Agricultural Sciences in 1972, with 110/110 honors. After doing his military service, he obtained various scholarships at the CNR, from 1973 to 1976, becoming a researcher at the CNR from 1976 to 1987, and more specifically at the Olive Growing Study Center in Perugia; later he was Research Fellow at the Genetic Department of the Institute of Paper Chemistry (Wisconsin, USA) 1981-82; Research Fellow at East Malling Reseach Station, 1985 and 1986, for a total of six months; then associate professor, since 1987, at the University of Tuscia; full professor since 1994, also at the University of Tuscia, until October 2018, the year of his retirement.

RESEARCH AND COORDINATION ACTIVITIES

Eddo Rugini has carried out research activities, mainly in the field of arboreal plants, relating to applied physiology and biochemistry; cell differentiation in vitro (rhizogenesis, somatic embryogenesis and sprout differentiation); flower differentiation, and genetic improvement with conventional and biotechnological techniques, and in particular to genetic modifications with recombinant DNA techniques.

He has been coordinator of projects of national interest (PRIN, MIPAAF, CNR) and head of UO of international projects of the European Union and bilateral projects with England and France in the biotechnological sector of fruit tree species.

TEACHING IN ITALY

From 1986 to 2018 he taught at the University of Tuscia: general arboriculture; special arboriculture; fruit growing; tree cultivation, Olive growing, nursery technique, science and techniques of in vitro crops.

From 2015/2016 to 2016/2017 he taught at the University of ROMA3 for two consecutive years, in the Quality Vegetable Production discipline.

TEACHING ABROAD

For twelve consecutive years, from 1998 to 2010, he taught Horticultural Biotechnology at the Master CIHEAM (International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, UE (Greece)

EDITORIAL ASSIGNMENTS

Associate Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science as of 2018.

He has worked as reviewer for several international journals (Plant Science, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, Scientia Horticulturae, Trees, Acta Physiol. Plant., Scientia Horticulturae, etc.).

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS CARRIED OUT IN ITALY AND ABROAD

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tuscia from 2003 to 2009.

Board member and member of the Integrated Academic Senate for a total of nine years.

Member of commissions for the evaluation of European and national research projects.

Member of the Interministerial Commission for Biotechnologies from 1999 to 2003, designated by the Ministry of Health as an expert for MiPAF.

Member of the Commission for Plant Biodiversity.

Member of the Regional Commission for the viticultural problems of Lazio.

Member of the working group for the definition of the IGP Kiwi Latina.

Member of the Scientific Council of Cnr, Institute on Wood Species Propagation, FI, 1997-2001.

Member of the horticultural commission (appointed by the Lazio Region Agriculture Department).

Reviewer of the IFS (International Foundation for Science (Sweden).

International consultant of the International Atomic Energy Agency of Vienna.

CURRENT OFFICES IN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, ACADEMIES AND MORE

Vice-president of the National Academy of Olive and Oil since 2014.

Member (and former vice-president) Society of Agricultural Genetics.

Member of the Georgofili Academy.

Member of Scientific Societies (SIGA, SOI)

General Councilor since 2014 of the "Luca Coscioni Association for the freedom of scientific research"

Member of the Carivit Foundation since 2002.

HONORS

In 2007 he was awarded the "Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic".

He returned the honor to the President of the Republic in protest in 2016, with the main reason being a lack of consideration by politicians towards research and researchers, especially the numerous young precarious researchers who support research in Italy and to whom no future is guaranteed.

PUBLICATIONS

Over 200 printed works, most of them in English.

Over 30 chapters in books published by foreign (Springer, McMillan, Kluwer, CRC Press, Wiley Blackwell, CAB, etc) and Italian publishers.

Editor of two books published by Springer and IHS.

Various curates.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATIONS

Over 200 communications and posters at conferences, of which about 50 by invitation.

About 80 seminars, mainly in Italy.

Numerous participations in interviews and television and radio debates.