Maria Catana
- Integrated member of ICT (since 2026)
- ORCID
Summary
Maria Catana has been an integrated member of the Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT) since 2026. She is a senior technician at the Municipality of Idanha-a-Nova and coordinates the Educational Service of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark. She trained in Biology and Geology Teaching at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and completed an MSc in Geological Heritage and Geoconservation at the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Minho.
Her work focuses on geoscience education for sustainability, environmental education, geological heritage and the role of geoparks. She published in Geoheritage a study on the contribution of UNESCO Global Geoparks to geoscience education for sustainability (2020).
She has also written on the educational programmes of the Naturtejo Geopark and on enhancing palaeontological heritage together with local communities, such as the fossil tree trunks of Vila Velha de Ródão.
Compiled from: ORCID
Research interests
- Geological heritage
- Geoscience education for sustainability
- Environmental education
- Geoparks
Education
- MSc in Geological Heritage and Geoconservation
University of Minho - Degree in Biology and Geology Teaching
University of Porto
Current position
- Coordinator of the Educational Service
Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark - Senior technician
Municipality of Idanha-a-Nova - 2026 –Integrated member
Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT)
Recent publications
- The Role of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Promoting Geosciences Education for Sustainability. Geoheritage, 2020. doi:10.1007/s12371-020-00440-z
Publications since 2015 (ORCID and OpenAlex), ordered by the impact of the journal or series (two-year mean citedness in OpenAlex).
Information compiled from public sources: ORCID, OpenAlex, Instituto de Ciências da Terra (photograph), accessed on 20-10-2026. To correct or complete this profile, use the website’s content manager or contact the Department’s Director.