Fátima Abrantes has been the head of the Paleoceanography group at IPMA since its inclusion in the newly formed institute IPMA (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera) since 2012.

 Prior to that, she was the head of the Marine Geology Department (that incorporated the Paleoceanography Unit) at the former National Energy and Geology Laboratory (Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia – LNEG, formerly IGM/INETI) from 1999-2011.

Fátima is a paleoceanographer with scientific interests that focus on the challenges posed by paleoclimate reconstructions and in promoting the need of a full integration between modern and past-ocean, as well as the multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach that this implies.

Fátima received her PhD in 1990 from the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, USA, after which she returned to Portugal and joined IGM. In 2007, she received her professorship through the University of Lisbon. Her passion for geological oceanography was the drive behind the establishment of the first paleoceanography / paleoclimatology research group in Portugal. Since then, she has participated in the education of more than 30 young researchers, launching new research areas at the national level. She has authored more than 240 ISI scientific papers with an excess of 4,900 citations as well as co-edited multiple reference books.

Fátima has been the leader and representative of the Portuguese participation in several European and International projects. She has been nominated to represent Portugal in various prestigious programmes, scientific and executive committees such as IMAGES, PAGES, IODP, MEDCLIVAR, as well as a member of ESF’s LESC core and standing committees. She has also been an associate editor for journals such as Progress in Oceanography and Oceans.