Georgios Sylaios is a Professor at the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), School of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Xanthi, Greece. He served as Chair of the Department from 2014 to 2016. Since 2014, he has been the Director of the Ecological Engineering and Technology Laboratory. Prof. Sylaios holds a geology degree from the University of Patras and an MSc and PhD in oceanography from the University of Southampton. He has extensive experience in coordinating European and national research programs. He has coordinated more than 40 research projects with a total budget of 6.5 million euros. He coordinated the ODYSSEA Blue Growth research project, funded under the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program, with a total
budget of 8.4 million euros. His published record includes 120 scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of the UN Expert Group for the Second and Third Assessments of the Global Ocean and an external advisor to the Greek Ministry of Environment on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). He is the co-founder and President of the spin-off company ENVRIO, which implements precision irrigation at the farm level using satellite imagery, drone imagery, soil moisture sensors, and simulations for water balance and management.