Yara Rodrigues is the Executive Board Member for Research at the Governing Council of the Institute of the Sea (IMar) in Cape Verde. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biosciences and works at the interface between research, ocean governance and public policy, with a focus on ocean science, sustainable management of marine resources, the blue economy and climate change adaptation. Throughout her career, she has coordinated strategic projects and mobilised national and international partnerships that strengthen institutional capacity, scientific cooperation and evidence‑based decision‑making. Her work has been recognised with the UNESCO‑TWAS SP NAPI Prize, the Cape Verde Global Science Prize for the best doctoral thesis by a young researcher, and her selection as a Women in Africa Fellow, reflecting her commitment to scientific excellence, innovation and leadership.
