Dr. Társilo Girona is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the SISMOVEGA project. He is a Ramón y Cajal researcher at Geociencias Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), where he leads research focused on developing advanced methodologies for the detection of geophysical anomalies, understanding the processes that generate extreme geological phenomena, and improving our ability to anticipate them. His work integrates seismic and geochemical observations, thermal infrared satellite data, numerical modeling, field and laboratory experiments, as well as artificial intelligence techniques applied to the study of natural hazards. As PI of SISMOVEGA, Dr. Girona coordinates a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at deploying advanced seismic analysis technologies in the Vega Baja del Segura region (southeastern Spain), together with the development of innovative educational and outreach activities. The project combines Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technologies, fiber optic networks, a variety of geophysical and geochemical instruments, geophysical modeling, and pedagogical initiatives with the goal of transforming the region into a pioneering testbed for next-generation seismic monitoring, promoting geosciences, and strengthening resilience to natural hazards.
Soraya Manzanera Quiles is an educator with expertise in educational innovation, developing active methodologies that foster meaningful learning and stimulate students’ curiosity. She develops approaches that strengthen autonomy and critical thinking, and as a teacher instructor she promotes pedagogical transformation through practical strategies that enrich learning. In SISMOVEGA, she co-leads the design of Escape the Quake!, creating engaging and surprising activities that bring geosciences closer to children. In particular, her contribution to the project focuses on the pedagogical development of experiences based on puzzles, tests, and challenges that facilitate the understanding of seismic processes, promote participatory learning grounded in real scientific practice, and foster sustained interest in natural phenomena.
Noelia Sánchez Pardo is an educator with extensive experience in the school system and a teacher trainer specializing in innovative methodologies. Her work combines direct classroom practice with the professional development of teachers seeking to transform their teaching toward more inclusive, creative, and student-centered models. Within SISMOVEGA, she co-leads the design of Escape the Quake!, aimed at bringing science closer to children through participatory educational experiences. Her goal is to design and coordinate activities that allow boys and girls to become “scientists for a day,” fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and active learning. Her work ensures that every visit becomes a meaningful and enriching educational experience, strengthening the participants’ connection with the scientific and natural world.
José Ángel Pic Cuartero is currently the Managing Director of VegaFibra in the southern Levante region of Spain, with extensive experience in the telecommunications sector. A co-founder of the TVHoradada Group, established in 1988, he led its expansion and consolidation until 2018, when Avatel acquired 100% of the company. Following this period, he became involved in projects such as VegaFibra, Flexa Networks, and Sat TV Plus, driving their growth and contributing to the creation of a leading telecommunications group in the provinces of Alicante and Murcia, which was later reintegrated into Avatel. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in the deployment of fiber-optic networks and for his strategic vision focused on advancing connectivity and digital services across the region. Within the framework of the SISMOVEGA project, he contributes his expertise in telecommunications infrastructure and fiber optic network deployment.
Andrea Liboreiro is the CEO of elanta (one of the main neutral wholesale FTTH operators in Spain). She is a seasoned telecommunications lawyer with over 20 years of experience, specializing in mergers and acquisitions. She began her career as Senior M&A Counsel at Telefónica, and later served as General Counsel and Head of M&A at lyntia networks, a company owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners. Andrea played a pivotal role in the creation and growth of lyntia’s FTTH access division, now known as Elanta, leading over 130 M&A transactions and driving substantial increases in customer base, fiber coverage, and turnover. Following the sale of Lyntia Networks in January 2023, she was appointed CEO of Elanta, overseeing its continued strategic expansion. Andrea holds First Class Honors degrees in English Law and Spanish Law from University College London (UCL) and is a qualified Spanish lawyer and English solicitor. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, she combines a robust legal education with extensive industry expertise as a director. Within the framework of the SISMOVEGA project, she contributes her extensive experience in the telecommunications sector, the strategic management of fiber optic infrastructures, and the development of corporate and operational agreements.
Miguel Ángel González is an FTTH Operations professional at Elanta, with training from the Spanish Navy School of Transmissions and Electricity (ETEA) and in Industrial Design. He has a solid and proven track record in the telecommunications sector, with extensive experience in the installation, commissioning, and deployment of communications networks, working with technologies such as Radio, MPLS, DWDM, FTTH, GSM, LTE, and TETRA, among others. He has held both technical and operational leadership roles, managing complex projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams in demanding environments. Miguel Ángel has been responsible for after-sales service, operations and maintenance (O&M), and project management, always maintaining a strong customer-focused approach and ensuring service quality, network reliability, and operational continuity. Within the framework of the SISMOVEGA project, he contributes his expertise in telecommunications infrastructure and fiber optic network deployment.
Lara Expósito holds a degree in Journalism and has experience in institutional communication, content creation, and supporting scientific outreach projects. She has worked on the design and implementation of communication strategies that combine science communication storytelling, digital communication, and project management. She currently coordinates the Communication & outreach Unit of Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), focusing on adapting academic knowledge into accessible formats for diverse audiences. Her contribution to SISMOVEGA consists of supporting different communication and outreach efforts, including content planning and production, audience specific adaptation, and the development of actions to increase the project’s visibility.
Dr. David Benavente is Full Professor of Petrology and Geochemistry at the University of Alicante. He is an expert in petrophysics and low-temperature geochemistry, with extensive experience studying processes occurring in the critical zone. His research focuses on gas exchange between soil and the atmosphere, combining laboratory and field experiments with numerical modeling. Currently, his research is evolving toward geochemical modeling for CO₂ and metal removal, as well as the transport of gases in volcanic environments. Within the SISMOVEGA project, his contribution will focus on analyzing geochemical anomalies associated with the emission of gases (CO₂ and ²²²Rn) as potential indicators of seismic activity, taking into account the geological characteristics of the region.
Dr. Adelina Geyer Traver is a Senior Scientist at Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC) and holder of a BSc and PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Barcelona. She is the author of more than 80 scientific publications and has participated in 28 national and European research projects. She has held important positions in international scientific organizations and currently serves as Scientific Deputy Director of GEO3BCN-CSIC. Her research focuses on the internal dynamics of volcanic systems, numerical modeling of magmatic processes, and the assessment of volcanic hazards and risk. She also has extensive experience in science outreach and communication, having published four books and other educational resources. Her contribution to the SISMOVEGA project will be the development of the book “The Volkis meet the Quakis: Adventure in the Vega Baja del Segura.”
Dr. Noé García-Martínez completed his PhD at the University of Alicante, where he focused on the transport of volatiles and heat in volcanic and hydrothermal environments. His research aims to understand how water vapor condensation can release heat in the shallow subsurface and generate pre-eruptive thermal signals in active volcanoes, using a combination of laboratory experiments, numerical modeling, and remote sensing techniques. Within the SISMOVEGA project, his contribution will focus on the detection and interpretation of potential CO2 and 222Rn emissions associated with seismic activity in the area, taking into account the geological structures that may influence the transport of these volatiles.
Dr. Martínez-Garzón is a geophysicist specializing in earthquake physics and crustal deformation at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Germany. She leads the Seismo-mechanics and Slip Transients Working Group and serves as Principal Investigator of an ERC Starting Grant (QUAKEHUNTER), as well as of a Helmholtz Young Investigator Group associated with the award of a first professorship for outstanding female scientists. Her research integrates seismic and aseismic deformation processes across a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, with a particular emphasis on understanding the physical mechanisms governing earthquake generation and imaging the stress state of faults to improve seismic hazard assessment. She also holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor of Applied Seismology at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and is a member of the Young Academy of Spain. Within the SISMOVEGA project, Dr. Martínez-Garzón will contribute her expertise in seismology, fault mechanics, and crustal deformation processes to the analysis and interpretation of seismic activity recorded in the Vega Baja del Segura region.
Dr. Beatriz Benjumea is Research Scientist at IGME-CSIC. Her research focuses on the characterization and visualization of subsurface geological structures and processes using geophysical methods. She applies and develops active and passive seismic techniques, geophysical borehole logging, and ground-penetrating radar for glacier studies, integrating these with geological and petrophysical data to build comprehensive models. Her work addresses key challenges in climate change (glaciology), geological hazards (site-effect studies, subsidence), energy transition (geothermal resources, geological storage), and hydrogeology (aquifer characterization, saline intrusion). She also explores innovative technologies such as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for urban environments. Within SISMOVEGA, Dr. Benjumea will contribute to the analysis of DAS data for subsurface characterization and for enhancing seismic monitoring and seismic hazard assessment in the Vega Baja del Segura region.
Dr. Pilar Sánchez is a seismologist and works as a Senior Scientist at Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC). Her research focuses on the development and application of passive seismic methods to image and monitor the subsurface. She works on applications related to georesource exploration, with a particular focus on geothermal reservoirs, as well as on the monitoring of subsurface processes relevant for natural and human-induced hazards. Within the SISMOVEGA project, her contribution focuses on applying seismic noise interferometry techniques to Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data to investigate ground stability and detect subsurface changes in the study area.
Jorge Canudo García is an R&D Engineer at Aragón Photonics Labs and a PhD candidate at the Grupo de Tecnologías Fotónicas (GTF), University of Zaragoza. He holds a degree in Physics and an MSc in Physics and Physical Technologies. His research focuses on Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), including both hardware development and the application of DAS technologies in different fields. His work covers optical sensing systems, signal processing, and experimental data analysis, with particular interest in distributed fiber optic sensing technologies and their use for real-world monitoring applications. Within SISMOVEGA, he will contribute to the development and application of interferometric techniques for seismic monitoring in the Vega Baja del Segura region.
Noah Schamuells is a dedicated science communicator and cartoonist who has been active in the field since 2011. He graduated in Geology from the University of Barcelona and later specialized in mineral deposit exploration and volcanology. His work is prominently featured on his Instagram platform as @schtonegeology. He has illustrated several science outreach books, including “The Volkis,” and remains committed to producing more diverse, accessible, engaging, and inclusive content. His latest published works include the graphic novel “Bitácora. Una Aventura Oceanográfica” (“Logbook. An Oceanographic Adventure”) and “Los Volkis: Aventura en La Palma” (“The Volkis: Adventure in La Palma”). His contribution to the SISMOVEGA project will be the development of the book “Los Volkis conocen a los Quakis: Aventura en la Vega Baja del Segura”.
Dr. Corentin Caudron is a researcher at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, with expertise in multidisciplinary geophysical monitoring, including continuous seismicity, (hydro-)acoustics, lake monitoring, and degassing processes. He has extensive experience in the design and operation of monitoring systems, ranging from seismic and acoustic networks to emerging DAS technology. He has co-led the Commission on Volcanic Lakes (2019–2023) and the focus group on Artificial Intelligence for Eruption Forecasting, and serves as a board editor of the open-access journal Volcanica. Since 2026, he has co-led the IAVCEI/IASPEI Commission on Seismology and Acoustics. He is also actively involved in outreach, media engagement, and art–science initiatives. Within SISMOVEGA, he focuses on noise characterization and subsurface imaging in the Vega Baja del Segura using DAS data.