CURRICULUM VITAE (synthesis)
PERSONAL DATE
Name: Giuseppe Surname: Zicari
Dwelling in: Alexandria (AL), Italy
e-mail: gzicari73@gmail.com
My web-site where you can find more information and download publications free of charge (e.g. books): https://sites.google.com/site/zicari73/
English language: intermediate level (B2)
French language: elementary level (A2)
Italian language: mother tongue
Availability to be transferred in Italy and abroad: yes
STUDYNG AND DEGREES
- High School Diploma: Technical Agrarian State Institute (agro-technician).
- Degree in Biological Sciences - University of Padua (Italy). Title thesis: "Rearing and reproduction of the teleost Brachydanio rerio made to obtain transgenic animals".
- Master (post-degree) – The technologies and the organizations for the food farms, University of Naples (Italy) “Federico II”.
- SPECIALIZATION in Applied Genetics, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences of the University of Bologna (Italy), three years. Title thesis: “Genotoxic effects of pesticides”.
- PhD (Doctorate of three years) in Environmental Science agro-ecosystems, Faculty of Sciences, Piedmont Eastern University (Alexandria, Italy). Title thesis: “Characterization physically, chemically and microbiologically of the cattle manure, vegetable biomass and anaerobically digested for energy recovery and comparative sanitary risk analysis of the different fertilizers”.
SCHOLARSHIPS
- A.N.A.P.I.A. (National Association Professional Training Industry and Agriculture): fruit and vegetables production skilled in integrated fight (breeding of beneficial insects), held in Cesenatico (Forlì, Italy).
- CNR (National Research Council) of the University of Padua (Italy), where I took part in a project concerning the control of the muscular genes expression (in vivo regulation).
STATE EXAMINATION
I am qualified at the University of Padua and registered in the register of the National Order of Biologists (title compulsory in Italy for biology graduated consultants, for example, in the healthcare sector).
TEACHING QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCES
I am qualified to teach Food Science and Natural Sciences in schools and institutes of secondary education (winner of national competition). From 10 years I’m teaching, in part-time, in secondary school.
COURT CONSULTANT
I am enrolled in the Register of Experts and the Register of Technical Consultants of the Court. I am carried out genetic counselling (confirmation of paternity or consanguinity) and agronomic expertise for entrepreneurs.
PUBLICATIONS: ARTICLES AND BOOKS
I have written 6 books, 96 articles and 3 multimedia instruments: two software and two law data base. I wrote mainly in Italian language and you can download free some my publications from these links (these publications summarize some jobs as consultant that I did): https://sites.google.com/site/zicari73/pubblicazionipublications/publications-in-english
The six books and a multimedia instrument are highlighted:
1) This is an open access book (published in February 2022 in Italian, in French and in English), entitled: “CHEMICAL AGRICULTURE AND POLLINATORS: SIGNALS OF A PLANET IN DANGER. Biomonitoring with bees. Environmental indicators of food safety and health: climate, biodiversity, energy, fertility, pesticides and genetic engineering”, (paper version available by Youcanprint, https://www.youcanprint.it/, 2022, 692 pages). The digital version, in Italian, in English and in French, (PDF file) are available for free download, at the following web site: https://sites.google.com/site/zicari73/
This book has received the following awards:
-a In November 2023, the Union of European Journalists and Communicators (www.ujce.eu) awarded me with the “Stems of Peace”, for the publication of the book entitled “CHEMICAL AGRICULTURE AND POLLINATORS: SIGNALS OF A PLANET IN DANGER”, prize for women and men of science and action for a better world. The event was established by UNESCO in 2001 to promote science as a tool for building peace and sustainable development.
-b In February 2024, the book was the winner of the National Competition for science dissemination, Kerit-LC, 3rd edition, AREA B - MATHEMATIC, PHYSICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES - BOOK SECTION (awarded at the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy). https://www.kerit-lc.it/verbale-di-giuria-concorso-nazionale-divulgazione-scientifica-kerit-lc-iii-edizione/; https://www.kerit-lc.it/cerimonia-di-premiazione-concorso-nazionale-di-divulgazione-scientifica-kerit-lc-edizioni/
2) The book entitled: “ENERGIE RINNOVABILI DA BIOMASSE, RISCHI E OPPORTUNITÀ. Coltivazioni, allevamenti, compost, biogas e agro-carburanti: analisi degli impatti ambientali, delle ricadute sulla salute e della sostenibilità”. This book is available only in Italian language. Literary translations of the title: Renewable energy from biomass: risks and opportunities. Cultivations, livestock, compost, biogas and agro-fuels: analysis of environmental impacts, the impact on the health and of sustainability. Edited by EPC, Rome (https://www.epc.it/); published in 2016, 736 pages. This book was the winner of the national award for the University scientific publishing (2017), Associazione Italiana del Libro (Italian Book Association).
Index translation: Introduction - Legend - The anaerobic fermentation to produce methane - The biohazard - Fertilization and chemical hazards - Storage and fertilization - Biogas and waste - Biogas and composting - Odors and dust - The prevention of accidents, injuries and bio-security - The consumption of energy - Biogas from grain, manure and other biomass - The cultivation of cereals - The energy balance in the biogas value chain - The economic balance of the biogas industry - Agro-fuels and transport - Emissions and water consumption - Promotion of the production of biogas - The bureaucratic requirements - Conclusions - Bibliography - Analytical index. Where you can read the first chapter (.pdf) for free: https://www.epc.it/contenuti/energie_rinnovabili_sito.pdf.
3) The book entitled: “OLTRE I LIMITI ECOLOGICI. Ambiente, salute e cultura non rinnovabili. Produzioni di alimenti non sostenibili. Analisi degli indicatori dello stato di salute del Paese”. This book is available in Italian language. Title translation: “Beyond the ecological limits. Nonrenewable environment, health and culture. Non-sustainable food productions. Analysis of the Italy's health status indicators”. Edited by EPC, Rome (https://www.epc.it/); published in 2015, 480 pages.
Index translation: Introduction - Planetary boundaries - Climate change - Energy and environment - Biodiversity - The reduction of soil fertility - A bet that maybe you can still win - Will become more vegetarian - Air pollution - Use of non-renewable water resources - Indicators social welfare and physiological limits - Bibliography - Regulations cited in the text - Analytical index.
Where you can read the first chapter for free (pdf 32 pages): https://www.epc.it/contenuti/oltre_limiti_ambientali_sito.pdf.
4) The book entitled: “LA TUTELA AMBIENTALE: ADEMPIMENTI OBBLIGATORI E STRATEGIE VOLONTARIE. Analisi degli adempimenti obbligatori e volontari per la promozione della salvaguardia ambientale: la norma ISO 14001, il Regolamento EMAS e l’etichettatura ecologica. All’interno CD con schede personalizzabili per l’applicazione guidata della norma ISO 14001 e degli adempimenti ambientali obbligatori, ed alcune norme di riferimento in campo ambientale”. This book is available in Italian language on my web-site. Title translation: “Environment protection: compulsory execution and voluntary strategies”. A comparison from compulsories and voluntaries strategies promoted from European and Italian Government for improving environmental protection in industrial and production area. This book analyses the negative and positive sides of the different European and international law. Within multimedia instruments (CD): European and Italian law data base, guide for the workers application of the compulsory and voluntary law. Edited by Gruppo Editoriale Esselibri Simone, 2008, pg. 206.
5) LEGAL DATA BANK (CD, 2004). I have collaborated to the constitution of a data bank on the regulation, the laws, the jurisprudence and the literature concerning hygiene, quality and the wholesomeness of foodstuffs (salubrity of aliments) and drinks are concerned; CD published by EPC editor, Rome. I collected and commented the Italian law about the chemical risk inside the food (eg.: pesticides). This was available only in Italian language.
6) The book entitled: “GESTIONE DELLA SICUREZZA ALIMENTARE. le normative di riferimento ed il sistema sanzionatorio; HACCP, produzioni biologiche, i marchi DOP ed IGP, ISO 9000, ISO 14001”. This book is available in Italian language on my web-site. Title translation: Management of Food Security; application Italian and European law; HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), organic farming; trademarks PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), ISO 9000, ISO 14001. Multimedia instruments (CD): European and Italian law data base, guide for the workers obligatory formation, check lists for the internal and external firm analysis.; European and Italian law data base, guide for the workers obligatory formation, check lists for the internal and external firm analysis. Edited by Gruppo Editoriale Esselibri Simone, 2003 (pages 880).
7) The book concerning the hygiene of the foods entitled : “L’IGIENE DEGLI ALIMENTI”. This book is available in Italian language on my web site. Title translation: Food hygiene; microbiological, chemical and physical risks, genetically modified organisms risks and benefits, analytical control (ISO 17025). Edited by Gruppo Editoriale Esselibri Simone, 2001 (pages 288).
SOME PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS
More information can be found at the following links:
https://sites.google.com/site/zicari73/informazioniinfomation/compete nzeskills/skills-by-g-zicari
- I worked in molecular biology laboratories in various public research institutes, applying genetic engineering techniques in vivo (3 years).
- I applied agricultural chemical analysis (ex. pesticides) and microbiological analysis on the foods and water in privates laboratories (3 years).
- I worked for the certification of organic production of citrus fruits, peaches and olive oil (3 years).
- I carried out consultancy for the quality management systems and certification international standard how ISO series 9000, 14000, 17025, food labelling, organic agriculture and farming (five years).
- I wrote for the companies and the Universities financial projects (two years; three projects financed).
- I have participated in the organization of the scientific congresses for the institutions.
- I carried out consultancy for the health workers prevention, fire risks, and environmental protection for the food firms and other kinds of companies (five years).
- I did consultancy for the Italian national TV editorial staff (TV name program “Omnibus”, national channel LA7), topics: food safety; hygiene.
- I have been applying the HACCP methods (Analysis of Hazard and Critical Control Points) in food companies and firms (15 years). Activities carried out mainly in cooperation with private companies such as restaurants, supermarkets, confectionery companies, canned fruit and vegetable processing, bakeries, cookie factories, jam production, agro-livestock companies, companies producing organic food such as honey, school canteens, food packaging and label manufacturers, waterworks operators, local Administrators, municipal organic waste managers, and Departments of Hygiene and Disease Prevention in Local Health Authorities.
- I have worked how as a teacher in the Universities (food hygiene; Pisa, Alexandria and Cosenza in Italy) and as a professional trainer for the employees in the Sanitary Service (Piedmont and Campania).
- I have worked how consultant for National Sanitary Service and private firms to manage the sanitary risk about: waste management, composting, energy production (biogas from cereals, cow and pig manure), food chemical pollution (by pesticide and heavy metals; and from food and beverage packaging), polluted drinking water management from the aqueduct network (six years).
- I have worked for the University of Turin (Faculty of Science) and Piedmont Regional Sanitary Service for the foodborne outbreaks surveillance system in the Piedmont Region and I collaborated to publish the report about the results of eight years (2002-2009) of investigations on food borne disease outbreaks carried out the Regional Agency for Public Health in Piedmont (2 years).
- I wrote for the Piedmont Regional Sanitary Service three Sanitary official documents (regional sanitary rules) about the (4 years):
a) prevention of the sanitary and environmental risks from anaerobic co-digestion of manure and agricultural by-products (cereals) and use of the digested in agriculture;
b) prevention of the sanitary and environmental risks from composting of waste and from use of the compost in agriculture;
c) management of drinking water (aqueducts) for the prevention of microbiological and chemical risks according to HACCP and Water Safety Plan methods;
d) prevention of the sanitary and environmental risks from chicken, cows and pigs firms.
- I worked with private agricultural companies on the management of environmental bio-monitoring [measurement of plant biodiversity reduction, determination of pollutants as pesticides and metals in plants (pollen)] with beekeeping products (Apis mellifera; 3 years).
- I was a consultant for the Municipality of Alexandria and I collaborated with the Botanical Garden on environmental issues (3 years): in particular for the European project SALUTE4CE which ended in the year 2022 (project website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/SALUTE4CE.html).
- I was a consultant for the Environment Committee of the Chamber on nitrogen compounds of anthropogenic origin and some effects on health and on the biosphere, and in particular for the protection of water (nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrosamines; 6 months).
CONFERENCES AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCES
I have participated or I have been speaker at more than 200 national and international conferences, seminars, courses and congresses among which I highlight (a complete list is on the link https://sites.google.com/d/17rEoNBIfkcMaWcT6E4IFCKARwepXSFmi/p/1UUGQeI97BnHFoEqaXStrNmUMrLHZtX0N/edit):
- I have participated in the 15th International Congress organized by the National Order of Biologists and held in Umag (Croatia), on 3 - 5 October 2002 entitled "Progresso scientifico, etica, tutela delle risorse: sfide professionali del terzo millennio (Scientific progress, ethics, protection of resources: professional challenges of the third millennium)".
- I was invited to the conference entitled “The International Citrus & Beverage Conference” held at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida (USA) on 18-21 September 2012. In 2012 for 5 weeks I have been in Florida, and during this period I attended the University of Florida and an Intensive English language course.
- I attended the conference entitled “Circular Bioeconomy Workshop” held on 21 November 2017, organised by Federchimica Assobiotec at the headquarters of Banca Intesa San Paolo in Milan (Italy).
- I was a speaker at the meeting with public administrators open to the population on “The air we breathe, air pollution and health”, organised in the Palazzo Robellini of the Municipality of Acqui Terme (AL), on 5 February 2018.
- On 20 April 2018, I gave a lecture entitled “Biodiversity and the protection of water resources” at the Maglietto Association, Amelia and Giacomo Bisio Beekeeping Museum located in Frazione Merella, on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the beekeeping museum organised by the administration of the municipality of Novi Ligure (Al).
- On Friday 11 May 2018, I gave a lecture entitled “Renewable energy from biomass: risks and opportunities” at the Sala Romita of the Municipality of Tortona (AL), which was promoted by the Municipality and the Osservatorio Ambientale Comunale di Tortona (AL), [Municipal Environmental Observatory of Tortona (AL)].
- On Friday 18 May 2018, I held a seminar entitled “Beyond ecological limits: air, climate and health”, at the Biblioteca Civica di Tortona, organised by the Municipal Environmental Observatory of Tortona (AL).
- On 22 May 2018, I held a seminar entitled “Soil Protection and the Production of Agrofuels” at the Council Chamber of the Municipality of Alexandria and addressed the Municipality's Environment Commission.
- On 26 June 2018, I participated as a speaker at "The National Sustainability Expo" held at Ricoh Arena, Coventry (United Kingdom), where I presented a report entitled "Can the society and the economy be sustainable?".
- On 12 and 13 July 2018 I participated in the event "United Kingdom Anaerobic Digestion and World Biogas Expo 2018" held at NEC, Birmingham (UK) and organized by the World Biogas Association and the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association.
- On 6 September 2018, I took part as a speaker in a meeting promoted by Osservatorio Ambientale di Tortona (Tortona Municipal Environmental Observatory) held in Tortona (Al) on the subject of the state of health of the river Scrivia and water protection (https://rete-ambientalista.blogspot.com/2018/09/lo-stato-di-salute-dello-scrivia.html).
- On 24 October 2018 I visited the Fiere Internazionali zootecniche di Cremona (International Livestock Fairs in Cremona) and attended the following conferences:
The central role of agriculture in preserving the environment and climate.
Qualyservices, the new food quality and sustainability certification systems.
- I presented the poster entitled "The management of odors during composting and health effects" at the Conference "Odorigenic emissions: from abatement technologies to new control strategies" organized by ISPRA, Società Chimica Italiana, University of Bari and held on 6 November 2018 in Rimini during ECOMONDO (22° Fiera Internazionale del recupero di materia ed energia e dello sviluppo sostenibile or 22nd International Trade Fair on Material and Energy Recovery and Sustainable Development).
- I presented the poster entitled “Renewable energy from biomass: analysis of sustainability (LCA) of the anaerobic digestion of corn and cow manure” at the 20th Conference on Composting and Anaerobic Digestion organised by the Consorzio Italiano Compostatori and held on 7 November 2018 in Rimini, during the ECOMONDO event (22nd International Trade Fair for Material & Energy Recovery and Sustainable Development).
- I took part as a speaker in the conference entitled “Gestione sostenibile della frazione organica dei rifiuti, prospettive di riduzione della tariffa e di recupero dei suoli or Sustainable management of the organic fraction of waste, prospects for tariff reduction and soil recovery”, held at the Palazzo dei gruppi parlamentari, Sala Tatarella (Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 21 - Rome; c/o Palazzo Montecitorio), on May 23 2022, Camera Environment Commission. I presented a report entitled “ENERGIE DA BIOMASSE E GESTIONE DELLA SOSTANZA ORGANICA: riflessioni sulla sostenibilità della gestione dei rifiuti or ENERGY FROM BIOMASS AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCE MANAGEMENT: reflections on the sustainability of waste management”, (I presented some contents of the books: Oltre i limiti ecologici (Beyond Ecological Limits); Energie da biomasse (Energy from Biomass; at this link you can see the entire recording of the Italian conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAHhj5f81NQ ).
- In the following link you can listen (in Italian) to the seminar entitled "Renewable energy from biomass: risks and opportunities; are biomass energies always renewable and sustainable?" held in Reggio Emilia at the University of Crostolo on 30 October 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGhKOIcbAmE, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKGcf9Io_doHDkNu249UXbO8Zf9twwys0, The seminar was part of a cycle of conferences, organised with the contribution of the Emilia Romagna Region, on the more general theme: ENERGY. THE PRESENT, THE FUTURE. https://www.liberauniversitacrostolo.it/, https://www.liberauniversitacrostolo.it/energia-il-presente-il-futuro/, https://eventi.comune.re.it/eventi/evento/luc-energia-il-presente-e-il-futuro-2023/
I presented two talk for the Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development):
.1) “L'era della solitudine, quando la scomparsa della biodiversità è anche perdita culturale”; The age of loneliness, when the disappearance of biodiversity is also a cultural loss; available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z51k6OysH4 (31 July 2024).
.2) “Pesticidi preventivi e crisi climatica, così spariscono gli impollinatori”, Preventive pesticides and the climate crisis, so pollinators disappear; available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEX7pELu0Rk (29 August 2024).
PRACTICAL LABORATORY TECHNIQUES USED
1 - Genetics (in University and CNR di Padua, Italy)- Artificial fertilization, microinjection, ginogenesis, electroporation, time-lapse shooting on teleosteo Brachydanio rerio (genetically modified embryos generation); cryostat use; immunoconosisation by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence, hematoxylin eosin coloration; amplification of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) by PCR (polymerase chain reaction); insertion of DNA fragments into suitable vectors (enzymatic digestion, dephosphorylation, ligation), preparation of Escherichia coli competent cells, transformation; plasmid extraction and purification using the following methods: cesium chloride gradient ultracentrifuge, Qiagen method and boiling method (to obtain small quantities); DNA electrophoresis digested with endonuclease; quantitative analysis of DNA to the spectrophotometer; in vivo transfections on muscle tissue (cardiac, soleus muscle and mouse EDL muscle), reporter gene expression analysis (Chloramphenicol Acetyl Transferase, Luciferase and -Galactosidase Test).
FISH (site-to-fluorescence hybridization), prenatal cytology; in vitro mutagenesis and cancerogenesis test, Institute of Cancerology of Bologna (Italy); Finger Printing of DNA (PCR and Polycrystalline Gel Electrophoresis) extracted from blood drop. Genetic analyses for paternity attestation (for private laboratories).
2 – Food Quality Control (in private analytical laboratories) - Determination of oleic acid on olives; Brix gradients and acidity on citrus fruits and grapes; Anthocyanin determination on oranges; I use Datatrace Temp System, an interface that can program small temperature sensing software to optimize heat treatment during the canned production cycle; Determination of chemical demand of oxygen, dissolved oxygen and chlorine on wastewater; Physical and chemical analysis of oil and milk. Determination of moisture, ashes and gluten in flours.
3 - Pesticide Analysis (in private analytical laboratories) - Methods for the extraction of the following pesticide residues from fruit and vegetables, olive oil and water: Phosphates, Pyretroids, Carbamates, Acaricides, Benzimidazoles, Dithiocarbamates, Triforines and Growth Regulators; Use of gel permeation filtration on citrus fruits and vegetables.
Methods for the determination of the above molecules by gascomatography techniques with electron capture detectors and for nitrogen and phosphorus; Immunoenzymatic test for the detection of 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by immunoperoxidase; HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) with UV-Visible detector or with derivatizer and fluorimeter for Carbamates.
4 - Microbiology (in private analytical laboratories) - Determination of total coliforms, salmonella and total mesophilic bacteria on selective culture media in milk and derivatives. Microbiological analysis of water an milk. Microbiological analysis of livestock waste and FORSU (Organic Fraction of Urban Solid Waste).
5 - Environmental biomonitoring through the examination of behavioral and health changes in bees (Apis mellifera) and the measurement of pollutants (pesticides, metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in beekeeping products.
VOLUNTEERISM AND ZOOLOGY
I have been involved in field nature activities for years in his free time and I have been an active member of associations such as WWF (World Wildlife Fund), LIPU (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli or Italian League for the Protection of Birds) or CAI (Club Alpino Italiano or Italian Alpine Club). He has collaborated in ornithological, entomological, deer and wolf (radio-collar) censuses.
SPORTS
I have been practicing various sports at an amateur level such as: running, mountain bike, gym, tennis, swimming, trekking, cross country ski and diving activities.
I am searching for new collaborations, also in foreign States.
Giuseppe Zicari
More information will be provided upon request