Maria Germanà Luisa

Maria Luisa Germanà (Palermo, 13/09/1962).

Maria Luisa Germanà is an Architect, PhD in Building and Environmental Refurbishment, Full Professor of Architectural Technology in the University of Palermo.

She has or had the following institutional or academic responsibilities:

– Expert Member of ICOMOS ICAHM (International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management) since 2019.

− Member of ICOMOS ITALIA since 2018;

– Member of Executive Council of SITdA (Società Italiana Tecnologia dell’Architettura) (2011/14).

− Member of Executive Comete of CIRCES (Centro Interdipartimentale Ricerche Centri Storici) University of Palermo since 2008.

− Regional Scientific Secretary of ANCSA (National Association of Historical Centres) (1989/2013).

− Member of UNI (Ente Italiano di Unificazione) work-group “Qualificazione del progetto edilizio di interventi sul costruito” (2001/05).

− Delegated by the Rector of University of Palermo for the management of student practices (2014/2018);

− Delegated of the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture in the General Didactic board of the University (2008/2013).

− President of degree course in Scienze dell’Architettura (2011/2014);

− Secretary of degree course in Restauro, Recupero e Riqualificazione dell’Architettura (2003/2011).

− President or Member of examining board in many national and local exams and competitions.

− Member of MIUR Examining board for professional qualification (2008 and 2018).

Her scientific work is the fruit of research activity dealing with various aspects of the Technological Design of Architecture, developed gradually over the last 30 years.

Her main themes of research (Architectural Technology; Architectural Heritage; Environmental Design; Vernacular Architecture; Earthen Architecture; Built Environment; Historical Settlements; Maintenance and management of built environment) are different facets of a holistic scientific interest, which deals with processes of formation, transformation and maintenance of the built environment.

She has launched some original research themes, as some publications of her prove:

The quality of the refurbishment interventions on built environment in 1995; The Programmed Maintenance of Archaeological Sites in 1999; The Reliable Conservation of the Architectural Heritage in 2001; The Proto-Sustainability of the vernacular heritage in 2004; The Responsible Architecture in 2005.

She has carried out didactic activities at all academic levels; she has been promoter and responsible person of many initiatives aimed to improve Ph.D. courses and students.

She has been Supervisor and tutor of over 60 degree and PhD Thesis (PhD thesis awarded in February 2012 1st prize ex equo for the category III EDUCATE Prize - Environmental Design in University Curricula and Architectural Training in Europe).

She was delegate OSDOTTA (National Network of PhD Courses in Architectural Technology) from September 2009 to May 2012.

She published over 140 scientific works since 1991.

She has or had the following editorial responsibilities:

− Editor of Book Series.

− Member of Scientific Council of Book Series (Tecnologia dell’architettura Franco Angeli Editore Milano; Tecnologia dei Materiali per un’Architettura Sostenibile Aracne Roma; Scuole di Dottorato FUP Firenze; Agathòn/Monografie Aracne Roma).

− Member of the Review Board of the following journals: Frontiers of Architecture Elsevier (2019); Sustainability MPDI (2018/19); Heritage & Society Taylor & Francis (2018/19); Buildings MPDI (2017); Techne. Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment FUP (since 2014); Agathón International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design Aracne, Roma (since 2017); International Journal of Architectural Heritage Taylor & Francis (since November 2014); Il Progetto sostenibile Edicom (since 2012).

She has been promoter of many international and national research projects. The main funded research projects are:

− International Cooperation activities for the formation and research (CORI) funded 2013 and 2015 (Principal Investigator);

− Project NEPTIS ICT Solutions for augmented use of cultural heritage (Responsible Person for the Department of Architecture);

− Architecture domestique punique, hellénistique et romaine: sauvegarde et mise en valeur (APER), Italie-Tunisie 2007-2013 (Principal Investigator);

− PRIN 2008 Architecture for Urban Archaeology (Responsible Local Research Unity);

− PRIN 2005 Earthen architectural heritage in Sicily: knowledge and conservation processes (Responsible Local Research Unity).

She has won international, national and local scholarship and public competition.

She has been promoter and responsible person of many international and national congresses.

She was invited to participate as speaker or chairperson to international, national and local congresses and seminars.