Poliba, “M. Selim Yalin” Career Award to Prof. Michele Mossa for innovative contributions in Ecohydraulics
Research topics: wave motion and vegetation, and their effects on coastal erosion; plastics and microplastics in aquatic environments: studies on the environmental conditions that promote accumulation. Experimental research at the Polytechnic’s large Coastal Engineering Laboratory (LIC). A specialist school in nanomedicine
18 July 2025
Michele Mossa, a professor at Poliba, DICATECh Department, is the winner of the prestigious 10th Career Award “M. Selim Yalin”.
The international recognition, 2025 edition, was awarded to him by the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) in Singapore (23-27 June), on the occasion of the 41st World Congress dedicated to the theme, “Innovative water engineering for sustainable development”.
The award to Prof. Mossa, full professor of “Hydraulics”, was granted for “his innovative contributions in the field of ecohydraulics, in particular in wave-vegetation interactions, and for his global leadership in promoting sustainable hydraulic engineering practices through research, education and interdisciplinary collaboration.”
The “M. Selim Yalin” Career Award has been conferred since 2006, every two years, by IAHR (founded in 1935), to those whose experimental, theoretical or numerical research has produced significant and lasting contributions to the understanding of the physics of phenomena and/or of processes in hydraulic science or engineering and who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in teaching and university supervision.
The interview. Prof. Mossa, the “M. Selim Yalin” career award from IAHR, is an important recognition of his innovative research contributions in the field of Ecohydraulics. Studies that suggest the promotion of sustainable hydraulic engineering practices. Did you expect it?
With deep emotion I received the news of the award, until now granted to only nine scholars in the field of fluid mechanics. The news was communicated to me through an official letter that also invited me to take part in the biennial IAHR conference in Singapore. A recognition that I wish to share with the entire hydraulics group at Poliba, which I have the honor of coordinating.
The recognition is linked to studies on ecohydraulics. Could you explain this better?
Ecohydraulics is an interdisciplinary discipline that integrates the principles of hydraulic engineering with ecological knowledge to analyze, design and manage aquatic systems in a sustainable way. Its main objective is to reconcile the needs of aquatic ecosystems with the human activities that alter the flow regime of watercourses, such as hydraulic works, sediment management, hydroelectric power generation or soil protection.
And you address two important and highly topical issues. The first concerns the relationships between wave motion and vegetation and the effects that arise on coastal erosion. A global issue, very much felt in Puglia with about 800 km of coastline. In what way can vegetation protect, or at least slow down, the erosion phenomenon?
I am coordinating an IAHR and UNESCO working group to draft a white paper on ecohydraulics. Among the most innovative frontiers in ecohydraulics are Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), a sustainable, multifunctional approach that harnesses natural processes to address environmental, social and economic challenges. Inspired by how ecosystems function, these interventions offer resilient, low-impact responses that can be integrated harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. In coastal protection, NBS are gaining ground as “green” alternatives or complements to traditional engineering structures such as dams and breakwaters. Unlike “concrete” infrastructure, these solutions not only reduce risks associated with coastal processes but also protect biodiversity and generate lasting environmental benefits. One of the most interesting areas is reducing wave energy, known as wave damping. Natural or semi-natural elements are used to dissipate the mechanical energy of waves through processes such as friction, turbulence and resistance to movement, as well as through the flexibility of plants and vegetation. Numerous examples demonstrate the effectiveness of these solutions: mangrove forests and natural or artificial coral reefs reduce wave height through refraction and early breaking; artificial reefs, made from natural or recycled materials, also help restore compromised ecological functions. Submerged seagrass meadows, such as those of Posidonia oceanica, play a key role: their leaves and rhizomes create friction and turbulence, slowing the propagation of waves towards the coast. Similarly, mangrove forests and marsh vegetation, with their intricate root systems, dampen wave energy and counter erosion. Coastal dunes, whether natural or restored, act as effective physical barriers that absorb and dissipate wave energy. Finally, coastal wetlands provide additional protection through their gentle topography and dense vegetation, which slow and attenuate wave motion. In summary, Nature-Based Solutions represent a new paradigm for coastal protection: they not only strengthen the resilience of coastlines in the face of extreme events and sea-level rise, but also contribute to ecosystem conservation, enhance the landscape and improve the quality of life of coastal communities.
Plastic. A second relevant topic with a major impact. Today, in an emergency context, it is the spread in aquatic environments (sea, lakes, rivers) of plastics and their consequent degradation into micro (smaller than 5 mm) and nano (smaller than 1 micrometer) particles. What solutions are envisaged?
Understanding the mechanisms of dispersion of microplastics and nanoplastics in the marine environment, influenced by wave and current dynamics, is essential for an accurate assessment of environmental impact and for the development of effective mitigation strategies. At the LIC (Coastal Engineering Laboratory), we will launch experimental studies in wave flumes and numerical simulations to analyze the processes of resuspension, transport, and deposition of these particles, considering hydrodynamic parameters such as current velocity and direction, wave frequency and height, as well as the physical properties of the plastics. These studies make it possible to identify the environmental conditions that favor the accumulation of plastics in low-energy areas, such as bays and estuaries, and are essential for optimizing recovery techniques. Among these, the use of eco-friendly aggregating agents, whether natural or biodegradable synthetic, makes it possible to promote the formation of larger agglomerates, which can be more easily removed through filtration or sedimentation processes. The interdisciplinary nature of the topic also emerges in the potential toxicological effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health, including the possible association with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, a field still under investigation. In this regard, a specialist school on nanomedicine is scheduled at the Polytechnic University of Bari, in collaboration with CNR and IIT, which will also address the environmental implications of these issues.
Meanwhile, the venue of the next world congress, the 42nd, of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), has been announced: it will be held in Italy, in Bari, from 28 June to 2 July 2027.
The article Poliba, “M. Selim Yalin” Career Award to Prof. Michele Mossa for innovative contributions in Ecohydraulics comes from Poliba Chronicle.
