Ligia Pérez Cruz

Ligia Lucina Pérez Cruz (Mexico City, 1966) is a Mexican biologist. She has specialized in marine science (geological oceanography). She has conducted studies on climate and ocean variability. She was president of the Mexican Geophysical Union (UGM) from 2017 to 2019.^[1]. In 2020, she is Director of the Oceanographic Platforms of the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico)^[2].

Qualifications and Research[edit]

She studied biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the UNAM and studied her doctorate in ocean sciences (geological oceanography) in this same University ^[3]. She has been professor at the Faculty of Sciences^[4], the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology^[5] and the Postgraduate Degree in Earth Sciences^[6] of the UNAM and is researcher at the Institute of Geophysics of the UNAM^[7]

Her research focuses on the paleoclimate reconstructions for the Tropical Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California, for the past thousand years. Her research is inter- and multidisciplinary, since she uses different tools of micropaleontology, geochemistry, isotopes, sedimentology, magnetic properties, electronic microscopy and modeling.

These investigations are important for understanding the role that tropics play in the Global Climate System, one of the best examples is El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon (ENSO), teleconnections, among other factors and processes.

She is also working on the Chicxulub impact crater, in the Yucatan platform, and mass extinctions, participating in the IODP and ICDP drilling projects. They cover a wide range of themes, including studies of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and other hyperthermal events during the Cenozoic Era. The significance of these studies is to understand how the life was recovered after a mass extinction and the consequences of global warming.

Honors and Recognitios ^[8][edit]

National Journalism Prize Science Communication (Premio Nacional de Periodismo) 2018
Sor Juan Inés de la Cruz Medal for outstanding academic performance UNAM 2015
Alfonso Caso Medal for outstanding academic student performance UNAM 2000

Societies ^[8][edit]

President Mexican Geophysical Union (UGM) 2018-2019
Member American Geophysical Union Cowen Award Committee 2008-2013
Fellow Third World Organization for Women in Science
President-elect, Outreach Secretary Mexican Geophysical Union 2011-2017
Mexican Society of Paleontology Member Board Committee 1994-1995
Mexican Geophysical Union Member Council Board 2011-2019
Member American Geophysical Union
Member Mexican Union for Quaternary Studies
Member European Geosciences Union

Research Projects[edit]

Her research projects include:^[7] ^[8]

3D imaging of drill sites within the Chicxulub impact crater: Seeking new insights into the impact hydrothermal system and recovery of life”. PI. UNAM and Texas A&M University – CONTEX.
Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology of Mexican Seas. PI Institute of Geophysics, UNAM.
Late Pleistocene-Holocene climatic variability in the southern Gulf of California. PI. Institute of Geophysics, UNAM.
Chicxulub impact crater: Study of drilling core samples, potential field and seismic data). Associated researcher collaborating with the interpretation of geochemical data (stable isotopes).
Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology of the southern Gulf of California. PI. Institute of Geophysics, UNAM.
2006-UC-MEXUS Project in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico and the International Project in the Galápagos Islands. Associated researcher collaborating with the interpretation of sedimentological and geochemical data.
2005. Cooperative project with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park (Government of Ecuador). Subproject: Geochemistry and Sedimentology.
2003-2004. “Pánuco” Project. Subproject: Benthic foraminifera assemblages at the Pánuco river and its relationship with environmental factors. IMP (Mexican Petroleum Research Institute).
2003. Oceanographic and Meteorological parameters for the assessment and design of fixed structures and submarine lines in the oil industry along the Tabasco littoral zone. Subproject: Oceanography. PI. IMP-PEMEX (Mexico´s state-owned petroleum company).
2002. Oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. IMP. Associated researcher collaborating with the geochemical analysis of sedimentary samples.
2002. Research on natural and anthropogenic emissions from offshore activities of PEMEX – Mexico´s state-owned petroleum company. Associated researcher in charge of the interpretation of sedimentological and micropaleontological data.
1997-2000. Paleoceanography of the Gulf of California, Mexico). Postgraduate student collaboration.
1996. Campeche continental shelf Neogene sedimentological and paleoenvironmental research. PI. IMP-PEMEX.
1993-1994. Paleontological database implementation and its isotopic correlation. Chief researcher. IMP.
1992-1993. Setting up of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr curve that varies through time for a Neogene sequence from southern Mexico). IMP.

References[edit]

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↑ "Coordinación de Plataformas Oceanográficas de la UNAM" (in español). Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
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External links[edit]