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Poto, Margherita Paola
Research Professor, Faculty of Law
Job description
Margherita Paola Poto is a Research Professor at the Faculty of Law, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway and has taught for more than 20 years at the University of Turin, Italy. She obtained her LLM degree in Law from the University of Turin in 2001, and in 2006 completed her Ph.D. in Public and Constitutional Law at the University of Pavia’s Department of Political Sciences.
Having coordinated more than 30 international research projects worldwide, she focuses her research and academic activities along internationally acknowledged research lines, moving from a unidisciplinary approach (law) to cross-disciplinary, co-created, and community-based research. Her work critically reflects on the colonialism of knowledge production, explores the integration of science and indigenous knowledge, and addresses the gap between science and law. Her teaching portfolio includes innovative approaches to administrative law, indigenous methodology, public law for economics, critical legal thinking, as well as ethics and fraud. She has published more than 170 scholarly works, including 10 books and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in top journals. Admitted to the Bar in Turin, Italy, in 2004, Margherita Poto is also a lawyer who has served as a legal consultant for international organizations, such as the International Training Center of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), and the World Bank.
Since 2021, she has been coordinating the Project: An Exchange Program on Empathy, Compassion and Care in Water Governance from the Perspective of Integral Ecology (ECO_CARE, HKDIR Utforsk 2021-2024): https://en.uit.no/project/ecocare
Moreover, together with Mathilde Morel, she is currently involved in the research project SECURE Novel Marine Resources for Food Safety and Food Security (P.I. Edel Elvevoll): https://uit.no/research/seafood/project?pid=667623
The 50 latest publications is shown on this page. See all publications in Cristin here →
Member of research group
CV
1. Personal information
First name, Surname
Margherita Paola, Poto
Date, Place of birth
6 August 1978, Torino, Italy
Sex:
F
Nationality; Languages
Nationality: Italian; Language skills: Italian (Native); English (C2); French (C1); German/Spanish (B2); Dutch (B1), Norwegian (B2). Elements: Kiswahili, Aramaic, Mandarin
ORCID
0000-0002-6974-1523
2. Education
Year
Faculty/department - University/institution – Country
2002-2006
Dr. Juris (Ph.D.) in Public Law, University of Pavia, Italy.
2006-2007
LLM European Public Law Centre, Legrena, Greece (best thesis award)
2002-2003
LLM Unito, Italy (High Specialization for Legal Professions; scholarship for best entrance exam)
2002-2003
Bachelor Studies in Philosophy, Unito, Italy (History of Philosophy/ Religions, German Literature, Music)
1997-2001
LLM Unito, Italy (summa cum laude; best academic career award, scholarship for merits)
1993-1997
High School Diploma in Classical Studies, Turin (State Exam grade: 60/60; Greek, Latin, Philosophy)
3. Positions - current and previous
Year
Job title – Employer – Country
2020-
Research Professor – Faculty of Law – UiT The Arctic University of Norway - Norway
2016-2020
Postdoc at the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea - NCLOS (formerly JCLOS) – UiT – Norway
2019
Professore II fascia in Diritto Amministrativo- Unito– Italy
2008-2019
Assistant Professor Administrative Law, Unito (National habilitation for professorship: 2013) – Italy
2009-2012
Legal Counsel in Food Law -Précon Food Management BV - The Netherlands
2009-2010
Postdoctoral Researcher in Food Law - Wageningen University - The Netherlands
2006
Post-Doc in Public Law - Max Planck Institute International Law, Heidelberg – Germany
2007-2016
External consultant in Law - ITC ILO – Torino – Italy
2004-2019
Attorney –Private Law Firm –Torino- Italy (Admission to the bar as lawyer trainee: 2001; State exam: 2004; Admission to the Registry of Attorney/Professors in law, Court of Appeal of Torino: 2008-2019)
2002-2008
Research Fellow in Administrative Law –University of Turin – Italy
4. Career breaks
Year
Reason
2007
Maternity leave
5. Membership of Professional Bodies
Albo Professionale Ordine Avvocati Torino 2004-2008 (Professional Register: Attorney admitted to the Bar); Albo Professional Ordine Avvocati Torino –Sezione Speciale Professori Universitari 2008-2019 (Professional Register for Lawyers with the Qualification as University Professors)
6. Fellowships, Awards, Mobility
YoungCAS Fellow Award for Talented Young Scholars, CAS, Centre for Advanced Study, Oslo, Norway (2018)
International Visiting Scholar at University of Victoria, BC, CA (Terje and Valerie Stadler Jacobsen Research Award 2017), Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China (Marie Curie 2010-2012); American University, Washington College of Law (2010); Hong Kong University (2007-2008), MPIL, Heidelberg (DAAD 2006; WWP Ongoing Researcher Award 2016), BICL, London (FP6, EU 2004-2005)
Scholarship and Best Thesis Award for the LLM in Public Law, EPLO, Greece (2006-2007)
Best Academic Career Award, Turin, Italy (Optime, Unione Industriale, 2001.
7. Project management experience
PROJECT EXPERIENCE: In the past 20 years I have developed extensive research and academic experience worldwide, first working as a project assistant and then progressively as a team leader and principal investigator in internationally funded research projects, in cooperation with academic institutions, research institutes, international organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, with a funding track record of more than n. 30 projects. Host institutions and project partners included Universities in Italy, EU and associated countries (mainly Norway), Eastern Asia (China, Hong Kong), sub-Saharan Africa (Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone), Canada, and the U.S., as well as international organizations such as the International Training Center of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO), the World Bank, and the OECD.
AREAS OF RESEARCH: My research and academic activity have been focusing on internationally acknowledged research lines, moving from a uni-disciplinary approach (law) to cross-disciplinary, co-created and community-based research, critically reflecting on colonialism on knowledge production, exploring participatory approaches to environmental governance, integration of science and indigenous knowledge, as well as addressing the gap between science and law through science informed decision-making processes. In particular, in my early years of research in comparative administrative law, I have been looking into the governance of sensitive sectors (food, environment, financial sector, health), arguing on the need to provide evidence-formed decision-making processes, limiting the discretionary powers of the public administration, and in general addressing the gap between science and law through participation, community-engaged reflections and co-creation. Since my postdoctoral experience in food law (Wageningen University, WUR), and then in Arctic Governance (UiT The Arctic University of Tromsø) I have been collaborating with interdisciplinary teams of researchers, working with food scientists, then policymakers, marine biologists, paleontologists, experts in geosciences, and representatives of local and indigenous communities. From this experience, I developed an understanding of the importance to find a common ground for natural and social scientists, policymakers and local communities to create integrated responses to complex environmental challenges. In parallel with the research activities, in the early years of my research, I have developed more than ten years’ experience as a legal counsel (State exam with registration to the bar association in 2004), supporting farmers’ and fishers’ organizations and their capacities to generate knowledge and promoting local farming and climate-smart agricultural practices for climate-resilient food systems (Précon Food Bunnik, The Netherlands; Précon Egypt; Précon Sierra Leone; Wageningen UR; Rwanda and Ethiopia, ITC-ILO; World Development Bank).
Year
Project owner - Project - Role – Funder
2023-2024
University of Bayreuth - An Innovative Partnership and Methods for Knowledge Co-Production in Water Governance. The case study of the Gesso Stura Natural Park. – Co P.I. – DAAD (19k euro)
2023
University of Turin, Department of Linguistics - ELI_Lab: Environmental Literacy Initiative: A Laboratory on Storytelling. An initiative of Public Engagement – Team Member – University of Turin (5k euro)
2022
UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Geosciences – AKMA2 Ocean Senses Expedition – Team Member – INTPART 2019-2023 and Strategiske Midler Faculty of Law - P.I. G. Panieri, endorsed by UN Ocean Decade. Website: https://akma-project.com/akma2-oceansenses (10k nok)
2022
University of Bayreuth - Co-production of knowledge in climate governance – Co-P.I.- University of Bayreuth and Centre of International Excellence Alexander von Humboldt (P.I. E. Lohse) (10 k euro)
2021
UiT The Arctic University of Norway – PES Horizon Europe - Support for Project Establishment and Positioning – P.I. – Norwegian Research Council (300 k nok)
2021-2024
UiT The Arctic University of Norway – An Exchange Program on Empathy Compassion and Care in Water Governance – P.I. - UTFORSK HKDIR 2021-2024 (Norway-Brazil) (3 M nok)
2021-2028
University of Otago - Coastal People: Southern Skies. The vision of Coastal People: Southern Skies is flourishing wellness (mauri ora) of coastal communities. Their mission is to connect, understand and restore coastal ecosystems of New Zealand and the Pacific through transformative research, local action and by unlocking potential through new opportunities and pathways to learning – Role: International Expert in Indigenous Law and Water - Tertiary Education Commission, NZ (32.25 M NZD)
2021-2025
Sami Research Group UiT - Governance of Land and Natural Resources in Sápmi, a legal approach (GoSapmi, P.I. Ø.Ravna) - WP 1 Leader on Interaction between international indigenous rights, obligations, and implementation at the national level – Norwegian Research Council: Researcher Project Transformative Research Project, Forsker20 (8 M nok)
2020-2024
UiT - SECURE Novel Marine Resources for Food Security and Food Safety, BFE, Helsefak, Jurfak – Main Legal Investigator and WP Leader – UiT (30 M nok)
2019-2020
NCLOS - Rethinking the spatial architecture of the law of the sea and ocean governance – WP1 Leader – NCLOS, UiT (20 k nok)
2016-2019
JCLOS UiT - The role of the Arctic Council as a player in the global arena to safeguard and protect marine biodiversity – P.I. – K.G. Jebsen Foundation (30 M nok)
2019
DFG - Nachhaltigkeit durch Partizipation? Internationale, europäische und rechtsvergleichende Perspektiven -Study on participation and sustainability – Team member – DFG (46.09 k euro)
2019
DNSZ – Seed Money - Integrating local knowledge in marine resource governance – co-P.I.- Deutsch-Norwegisches Studien Zentrum (DNSZ) (2.94 k euro)
2018
YoungCAS for Talented Scholars- Indigenous law and Methodology – P.I.- CAS Oslo (150 K nok)
2017
UiT– Indigenous Law - Visiting Fellow at ILRU, Victoria, Ca - Stadler Jacobsen Research Fund (50 K nok)
2016-2017
DAAD - Protection of water by law – Coinvestigator - DAAD, Bonn, Germany (25 k euro)
2014-2015
UfU- Die Umweltverbandsklage in der rechtspolitischen Debatte – co-P.I.- Federal Ministry of Environment, Germany (30 k euro)
2014-2015
Unito- Right and access to water in a context of international development in Tanzania- Students supervisor - Progetti UniCoo Mobilita’ III bando Unito (10.2 keuro)
2012-2014
DAAD - Participatory Rights- Århus Convention – Co P.I.– DAAD (25 k euro)
2011-2014
World Bank and PFMR (Basket Fund), Twinning Arrangement to Develop Capacity at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB) to meet Rwanda Training needs in Procurement - Team leader Rwanda– World Bank and ITC-ILO (1.3 M euro)
2010-2013
Precon Food Management - EU Export Market Certification of Sierra Leone. Fishery and Marine Products – Legal counsel - Government of Sierra Leone (2.6 M euro)
2013
Unito - Evaluating Policies for Sustainable Energy Investments: towards an integrated approach on the national and international stage (EPSEI) – Team member on environmental participation in China- Marie Curie Irses EU Commission (total project funding not disclosed)
2012
Precon Food Management – EDES Program COLEAPC on Developing Training Materials on Food Safety – Legal Counsel - Europe-ACP Liaison Committee (2 k euro)
2009-2010
University of Perugia – Health care system (Germany) – Research Assistant – MIUR (PRIN 2007) (15 k euro)
2010
WUR-LEI - Requirements in International Agri-Food Trade – Research assistant - EU Project NTM, FP7 (total project funding not disclosed)
2009
GHI and WUR - Nano Foods: Principles-Based Responsive Regulation EFFosST – Research Assistant – Wageningen University (total project funding not disclosed)
2009
AICIL Tanzania – Legal Aid Program – WP Leader – US Embassy in Dar Es Salaam (2.5 k US dollar)
2007-2009
Unito - Participation, access, and justice in environmental law – Team member – MIUR (PRIN 2005) (15 k euro)
2008
Unito – Trust in a comparative perspective – P.I. – Hong Kong University (2 k euro)
2004-2008
Unito- Le competenze amministrative dopo la riforma del Titolo V della Costituzione (Administrative competence to State and Regions after constitutional reforms) – P.I.- University of Turin (96k euro)
2004-2005
University of Turin - Research Grant di Ricerca scientifica applicata: La sicurezza alimentare tra Unione Europea, Stato e Regioni dopo la riforma del Titolo V della Costituzione (Food safety in EU, State and Regions after Constitutional reforms)- Regione Piemonte and FP6-EU (33 k euro)
8. Teaching portfolio
In the past 21 years, I had been fortunate to obtain a wide range of teaching experiences. Since 2020, I have developed an annual interactive course (hybrid online and in-person) in Administrative Law in the framework of the Agenda 2030 (SDGs) with a special focus on the impacts of the global pandemic on administrative law, one health approaches to environmental and human challenges (Bachelor Program in Business and Management at the University of Turin, Italy); a course on Public Law for Economics (Bachelor Program Business and Management at the University of Turin, Italy), a course for Ph.D. Students on Writing and Communication Skills (UiT The Arctic University of Norway). Previously, I was appointed by Unito, Upo, WUR, and other European and international academic institutions, as an adjunct professor, senior lecturer, guest lecturer, tutor, and trainer to trainers, as well as a course designer leader, to doctoral, postgraduate, undergraduate courses, and civil servants (Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Norway, Nl, Canada). Teaching subjects: innovative approaches to administrative law, public law, EU law, contract law, tort law, labor law, environmental and food law, public procurement law, ethics and fraud, public law for economics; Scandinavian legal thinking and realism. Courses on methodology: indigenous methodology, communication skills for lawyers, critical legal thinking, academic writing for Ph.D. students (Norway, Kenya, Canada). My teaching expertise covers the national, comparative, and global perspectives.
9. Publications
I have 171 publications (including 12 books), of which 13 are forthcoming. A list of the most relevant publications in the last 6 years can be found here.
10. Dissemination, communication, and outreach
From 2003 to 2022 I contributed to the dissemination of my research results, as well as developed managerial and administrative skills by participating in, organizing, coordinating, and leading many scientific meetings, conferences, workshops (82), at national (Norwegian and Italian) and international level.