Łukasz Kaczmarek

Łukasz Kaczmarek is a Professor at the Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology (Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland), but in the past he also worked at Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA) (Puyo, Ecuador). He is also a member of European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) (https://europeanastrobiology.eu/). Łukasz Kaczmarek is a zoologist and astrobiologist. He is an author of more that 140 publications and monographs, and ca. 100 conference presentations dedicated to tardigrades (Tardigrada) and some aspects of astrobiology (e.g. the possibility of surviving of tardigrades on other planets, moons or exoplanets). His present research focuses on tardigrade taxonomy and ecology, but also on different aspects of cryptobiosis in Tardigrada. He e.g. tests consequences of short- and long-term anhydrobiosis (including ecological, organismal and molecular point of view) and possible survival of tardigrades in hipomagnetic conditions. Furthermore, he studies survivability of tardigrades in extreme environments like polar regions, deserts, high mountains or glaciers. He is also an editor of few profiles and webpages focused on different aspects of tardigradology. Moreover he is also a member of “Nauka dla Przyrody” (https://naukadlaprzyrody.pl) and "Biodiversitatis Foundation” (http://www.biodiversitatis.com.pl/about_us) a non-profit organizations focused on environmental protection and preservation of biodiversity. He was also the organizer co-organizer and member of many scientific expeditions to e.g. Kirghizia, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spitsbergen or Mongolia.