Dr. Abascal is a senior researcher at the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the University of Cantabria (IHCantabria), where she leads the area of expertise on accidental marine pollution. She graduated with a PhD in Marine Science and Technology from the University of Cantabria. She also holds a Master of Science Degree in Physical Oceanography and a second Master’s Degree in Coastal Engineering. Her research focuses mainly on numerical modelling of oil and chemical spills, plastic pollution, operational oceanography, coastal hydrodynamics and development of methodologies and tools to support spill response and planning.
She has led 14 competitive national and international R&D projects as PI and has participated as researcher in more than 20 national and international R&D projects in over 15 countries. She has always worked in close collaboration with competent public authorities, as well as the industry and multilateral organisations. Her activity in this field resulted in 32 SCI papers with more than 950 citations (Scopus), h-index 18 (Scopus), more than 70 international and national conference talks, two individual awards, two collective awards, and three software products transferred to the society for the prevention and management of accidental marine pollution.