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Biography of Contributors
consciousness. While he still occasionally speaks to farming audiences, he continues to write and
speak prolifically on the ‘Metaphysical World of Nature’ and on ‘Growing in Consciousness’ (www.
michaelroads.com).
Sergio Rodríguez Rodríguez
Sergio Florentino Rodríguez Rodríguez graduated as an agronomist in 1987 from the University
of Matanzas, Cuba. Head of the Department of Genetic Improvement of the Sugar Cane Research
Stations in the provinces of Granma and Ciego de Ávila, he gained a Master’s in Agricultural
Sciences in 1999 from the University of Granma and a Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences in 2008
from the same university. He became Professor at the University of Granma in 2013 and Director
of International Relations from 2008 to 2017. He has published more than 25 scientific articles
as author or co-author, and two book chapters. He has directed undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral theses. Coordinator of several international projects, he has carried out research stays in
Belgium, China, Spain and Argentina. His field of research and teaching is genetics, plant physiology and the use of statistics in research, and on the topics of stress due to soil flooding, physical
and chemical treatments for seed priming in sugarcane, mulberry, rice and papaya crops. He is a
reviewer of scientific journals including the HOLOS journal (web of science, http://www2.ifrn.edu.
br), a member of scientific editorial committees, and coordinator of the Environment Management
Master’s at the University of Granma.
Melissa Roussopoulos
Since 2005, Melissa Roussopoulos has been pioneering, researching and running Nature
Constellations, an experiential group methodology that provides insights and solutions for questions about human interactions with ecological systems. Clients have included farmers, landowners, agronomists, environmental groups and university agricultural departments, bringing issues
from difficulties with domestic animals to planning complex agricultural projects to concerns about
global environmental problems.
Melissa’s Nature Constellations work draws on her training in Organisational and Family
Constellations, both well-established methods, as well as her experience in a post with the nowhere
foundation researching the application of Constellations into different professional fields. It is also
informed by her interdisciplinary research into interspecies communication.
Her background is as an environmentalist, and she worked on multi-stakeholder approaches
to sustainability issues at The Environment Council, a UK-based charity, as well as undertaking
research projects for international NGOs and the Austrian government. She has an MSc in Natural
Resource Management (University of Leicester) and a BA in History and Philosophy of Science
(University of Cambridge) (www.forgottenconnections.org).
Juan José Silva Pupo
Graduating as an agronomist in 1989 at the Higher Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Bayamo
(ISCAB), current University of Granma, Juan has 30 years of teaching experience. He gained his
PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Granma in 2006 and became Professor in
2008. He has since held the posts of Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (2010–2012),
Vice-rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies at the University of Granma (2012–2015),
and Director of the Center for Plant Biotechnology Studies (2007–2010 and 2015–present). He is
Coordinator of national and international projects, including Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in
Agricultural Biotechnology (2017–2020) and Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair in Agricultural
Biotechnology for Local Development, approved in 2014 jointly by UNESCO and the University of
Granma. He has given courses and conferences on agricultural biotechnology and project management in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala. A tutor of diploma, master’s and doctorate
research, he has participated in numerous symposia and congresses in Portugal, the Netherlands
and Cuba. He is the coordinator of the International Workshop on Sustainable Agriculture and Plant
Biography of Contributors
consciousness. While he still occasionally speaks to farming audiences, he continues to write and
speak prolifically on the ‘Metaphysical World of Nature’ and on ‘Growing in Consciousness’ (www.
michaelroads.com).
Sergio Rodríguez Rodríguez
Sergio Florentino Rodríguez Rodríguez graduated as an agronomist in 1987 from the University
of Matanzas, Cuba. Head of the Department of Genetic Improvement of the Sugar Cane Research
Stations in the provinces of Granma and Ciego de Ávila, he gained a Master’s in Agricultural
Sciences in 1999 from the University of Granma and a Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences in 2008
from the same university. He became Professor at the University of Granma in 2013 and Director
of International Relations from 2008 to 2017. He has published more than 25 scientific articles
as author or co-author, and two book chapters. He has directed undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral theses. Coordinator of several international projects, he has carried out research stays in
Belgium, China, Spain and Argentina. His field of research and teaching is genetics, plant physiology and the use of statistics in research, and on the topics of stress due to soil flooding, physical
and chemical treatments for seed priming in sugarcane, mulberry, rice and papaya crops. He is a
reviewer of scientific journals including the HOLOS journal (web of science, http://www2.ifrn.edu.
br), a member of scientific editorial committees, and coordinator of the Environment Management
Master’s at the University of Granma.
Melissa Roussopoulos
Since 2005, Melissa Roussopoulos has been pioneering, researching and running Nature
Constellations, an experiential group methodology that provides insights and solutions for questions about human interactions with ecological systems. Clients have included farmers, landowners, agronomists, environmental groups and university agricultural departments, bringing issues
from difficulties with domestic animals to planning complex agricultural projects to concerns about
global environmental problems.
Melissa’s Nature Constellations work draws on her training in Organisational and Family
Constellations, both well-established methods, as well as her experience in a post with the nowhere
foundation researching the application of Constellations into different professional fields. It is also
informed by her interdisciplinary research into interspecies communication.
Her background is as an environmentalist, and she worked on multi-stakeholder approaches
to sustainability issues at The Environment Council, a UK-based charity, as well as undertaking
research projects for international NGOs and the Austrian government. She has an MSc in Natural
Resource Management (University of Leicester) and a BA in History and Philosophy of Science
(University of Cambridge) (www.forgottenconnections.org).
Juan José Silva Pupo
Graduating as an agronomist in 1989 at the Higher Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Bayamo
(ISCAB), current University of Granma, Juan has 30 years of teaching experience. He gained his
PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Granma in 2006 and became Professor in
2008. He has since held the posts of Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (2010–2012),
Vice-rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies at the University of Granma (2012–2015),
and Director of the Center for Plant Biotechnology Studies (2007–2010 and 2015–present). He is
Coordinator of national and international projects, including Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in
Agricultural Biotechnology (2017–2020) and Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair in Agricultural
Biotechnology for Local Development, approved in 2014 jointly by UNESCO and the University of
Granma. He has given courses and conferences on agricultural biotechnology and project management in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala. A tutor of diploma, master’s and doctorate
research, he has participated in numerous symposia and congresses in Portugal, the Netherlands
and Cuba. He is the coordinator of the International Workshop on Sustainable Agriculture and Plant