Michela Podestà is Curator of the Vertebrate Zoology Department of the Natural History Museum of Milan (1991 - today). Scientific coordinator of the national cetacean stranding network and manager of the online stranding database (https://mammiferimarini.unipv.it), is author of many papers on the biology of Mediterranean cetacean. Participated as team leader to international research cruises (tagging, sightings, acoustic, mitigation procedures). Contract professor (anatomy of wild mammals) at the University of Padua (2000). Member of the Italian Delegation of the Scientific Committee at the International Whaling Commission (2006-2012). Founder of the European Cetacean Society (1986).