The Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA) of the University of Padova seeks project ideas to join and support as partner!

The Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA) of the University of Padova, is active in the veterinary medicine, comparative animal science and food safety field, trough its 51 active professors.

With particular reference to the call HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01, the research activities involve a multidisciplinary team.

The research area focuses on

-        the anatomy, function and bioacoustics of odontocetes, with particular attention to the mechanisms underlying underwater hearing.

-        the effects of acoustic exposure on commercially relevant fish species, adopting an integrated morphological, physiological and behavioural approach

A key project involved participation in the DIAPHONIA initiative, where data from a dolphin head were used to develop a 3D model simulating sound wave propagation through different cranial tissues. This model has contributed to a deeper understanding of odontocete auditory pathways and has demonstrated broader applicability, as highlighted by scientific publications showing interest in its use within geoscience modelling environments.  This work has strengthened also the understanding of how sound impacts fish welfare, performance and stress responses, providing valuable insights for environmental monitoring and sustainable aquaculture management.

Priority areas include advancing the anatomical and functional understanding of odontocete hearing, refining and expanding the 3D sound propagation model (SPECFEM), and investigating how these species determine the elevation of sound sources. These research directions aim to provide concrete, data‑driven insights into the impact of underwater noise pollution on these marine sentinel species.

The department plans to continue and expand this multidisciplinary approach by exploring additional acoustic exposure scenarios, including conditions that closely mimic real‑world marine environments. This would enhance the applicability and relevance of the collected data for policy, conservation and industry stakeholders.

Existing synergies include collaborations with the Department of Geosciences and with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, supporting interdisciplinary integration of marine bioacoustics and geophysical modelling.