Mario Tozzi was born in Rome in 1959. He received the degree in Geological Sciences at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" in 1984 and the PhD in Structural Geology and Geophysics in 1989, after one and half year stage at the CNRS-CEA paleomagnetism laboratory of Gif-sur-Yvette (Centre des Faibles Radioactivites, Paris). From 1988 to 1999 he was Researcher at the CNR in Rome, first at "Geologia Tecnica" then at "Quaternario ed Evoluzione Ambientale". Since 1999 he is First Researcher at CNR "Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria" of Rome.Since 1989 Mario Tozzi is coordinating the structural study of the CROP04 and CROP11 Projects; he was responsible for geodynamic (Southern Adria Microplate) and geological mapping (Molisan Prototipal Structural Map for CARG) CNR projects and he is involved in town areas-geology researches.

Mario Tozzi's researches include geodynamic evolution reconstructions of the Adriatic foreland and the Southern peri-Adriatic thrust belts by the means of structural analysis and mapping, involving study of balanced cross-sections and deep crustal domains. They also include structural axes vs. block rotations detection.

Main scientific results:

Field mapping and structural characterizations of Olevano - Antrodoco overthrusting (distinction from Ancona - Anzio line);

Rotations, strike-slip faulting and tectonic activity of southern Apulia: new modelling of geodynamic evolution for the Adriatic foreland;

Southern Apennines and Tyrrhenian margin strike - slip faulting: structural identification of the major left - lateral strike - slip fault Cilento - Pollino as corresponding to a lithospheric faulting (wrenching);

New gravimetric, geometric and kinematic constrains to the interpretation of the CROP11 and CROP04 lines in a new tectonic model of the deep Central - Southern Apennines.

Awards:

1996 - Best paper on Geological Society of Italy books and magazines 1994-1996 for Naso G., Tallini M. & Tozzi M. (1995) - Caratteristiche geologico-strutturali dell'area di Miranda (Isernia): un contributo alla comprensione dei rapporti tra falde molisane e avanfossa del Messiniano-Pliocene inferiore. (Boll.Soc.Geol.It., 115, 423-441,1994).

2000 - Best paper on Geological Society of Italy books and magazines 1998-2000 for Scrocca D. & Tozzi M. (1999) - Tettogenesi mio-pliocenica dell'Appennino molisano. (Boll.Soc.Geol.It, 118, 1999).

Mario Tozzi is responsible for divulgation of Earth Sciences for the Italian Federation of Geosciences (FIST), performing: regular papers and scientific review for National Geographic (Italian Ed.), La Stampa, Newton and L'Indice (i); scientific consultance and standings for the Italian Television (RAI) weekly Geo & Geo and Gaia (RaiTre) (ii); coordination of FIST divulgation agency for the 32° IGC (iii).