Rui Ferreira dos Santos is Full Professor at the NOVA School of Science and Technology of NOVA University Lisbon (FCT NOVA), where he has been a lecturer since 1986. Rui has a Degree in Economics by the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP), a MSc in Operations Research and Systems Engineering by the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon (IST), and a PhD in Environmental Engineering/domain: Environmental Economics, by the NOVA University Lisbon (UNL). Director of CENSE in the period 2017-2021, and one of the co-founders of the Centre in 2007. Coordinated the research area of ecological economics and environmental management (ECOMAN) from 2007 to 2017.
Teaches Environmental Economics, Ecological Economics and related courses in several PhD, Master and Post-graduate programs. Main research interests include the design and evaluation of environmental policy instruments, with a special focus in economic and market-based instrument, for instance, water taxes and tariffs, water markets, payments for ecosystem services and markets regulation.
Coordinator and team member of several EU and national research projects (e.g. ADVISOR, FRAP, PLEIADES, PROSUITE, POLICYMIX, RESPONDER, SCALES, OpenNESS, NETGREEN, FATIMA, STARGATE), as well as studies and consultancy projects. Member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Institute for the Regulation of Water and Solid Waste Services (IRAR), from March 2003 to November 2006. Since 2010, member of the Advisory Council of ERSAR (Portuguese Regulator of Water and Solid Waste Services – ex IRAR). Economist by training, who has also worked as advisor of the European Commission, Portuguese government, other national governments (e.g. MMA Brazil; NORAD – Norway), regional governments of Azores and Madeira, municipalities and public and private companies in the field of environment economics, with applications in several economic sectors (e.g. waste management, water supply and wastewater treatment, biodiversity conservation, energy, transports). Nominated by the Portuguese government as coordinator or member of several working and expert groups, and task-forces (e.g. Portuguese Green Tax Reform Commission, in 2014). Represented the Portuguese Government in some international fora, like the WATECO group (EC Water Economics Working Group) established in the scope of the process of joint implementation of the Water Framework Directive. President of the Partnership Commission of the Public Integrated Water Partnership of Alentejo (AGDA), since 2010, and of the Partnership Commission of the Public Integrated Water Partnership of Região de Aveiro (AdrA), jointly appointed by the Minister of Environment and the Presidents of involved municipalities. Vice-President of the Spanish-Portuguese Association of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (AERNA) from 2002 to 2008.
