DC2: Jasmine Mifsud

My name is Jasmine Mifsud, a doctoral researcher in the ArCHe project at the University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain, specialising in submerged prehistoric landscapes along Atlantic Europe. Coming from Malta, a small archipelago in the Mediterranean, the open blue sea has always been an integral part of my identity. Growing up surrounded by the sea instilled in me a passion for exploring its depths, protecting marine environments, and uncovering the hidden wonders of the underwater world. As a technical diver, I enjoy exploring the ocean first-hand, and feeling a profound connection with nature.

I come from a multidisciplinary academic background that includes a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences and a master’s degree in Maritime Archaeology, both achieved at the University of Malta. This diverse foundation has equipped me with a broad skillset for comprehensive, multidisciplinary analysis, essential for exploring submerged prehistoric sites. On another note, I used to manage an environmental non-profit organisation in Malta focused on organising diving clean-ups and applying for international and local funding opportunities to improve marine health, further demonstrating my commitment to protecting the underwater environment.

Before joining the ArCHe project, I gained valuable experience through various roles that deepened my expertise across several sectors. During my Master's studies, I finetuned my skills in organising and managing strategic seabed acoustic scanning techniques for investigating submerged heritage in the Mediterranean. I also collaborated on several projects alongside restorers, preparing artefacts for museum display, and gaining hands-on experience in conservation practices. In addition, I worked as a lab technician, extracting microbial eDNA from seabed samples around shipwrecks at different depths within Maltese territorial waters. This work expanded my technical expertise and enhanced my understanding of the broader ecological context of submerged cultural heritage.

In parallel to my technical roles, I contributed significantly to archaeological research. As a researcher at the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage in Malta, I played a key role in a publication documenting two decades of archaeological discoveries around the Maltese Islands, showcasing the region’s prehistory and archaeological history. 

Joining the ArCHe project was the natural next step in my career.

The study of searching for submerged landscapes is becoming increasingly popular that encourages the development of innovative ways to explore the oceans and offer research opportunities for the future within various fields. This interdisciplinarity is the main goal for the ArCHe project, merging desk-based studies, remote sensing, and diving investigations. Furthermore, the project encourages collaboration across multiple disciplines to develop a fuller understanding of areas containing prehistoric sites especially for this particular research as it requires multiple experts to enable the possibility to go offshore and explore.  The results from my research will form an important foundation for better understanding, managing, and communicating the significance of submerged landscapes, as the main goal is to produce an open system for data sharing to bring together all existing information on submerged landscapes. This ensures that these valuable cultural heritages are discovered and documented for future generations.