Juan Antonio Ballesteros Cánovas is a senior scientist at the MNCN-CSIC. He holds a degree in Forestry Engineering (2006, UPM) and a Master's in Applied Environmental Geology: Geological Resources and Hazards (2008, University of León). He earned his Ph.D. from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 2011. His research focuses on understanding the risks associated with hydrogeomorphological processes in the context of global change. He employs methodologies such as geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, and botany, developing standard protocols for using botanical evidence in the analysis of hydrogeomorphological risks. His contribution can be categorized into:
(1) the impact of the hydrosphere on vegetation; (2) long-term reconstruction of hydrogeomorphological processes; and (3) understanding the links between extreme events, climate, and human activities. He has participated in several competitive international projects and has conducted multiple scientific expeditions to remote mountainous regions (e.g., the Hindu Kush-Karakoram region in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Andes, among others). His research aligns with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and he has contributed as an expert to the United Nations Global Assessment Report (2019).