José Carlos Caetano Xavier  José Carlos Caetano Xavier is a Portuguese scientist (Marine biologist) and Polar explorer. Xavier graduated from University of Algarve with a master's degree in Marine Biology in 1997 and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (Queen's college) in 1999. He has been carrying out Antarctic research since 1997, on 7 research expeditions (comprising more than 3 years); most recently in 2012. Xavier is a Professor and principal investigator of the Institute of Marine Research of the University of Coimbra (Portugal) and at the British Antarctic Survey (Cambridge, UK) collaborating with researchers from more than 15 countries. He was one of the leading scientists for the implementation of the national research program PROPOLAR and of the educational program LATITUDE60!, during the International Polar Year. Xavier co-founded the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists and is also a member of the Education and Outreach sub-committee of the International Polar Year. He is involved in more than 40 educational activities and events, nationally and internationally, giving talks in schools, producing exhibitions and directing educational films, among other activities. He was involved in the institutional efforts for Portugal to join the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (2006), European Polar Board (2007) and signing the Antarctic Treaty (2010). He co-led Portugal's polar science, education and outreach activities during the International Polar Year. In his research areas are Marine Biology, Behavioral Ecology, Oceanography, Modeling, Foraging and Feeding Ecology. Xavier studies the foraging behavior and feeding ecology of top predators (namely penguins, albatrosses and seals) in relation to climate change. As a marine biologist, his main research areas are focused on understanding food web dynamics in marine ecosystems. Xavier studies penguins, albatrosses, seals and other mammals, sharks, conger eels and other fish, turtles, paying special attention to Cephalopods in the diet of top predators. In 2011, Xavier was the youngest recipient of the Martha T. Muse Prize for his work on science and politics in the Antarctic