Maria Bianca Cita Sironi, a well-known Italian geoscientist who was a pioneer in the fields of marine geology and micropalaeontology, passed away on 12th August 2024.

Born in Milan in 1924, Maria Bianca Cita was the first woman to enrol in the new geology degree (Corso di Laurea in Scienze Geologiche) when it opened at the University of Milan in 1942. She earned her master in 1946, obtaining top honours. By 1955 she was already an active field geologist and micropalaeontologist. Her early research focused on the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary and the important role of planktonic foraminifera in global stratigraphic correlation.

Maria Bianca spent her entire brilliant academic career at the University of Milan, eventually becoming a full professor in 1973 and Head of the Earth Science Department in 1982. In 1989, she was the first woman elected president of the Italian Geological Society.

She published over 300 scientific papers in some of the highest-impact geoscience publications. Her broad sphere of research interests covered palaeontology, stratigraphy, palaeoceanography, palaeoclimatology and marine geology. Her studies on the desiccation of the Mediterranean, deep-sea anoxic brine lakes, mud volcanos and homogenites are considered keystone publications in her field.

Her contributions were recognised with prestigious honours, including:

• Feltrinelli Prize, Accademia dei Lincei (1986)
• Francis P. Shepard Medal for Marine Geology (1996)
• Honorary Fellow, Geological Society of America
• Professor Emeritus, University of Milan

Her outstanding academic legacy and accomplishments are still inspiring women in science today.