A Brazilian/German botanist and a researcher at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology that has authored and co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in the last 15 years dealing with the taxonomy and ecology of diatoms from rivers, lakes, soils, and marine environments. Carlos has been teaching numerous training courses on diatom taxonomy and ecology designed for biologists and technicians from public and private institutions, contributing to the continuous improvement of the European Water Framework Directive. Still, he has collaborated with many diatomists worldwide, notably in his home country Brazil. His research interests focus on using diatoms as indicators in several branches and fields of diatom research. I have been a member of the ISDR since my first participation at the symposium in Dubrovnik (Croatia) in 2008. My interest in joining the council is to keep an active and diversified community, connected, well-informed and accessible to everyone.