Tarmo Soomere (1957) is mathematician and marine scientist, the first Professor of Coastal Engineering in Estonia (2005) and since 2014 the President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. His scientific interests are mostly concentrated in wave matters, with applications to the analysis and mitigation of marine hazards to the coastal zone, preventive methods of coastal protection, and management of coastal zone and water resources.

He received twice the national science award (2002 and 2013) and the Baltic Assembly Prize for science in 2007, was elected to the Estonian Academy of Sciences in 2007 and to Academia Europaea in 2009, was nominated as Honorary Professor of the James Cook University (Australia) in 2010, received the title of the best communicator of science and technology in Estonia in 2011 and state decoration of 3rd class White Star order in 2014. His publication list contains almost 200 peer-reviewed papers, about 100 texts in conference proceedings and dozens of popular articles and science policy essays.

A highly unusual distinction for a scientist came from society: he was declared the Person of the Year in Estonia 2005 by daily newspaper The Postman for his contribution to the forecast of a devastating storm.