Manel Chiva Royo was born in Barcelona in 1952. He studied Secondary Education in Pedagogium San Fernando School of Barcelona. After studying the pre-university course in Peñalver Academy of Barcelona he initiated the Bachelor of Biology in the University of Barcelona, obtaining the graduate degree the month of June of 1975.

Specialist in Foraminifera and Calpionelida, he discovered about 250 new species and published more than 200 textbooks, scientific articles, etc.