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Joaquim Pedro Ferreira, Researcher supporting Science Communication at CESAM (CESAM/UA), was on the Sociedade Civil programme on RTP2 this Wednesday, 22nd May, where the topic discussed was “Sardines.”

The documentary “Sardinha. Uma riqueza natural”, broadcast on RTP1 in 2022, and authored and directed by Joaquim Pedro Ferreira, served as the starting point for the conversation. The programme also discussed the contribution of scientific knowledge to the management of sardine stocks in Iberian waters.

Watch the programme on RTP Play here.

(Texto by: Tânia Barros)

On 21 May, between 1pm and 5pm, the first meeting of the CCFORBIO project – “Conservation corridors in woodlands: A win-win for biodiversity, wood production, and carbon sequestration”, coordinated by researcher Bruna Oliveira (CESAM/DAO), took place. This meeting was attended by the project members (Tiago Silva, Paula Maia, Diana Rodrigues, Bruna Oliveira, Sofia Corticeiro, João Puga and Luís Tarelho – CESAM/DBIO; CESAM/DAO), DAO director Fátima Alves (CESAM/DAO) and Mónica Almeida, Head of the Forest Management Division of the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests) Litoral Centre.

CCFORBIO was honoured with the Belmiro de Azevedo Award 2023, a prize dedicated to the conservation, restoration and monitoring of biodiversity in Portugal. The project aims to support the creation and maintenance of conservation corridors in wood production areas. CCFORBIO seeks to change the perception of forests, highlighting not only their value as a source of wood, but also as places that provide other important ecosystem services, such as providing habitat for native plant and animal species, carbon sequestration and leisure opportunities.

Within the scope of the CAPMOZ project (Capacity building towards the implementation of an EcoHealth framework in Northern Mozambique), funded by the FCT-AKDN programme, researchers Eduardo Ferreira and João Carvalho, from the Wildlife Unit, CESAM / DBIO at the University of Aveiro are on the first mission of the project in Mozambique.

Between the 9th and 13th of May, they visited the Niassa Special Reserve (REN) where they met with the team from REN, the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mozambique (project partner) .

Accompanied by colleagues from REN, they visited the areas of the reserve where research and training tasks will be implemented, together with the other project partners, namely the Pedagogical University of Maputo and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.

During this period, CESAM researchers carried out a survey of the logistical and scientific challenges relating to the implementation of research and training actions, which will involve researchers from different entities and students from Mozambican partners, in what is still one of the most remote and pristine mountains of Mozambique.

During this year, training and research activities will take place in Southern Mozambique, although project activities in the Niassa Special Reserve are expected to take place in 2025.

The REN team also facilitated contact with some of the concessionaires in this conservation area with more than 40 thousand km², making it possible to visit the villages in the Mecula district, where activities will be carried out with the communities.

Over the next few days, researchers from CESAM and UA will be in Maputo, for a series of meetings with the team from the Pedagogical University of Maputo, visiting the facilities of this university and the natural areas where the project will be implemented.

The Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) launches a new project for scientific dissemination, called Science Cast, which aims to promote science and Portuguese scientists.

The podcast, which premieres on May 16th, National Scientists’ Day, invites you to discover scientists from various areas of knowledge in informal and in-depth conversations. Science Cast is a collaborative project between CESAM, the Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO), both from the University of Aveiro, and PlaySolutions Audiovisuais.

Joaquim Pedro Ferreira (CESAM, CICECO) is one of the authors of this project, together with Pedro Miguel Ferreira (PlaySolutions Audiovisuais), and which features Mónica Ribau (CICECO) as host of this podcast, receiving weekly scientists from the most varied areas of science, for a conversation about their work and discoveries, A Conversation with Science.

The Cooperation between CESAM and CICECO in ​​communication and dissemination is strategic, as both have communication skills in areas such as management and analysis of social networks, science and audiovisual journalism, characteristics, almost unique, in relation to most research units at national level. Per this, cooperation in sharing skills, in ​​communication and dissemination, is of the greatest strategic interest to both research centers, strengthening the CESAM’s communication and dissemination strategy.

The objective of Science Cast is to promote science literacy and provide a space dissemination for researchers from different areas of knowledge. Furthermore, the podcast serves as an example of cooperation between CESAM and society, contributing to the dissemination of science and the Portuguese scientists, from all areas of knowledge.

ScienceCast – A Conversation with Science is available on Spotify and Apple Podcast platforms, and also on the YouTube channel in the video version.

See promotional video here.

Susana Loureiro’s nomination (CESAM/DBIO) was made at the 34th Annual Meeting of SETAC Europe, which took place from 5th to 9th May 2024 in Seville, Spain, with the presence of more than three thousand participants. The election took place at the beginning of the year in the SETAC Europe Council and was ratified at the Annual General Assembly held in Seville.

SETAC is dedicated to advancing environmental science and evidence-based decision-making through collaboration, communication, education, and leadership. This purpose is achieved through events, publications, awards, educational programs, and collaboration with regulatory and legislative agencies.

This year’s meeting has the overarching theme of “Science-Based Solutions in Times of Crisis: Integrating Science and Policy for Environmental Challenges”.

SETAC Europe 2024 brings together scientists from various fields of knowledge, businesses/industry, and government to share, debate, discuss, disseminate, and facilitate the use and reuse of their latest scientific knowledge to support adaptive and responsive environmental management and protection.

Learn more here.

(Text by: Joaquim Pedro Ferreira and Tânia Barros)

On April 30th, May 2nd, and May 3rd, a group of doctoral students from CESAM and the Lipidomics Laboratory of the Mass Spectrometry Center at the University of Aveiro (CEM-UA) (Helena Ferreira, Inês Guerra, Marisa Pinho, and Tatiana Maurício) presented the activity “Discovering Lipids – the Lipodrome in Action” at the Xperimenta 2024 event. In this activity, the Lipodrome board game developed by the COST Action CA19105 EpiLipidNET, coordinated by the researcher Rosário Domingues (CESAM/QUI), was presented. This game provided a didactic and playful way to demonstrate how different types of foods transport lipids that are essential or harmful to our health. Thus, this activity, which involved a diverse group of participants, provided an opportunity to explore the relationship between dietary choices and health.

The realization of this event allowed the Lipidomics Laboratory (CEM-UA), CESAM, and CA EpiLipidNET to contribute to the education and engagement of the general public in the complex world of lipids.  The Lipodrome is included as a permanent activity at the Centro Ciência Viva de Aveiro.

(Text adaptation by: Tânia Barros; Original text by: Inês Guerra)

This year, Navy Day celebrates its 526th anniversary, and the city of Aveiro will be the stage for the celebrations of this event. An event that sees increased involvement from the University of Aveiro, reflected in the relationship UA has with the Portuguese Navy and the sea. Several members of UA are part of the organizing committee for the celebrations, including 6 members from CESAM.

As part of the Navy Day celebrations, the University of Aveiro will organize the Colloquium “The Sea: Traditions and Challenges.” The central idea of this colloquium is to expand knowledge about the sea, disseminate the importance of various Navies over time, and also discuss traditions and challenges. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this event aims to understand the past as a basis for building the present and projecting a common future.

Additionally, a series of activities related to maritime themes, free and open to all, will be organized.

The sea is a meeting point of convergence between communities that, throughout history, have explored its natural resources in various ways. Thus, the need to study and understand the sea in different aspects is crucial, exploring it in a sustainable manner supported by scientific foundations.

The entry to the “The Sea: Traditions and Challenges” Colloquium is free and subject to registration through this link, until May 10th.

(Text by: Joaquim Pedro Ferreira e Tânia Barros)

Climate change is affecting forests in the Mediterranean region, particularly in southern Europe, where these ecosystems, increasingly subject to high temperatures and low rainfall due to climate change, are degraded by large and intense fires, which are occurring more and more frequently.

Preparing the forest and planning its management taking future climate scenarios into account has become imperative, an idea incorporated into the “FoRES – Developing Forest Resilience to Fire in a Climate Change Scenario” project, which held its final meeting on 30 April, entitled “Forest Management Challenges and Fire Risk. Capitalising on the results of the FoRES project”.

The Physics department of the University of Aveiro hosted the initiative, which was attended by representatives of the ICNF, Ovar Municipal Council, Forestwise, AGIF (Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management), UTAD, CIRA (Intermunicipal Community of the Aveiro Region) and AFBV (Lower Vouga Forestry Association).

Coordinated by CESAM, the FoRES project has as partners the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomics Research (NIBIO), the Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management – Forestwise and the Association of Traditional and Environmental Agricultural Producers – APATA.

At the meeting, forest management scenarios subject to modelling were presented.

The meeting presented forest management scenarios subject to modelling of the spread of forest fires in future climate scenarios, which also analysed which management strategies or landscape transformation could result in a smaller area being burnt.

The forest management scenarios, which were created in collaboration with stakeholders and analysed in relation to fire and climate, proved to be a useful tool for assessing the landscape’s resistance to the spread of fire, which is highly dependent on the forest management strategies implemented.

The methodology developed by the FoRES project, which is potentially applicable to any forest area in the territory and takes into account future climate projections, combines several key aspects for the conservation of ecosystems, rural fire risk management and landscape management, from a perspective that is integrated with the interests of managers and owners.

Watch the project video here.

(Text by: Joaquim Pedro Ferreira)