Category: Sem categoria

Deadline: 30 October 2023

As part of the Decade Advisory Board, the new expert members will play a key part in building the Ocean Decade roadmap to 2030 and have a strong presence at high-level events such as the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference and the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference. The Decade Advisory Board (DAB) is a multi-stakeholder advisory body that assists the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in performing its function as coordinator of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’).

The new Board will be named with due consideration to expertise, geographic, generational, and gender balance and will provide assistance on a voluntary basis. The members will serve a two-year term from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025 which is a critical time for the Ocean Decade as both the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference and the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference will take place in this period.

More details: HERE

Researchers Cristina Pita, Helena Vieira (CESAM/DAO), and Luís Menezes Pinheiro (CESAM/DGEO) participated in the United Nations Regional Atlantic Workshop aimed at preparing the 3rd World Ocean Assessment (WOA III). This event brought together experts from around the world to gather regional contributions and contribute to the global assessment of the state of the ocean. A novelty of WOA III is the strong focus on socioeconomic dimensions throughout the document and process.

During the workshop, our researchers had the opportunity to contribute their scientific knowledge and professional experience to the drafting of the initial components of this document. WOA III will result from the third cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. This process aims to periodically review the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the state of the ocean worldwide to strengthen the scientific basis guiding ocean-related policies. The Regular Process is an intergovernmental process guided by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other applicable international instruments.

The Regional Atlantic Workshop is part of the second round of five regional workshops, with the goal of raising awareness and providing information about the Regular Process, collecting regional information and data for the preparation of the third World Ocean Assessment, and providing an opportunity for drafting teams to meet and discuss the development of their chapters. This event plays a crucial role in understanding and responsibly managing our global marine environment.

For researchers Cristina Pita, Helena Vieira, and Luís Menezes Pinheiro, “this was an excellent opportunity to strengthen Portugal’s and University of Aveiro’s expertise in the socioeconomic dimensions of global ocean management and assessment, as well as to exchange experiences and best practices with experts from various regions of the world.”

More information about the 3rd World Ocean Assessment here.
More information about the Regional Atlantic Workshop here.

Text by: Cristina Pita, Helena Vieira, and Luís Menezes Pinheiro in collaboration with CESAM

Image credits: United Nations – Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea

Today, September 26th, researcher Helena Vieira (CESAM/DAO) was present on the RTP2 program “Sociedade Civil” to discuss the topic of technology in the sea. During her participation, she addressed various subjects related to the science and economy of the sea, emphasizing their different contributions to knowledge and sustainable exploration of the sea. The researcher emphasized the role of technological innovation and the need to invest in emerging areas of the blue bioeconomy, such as integrated aquaculture and marine biotechnology. She also highlighted the significant role of new scientific infrastructure suitable for the development of emerging sectors of the maritime economy in Portugal, such as the Blue Hubs, including the one in Aveiro, as well as the fundamental role of collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers.

Helena Vieira stated, “The opportunity to disseminate knowledge about the sea and the best practices in Portugal in the sciences of this area on a nationally impactful TV program is of extreme importance. In a country with a maritime culture and history, promoting debate and information on sea-related topics allows citizens to be better informed and gain a deep understanding of the immense opportunities, as well as the challenges, of our sea.”

Watch the full program here.

O Conselho Nacional do Ambiente e do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CNADS) recently approved the co-optation of Henrique Queiroga, a researcher at CESAM and professor at the Department of Biology at the University of Aveiro, as a member of this advisory body of the Government for environmental issues. The co-optation proposal was presented by the National Council of Professional Orders.

Regarding his appointment, Henrique Queiroga emphasizes that, “despite the statements of intent, the proposal to extend jurisdiction over the continental shelf, and the media coverage of the topic, public policies regarding the role of the oceans in the country’s development are still very incipient. I believe that CNADS is an important body for reflecting on these matters.”

The CESAM researcher holds the qualification of Environmental Specialist, awarded by the Order of Biologists, and currently serves as the President of the General Assembly of the Order of Biologists and a member of the Scientific Panel of the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change. In addition, he has actively participated in programs and projects for biodiversity conservation and the management of protected marine areas, in collaboration with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, municipal authorities, and academic institutions.

CNADS was established in 1997 by decree-law and is an independent advisory body that operates alongside the minister responsible for environmental affairs. Its mission is to facilitate public participation and consensus on environmental and sustainable development policies.

Text by: Henrique Queiroga in collaboration with CESAM

The Horizon Europe call for Cluster 6: “Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment” is oriented for research and innovation funding in the area of Food, Bioeconomy, Natural resources, Agriculture and Environment. The Call will open on 17th October, with a deadline for submission at the end of February 2024. The 2024 Work Programme includes 75 new topics proposing over 890 million of EU funding to support the best actions.

EU will organize an hybrid event on 27^th – 28^th September to promote funding opportunities and to explain the call topics under the 2024 Work programme and encouraging participation. Applicants may chose from joining in-person at the Charlemagne conference facility in Brussels, or you may follow the programme remotely, via the live web-streamed and interact online.

It is encouraged the preparation of potential questions in advance and be able to ask in person or via the online platform during the event.

Additionally, Brokerage event will be organized and will offer networking and matchmaking opportunities for prospective applicants for researchers that are looking for partners to build a proposal in the Horizon Europe – Cluster 6 Calls 2024. The event will take place on 26^th September the Charlemagne building of the European Commission.

For more information and details click on the following link.

The A-AAGORA consortium is pleased to announce the launch of a call for financial support to third parties within the A-AAGORA project. The project is seeking the participation of 7 ‘Associated Regions’ to support and implement nature-based solutions across four referential basins – Atlantic+Arctic, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Danube/Black Sea. With a maximum financial support of €70,000 per region, this initiative aims to promote positive changes in marine and coastal ecosystems and increase climate resilience through transformative innovation.

Eligible beneficiaries for this call are local and/or regional organizations from Member States, overseas and associated countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. Project lead by local and/or regional authorities will be prioritized, and in any case, projects must include a local/regional authority.

A-AAGORA will select at least one representative from each basin and a minimum of two representatives from the Atlantic-Arctic basin to ensure comprehensive coverage and diverse perspectives.

Selected ‘Associated Regions’ will work with the A-AAGORA project to demonstrate the feasibility, replicability, and scalability of the solutions developed within the initiative. These regions will play a key role in showcasing how the project’s outcomes can be effectively implemented in other areas, to restore, protect and preserve of our ocean, seas, and waters.

The consortium foresees a bidirectional involvement of the ‘Associated Regions’ in the project, promoting access to innovative ideas, techniques and results. This collaboration is expected to increase their motivation to plan and implement significant activities in the near future. ‘Associated Regions’ will also become active members of the A-AAGORA Community of Practice (CoP), a forum for sharing experiences, exchanging best practices, and ensuring the long-term success of the project’s objectives even beyond its duration.

Key Dates:

•  Call Opening: 24th July 2023

• Call Closing Date: 24th September 2023

For interested applicants, comprehensive details and guidelines can be found in the Guide for

Applicants

Proposals must be submitted using the online form

About A-AAGORA Project: Co-Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program and Coordinated by the University of Aveiro, A-AAGORA is a four-year project that is structured to support the ambitious targets set in the European Commission Mission on “restore our ocean and waters by 2030” through the reduction of pressures in coastal areas to boost resilience to climate change and mitigate its impacts.  https://a-aagora.eu/

AANChOR CSA would like to invite you to explore the latest advancements in the AA-DATA2030 Joint Pilot Action.
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance brings countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean together to promote cooperation in marine research and innovation within the All-Atlantic community.
As part of the All-Atlantic project AANChOR CSA, six long-term collaborative Joint Pilot Actions were developed. These were aligned with the ambitious goals of the Belém Statement, leveraging a multi-stakeholder platform.
The AA-DATA2030 Joint Pilot Action has made remarkable progress in addressing key challenges and achieving significant outcomes in the All-Atlantic Ocean Data Space. It serves as a comprehensive and user-friendly hub for natural, social, and social-scientific data, focusing on thematic areas such as climate variability, ocean observation, ocean resources, ocean technology, emerging pollutants, and polar research.
You can refer to the attached document that highlights major achievements, noteworthy outcomes, and important information about activities, results, and plans. For more comprehensive insights into AA-DATA2030, visit the webpage and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the Joint Pilot Action and access its results.
For more information, click here.

On July 28th, researcher Helena Vieira participated in the Welectric Talks, a videocast sponsored by Crédito Agrícola, to discuss the relevance of the Blue Economy in Portugal. The researcher addressed topics such as the challenges faced by companies in the sector due to outdated legislation, the new opportunities within this area, and also discussed pathways and possibilities for funding innovative projects.

Regarding her participation, Helena Vieira said, “It was an honor to have the opportunity to participate in this esteemed videocast series by WELECTRIC and CAIXA AGRÍCOLA. The choice of the theme also represents a significant recognition of the value of the Sea in Portugal and the potential of a sustainable blue economy for our country. The fact that this series is supported by the national banking sector also reveals how various entities are truly positioning themselves in this new vision of a more balanced and sustainable future, and that is positive for the planet and all of us!”

The Welectric Talks are a series of videocasts featuring experts in the areas of energy, retail, recycling, ecology, and mobility who discuss current and relevant issues with the goal of informing as many people as possible about pathways that promote the necessary transition to a more sustainable way of life.

Don’t miss the full episode here.

Cristina Pita (CESAM/DAO) is the researcher responsible for UA’s participation in the NETTAG+ project, which began in early May. The researchers involved in the project aim to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to prevent, avoid, and mitigate the negative effects of marine litter produced by the fishing sector on marine ecosystems.

In July, the European Commission announced the funding of a total of 18 projects to contribute to the EU Mission ‘Restoring our Ocean and Waters’, worth over 106 million euros. Among these projects is NETTAG+, which involves 15 partners from 7 different countries.

The motto of NETTAG+ is “prevent, avoid, and mitigate”. In this sense, the project focuses on preventing marine pollution resulting from fishing activities, working with fishermen as guardians of the oceans. The project aims to develop technology (acoustic location tags) to prevent the loss of fishing gear and mitigation solutions for the loss of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear.

NETTAG+ seeks not only to reduce the environmental impacts of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear but also to transform the paradigm of the fishing industry by empowering fishermen to play an active role in ocean protection.

According to Cristina Pita, the researcher responsible for the project at UA, “the NETTAG+ project follows the NETTAG project, also funded by the EU, which focused on these same themes on the Iberian Peninsula. It is very rare to have the opportunity to continue and expand a project, and NETTAG+ allows us to advance the knowledge generated previously and put into practice the work already done. It also allows us to expand to other geographical areas with high fishing activity, such as the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, it is also important to reinforce that one of the added values of this project is its multidisciplinarity and cooperation. NETTAG+ involves a team of researchers (including people from marine ecology, fisheries socio-economics, acoustic detection, location technology), industries from the fishing and net manufacturing sectors, and environmental NGOs. This is essential for co-creating viable solutions to the issue of marine litter.”

With a goal for 2030, the EU Mission “Restoring our Ocean and Waters” aims to protect and restore the health of our oceans and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement, and blue investments. The mission will address the ocean and waters as a whole and will play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and nature restoration.

The EU Missions are a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation program and seek to provide concrete solutions to some of our greatest current challenges.

Text based on: CESAM news in collaboration with Cristina Pita (CESAM/DAO)

During this academic year, Cristina Esteves (CESAM/DBio) had the opportunity to return to the school where she completed her primary education in the Azores, through the “Scientist Returns to School” program.

This program is promoted by the organization “Native Scientists” and aims to bring scientists back to their childhood schools to conduct science workshops with children. Participants receive training in science communication for children, support to develop the workshops, and have travel and material expenses covered.

Regarding her experience in this initiative, Cristina Esteves mentions that “participating in a project like ‘Scientist Returns to School’ is doubly rewarding. Working with children is naturally challenging but also very rewarding: they are the most curious and insightful audience, with always very relevant questions that I often hadn’t thought about. But they are also an audience that (still) marvels at the wonders of science. On the other hand, returning to the village where I grew up brings back very good memories. I cannot fail to thank Native Scientists for the opportunity to participate in this project and especially Joana Bordalo for all her professionalism always accompanied by immense kindness, the Vila Franca do Campo Municipal Council, and the Regional Secretariat for Science and Technology, without which ‘returning to school’ would not have been possible.”

Since 2022, 42 scientists have returned to their schools, and the University of Aveiro has been a program partner since the 2022/23 academic year. Scientists interested in participating can register on the program’s website. To be eligible, one must conduct research in any field of knowledge and have completed primary education (1st cycle of basic education) in Portugal.

This program offers an opportunity to bring science closer to children and stimulate an interest in scientific subjects from an early age, contributing to a greater appreciation of scientific education in our country.

For more information about the program: joana.bordalo@nativescientist.com

Text based on: UA news with contributions from Cristina Esteves