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Olga Ameixa, a researcher from the Department of Biology and CESAM at the University of Aveiro, has been appointed by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) as the national delegate to join the Management Committee of the COST Action Insect-IMP – “Improved Knowledge Transfer for Sustainable Insect Breeding” (CA22140), of which she is also a proponent. The COST Action brings together 45 participants from 20 countries.

Insect farming can play a vital role in ensuring global food security by reducing the environmental footprint of food production and enhancing the sustainability of modern agricultural systems. However, current practices rely on insect populations with poorly understood genetics. While knowledge of livestock genetics has significantly contributed to agricultural advancements, few efforts have been made to develop structured breeding programs that can ensure genetic improvement of insect species.

Given the increasing importance of bees as pollinators and the continuous growth of other insect farming systems, there is a growing need to coordinate research efforts in the field of insect breeding and genetics. The Insect-IMP Action aims to establish connections between researchers from various fields such as genetics, entomology, and veterinary sciences, as well as key stakeholders across the insect farming sector.

The action will facilitate the transfer of knowledge about various insect species, as well as insights from other animal breeding and genetics sectors. This will foster research development and economic gains in insect farming and apiculture. Collaboration within the action will promote a more sustainable growth of the insect farming sector, enhance research capabilities at the European level, lay the groundwork for long-term research-industry collaboration beyond borders, and support well-informed decisions in insect breeding regulation.

Text by: Olga Ameixa (CESAM/DBIO) in collaboration with CESAM

The Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), as in previous years, is taking part in another edition of Portugal’s largest science and technology event, Ciência 2023. This event is taking place from July 5th to 7th on the campus of the University of Aveiro, focusing on the theme: “Science and Ocean beyond the horizon.”

As Elvira Fortunato, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, stated, “Ciência 2023 will be a very important milestone for all of us. For the first time, it is decentralized: it leaves Lisbon and comes to Aveiro.” Helena Vieira, a researcher from CESAM/DAO and the Commissioner of Ciência 2023, also highlighted the double significance of this edition, stating, “It is also, for the first time, a thematic encounter, with a focus on the ocean and water, their intrinsic connections, and (…) the role of science in all its contributions to understanding, exploring, and also protecting the true lung of this planet.”

CESAM has a significant presence throughout the three-day program of the event, with individual researchers contributing and organizing sessions. Over the three days, visitors will be able to explore 40 scientific posters submitted by CESAM researchers and participate in CESAM’s activities available in the event’s demonstration area.

One notable session is the thematic session “Discovering the Potential of the Blue Economy,” organized by CESAM and the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at the Catholic University (CBQF). On the second day (July 6th), between 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM, researchers such as Luís Tarelho (CESAM/DAO), Ana Maria Gomes (CBQF), Ricardo Calado (CESAM/DBIO), Paula Castro (CBQF), Manuela Pintado (CBQF), and João Pinto da Costa (CESAM/DQ) will discuss blue biotechnology as a crucial driver to replace fossil fuel-based value chains, enhance circular food systems, and reduce pollution.

On the same day (July 6th), CESAM will also be represented in a nighttime session aimed at the public of Aveiro City, taking place at the University of Aveiro’s Rectory Building. Titled “An Ocean of Science for Everyone in Aveiro,” the event will feature the documentary “ECOMARE – Research and Rescue of Marine Species,” produced by PlaySolutions – Audiovisuais with scientific coordination from CESAM. The documentary premiered on RTP1 and was awarded the gold medal in the “Wildlife – Seas and Forests” category at the International Tourism Film Festival of Africa (ITFFA). In this session, researchers Ricardo Calado and Ana Hilário (CESAM/DBIO) will deliver a joint presentation titled “From the Depths of the Sea to the Plate!”

Regarding participation in plenary sessions, Luis Menezes Pinheiro, a researcher from CESAM/DGEO and President of the Portuguese Committee for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, will be a guest speaker at the “Governance” Plenary Session (9:00 AM to 10:30 AM). On the last day of the event (July 7th), CESAM/DAO researcher Cristina Pita will also be a guest speaker at the “Food” Plenary Session.

In terms of thematic session participation, researcher Sónia Cruz (CESAM/DBIO) will be present in the “A Sea of Opportunities for Health” Thematic Session organized by the Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation Agency (2:30 PM to 4:00 PM, July 7th). And researcher Ricardo Calado (CESAM/DBIO), mentioned earlier, will participate in the “Employment and Circular and Sustainable Blue Economy” Thematic Session (11:15 AM to 12:45 PM, July 5th) organized by the Collaborative Laboratories B2E CoLAB, CoLAB +ATLANTIC, S2Aqua, and Greencolab.

For more information about the event and the complete program, click here.

Text by: CESAM

Portugal’s largest science and technology event, Ciência 2023, has been taking place on the campus of the University of Aveiro since July 5th and will continue until the 7th. The 2023 edition is themed “Science and Ocean Beyond the Horizon,” and the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), as in previous years, actively participates in this event.

As mentioned during the opening session by Helena Vieira, a researcher from CESAM/DAO and the commissioner of Ciência 2023, this national event, being the first to not occur in Lisbon, is also the first to focus on a specific theme, encouraging the scientific community to build solutions “for a fairer, bluer, and greener society.”

These have been intense days of activity, with extensive participation from the CESAM research community. While it’s not possible to list all individual researchers, the thematic session “Discovering the Potential of the Blue Economy,” organized by CESAM and the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at the Catholic University (CBQF), deserves special mention. Moderated by Amadeu Soares, Scientific Coordinator of CESAM, and Manuela Pintado, a researcher from CBQF, this session discussed the role of blue biotechnology as a crucial driver to replace fossil fuel-based value chains, enhance circular food systems, and reduce pollution.

On the same day, CESAM was also represented in the nighttime session of Ciência 2023 held at the University of Aveiro’s Rectory Building. Titled “An Ocean of Science for Everyone in Aveiro,” the event featured the documentary “ECOMARE – Research and Rescue of Marine Species,” produced by PlaySolutions – Audiovisuais with scientific coordination from CESAM. The documentary premiered on RTP1 and was awarded the gold medal in the “Wildlife – Seas and Forests” category at the International Tourism Film Festival of Africa (ITFFA). In this same nighttime session, researchers Ricardo Calado and Ana Hilário (CESAM/DBIO) delivered a joint presentation titled “From the Depths of the Sea to the Plate!”

You can explore the entire program here.

Text by: CESAM

Portugal’s largest science and technology event, Ciência 2023, has been taking place on the campus of the University of Aveiro since July 5th and will continue until the 7th. The 2023 edition is themed “Science and Ocean Beyond the Horizon,” and the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), as in previous years, actively participates in this event.

As mentioned during the opening session by Helena Vieira, a researcher from CESAM/DAO and the commissioner of Ciência 2023, this national event, being the first to not occur in Lisbon, is also the first to focus on a specific theme, encouraging the scientific community to build solutions “for a fairer, bluer, and greener society.”

These have been intense days of activity, with extensive participation from the CESAM research community. While it’s not possible to list all individual researchers, the thematic session “Discovering the Potential of the Blue Economy,” organized by CESAM and the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at the Catholic University (CBQF), deserves special mention. Moderated by Amadeu Soares, Scientific Coordinator of CESAM, and Manuela Pintado, a researcher from CBQF, this session discussed the role of blue biotechnology as a crucial driver to replace fossil fuel-based value chains, enhance circular food systems, and reduce pollution.

On the same day, CESAM was also represented in the nighttime session of Ciência 2023 held at the University of Aveiro’s Rectory Building. Titled “An Ocean of Science for Everyone in Aveiro,” the event featured the documentary “ECOMARE – Research and Rescue of Marine Species,” produced by PlaySolutions – Audiovisuais with scientific coordination from CESAM. The documentary premiered on RTP1 and was awarded the gold medal in the “Wildlife – Seas and Forests” category at the International Tourism Film Festival of Africa (ITFFA). In this same nighttime session, researchers Ricardo Calado and Ana Hilário (CESAM/DBIO) delivered a joint presentation titled “From the Depths of the Sea to the Plate!”

You can explore the entire program here.

Text by: CESAM

Researchers from CESAM, in partnership with a company in the sector, have successfully carried out the MAXIAQUA project, whose main objective is to find natural and sustainable solutions for controlling Philasterides dicentrarchi, a parasite that affects turbot aquaculture. The project received funding of €345,147.00 from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) through the Mar2020 program.

The multidisciplinary team of this project, coordinated by researcher Catarina Marques (CESAM/DBio) and co-coordinated by Professor Amadeu Soares (CESAM/DBio), developed a sustainable solution based on natural extracts from plants, algae, and other organisms. These extracts demonstrated anti-protozoal activity against various biological responses of the parasite. In vitro tests revealed the inhibition of activity and expression of genes encoding proteases, responsible for the parasite’s infectious action in fish, as well as inducing oxidative stress and reducing the population growth and survival of Philasterides dicentrarchi.

Intensive turbot aquaculture plays a significant role in the national economy, being the species with the highest production volume. However, the sustainable management of diseases caused by pathogenic organisms has been a challenge for the sector. Scuticociliatosis, caused by the parasite Philasterides dicentrarchi, results in significant economic losses and aquaculture production.

The developed natural product was also tested in in vivo trials with turbot in a pilot recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), the first and only one at UA, built at ECOMARE. In vivo trials allowed determining the palatability, digestibility, and the effect of the product on enhancing turbot resistance. The prototype reached a high level of technological maturity and demonstrated promise in controlling parasite outbreaks and potentially other diseases.

Catarina Marques, the project coordinator, highlights the importance of MAXIAQUA for national aquaculture, as it has the potential to provide innovative and environmentally sustainable solutions for disease management in this field. Emphasizing the production, scale-up, and validation of the developed product as the next steps to further boost sustainable turbot aquaculture.

Text by: CESAM based on UA online news

The Selvagens 50 Expedition, organized by the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation of Madeira, took place between April 23 and May 1, 2023. The initiative was part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Selvagens Islands Nature Reserve.

This expedition brought together about 40 experts from various institutions, including CESAM and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL) researcher José Pedro Granadeiro (a specialist in seabirds). The journey to the islands was provided by the sailing ship Santa Maria Manuela, which served as a working base for the various teams throughout the expedition. The teams working on land replicated the biodiversity monitoring work carried out on Selvagem Grande between 2000 and 2005, covering the pre- and post-eradication period of rats and rabbits.

In a press release, the Regional Secretariat for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change of the Autonomous Region of Madeira highlights that in this expedition “about 80 hours of diving were carried out, and on land, only the inventory and monitoring work of flora and vegetation, mollusks, insects, and reptiles took up more than 700 hours of the involved researchers. Preliminary data, both at sea and on land, point to the extraordinary state of conservation of those habitats.”

This small oceanic archipelago is of great importance from a natural point of view, being considered the most important nesting site for seabirds in national territory. According to José Pedro Granadeiro, various seabird research projects were continued, including a detailed characterization of vegetation at monitoring points using drones, and the placement of 30 GPS loggers on Cory’s Shearwaters, which form the largest known colony of this species here, currently with about 40,000 breeding pairs. It was also possible to collect diet samples from yellow-legged gulls and monitor their population not only on Selvagem Grande but also on Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora.

The Selvagens Islands were designated as a Nature Reserve by the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira in 1971, and in November 2021, their boundaries were extended to 12 nautical miles around the islands. They are thus the largest fully protected marine area in the North Atlantic, covering 2,677 km2.

For more information about this expedition, please refer to this link.

Text by: CESAM in collaboration with FCUL and José Pedro Granadeiro

Between July 2nd and 8th, another edition of the ‘Earth Systems Summer School’ took place on Terceira Island, Azores. This summer school had 60 participants from various European countries and North America.

The ‘Earth Systems Summer School’ is distinctively characterized by scientific interdisciplinarity, given its focus on the dynamics and interactions between different subsystems of the planet: the atmosphere, biosphere, ocean, and solid earth. This diversity is also reflected in the variety of academic backgrounds typically presented by the participants of this summer school. The program included lectures, workshops, field trips, both on land and in the ocean, and at the end, participants had the opportunity to present a 2-minute pitch.

As Eduardo Brito de Azevedo, one of the organizers of the summer school and a professor at the University of the Azores, mentioned to RTP Açores, “here we study the different interfaces that are usually studied separately. And we study them in order to understand the relationships and exchanges of mass and energy that exist between the various subsystems of the planet.”

The ‘Earth Systems Summer School’ is a partnership between several scientific organizations, including the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the Department of Physics at the University of Aveiro. Researchers João Miguel Dias, Magda Sousa, and Nuno Vaz (CESAM/DFis) were part of the group of speakers for this summer school. João Miguel Dias, who was also one of the organizers of this event, emphasized that “the importance of this school for the University of Aveiro and its students, by promoting the institutional image through the dissemination of knowledge created in the institution in the field of physical oceanography and providing its 2nd and 3rd cycle students with enrichment of their knowledge through learning from various internationally renowned researchers, as well as initiating the creation of their personal network of contacts in the field of work.”

Text by: CESAM in collaboration with João Miguel Dias

The Research Summit 2023 is taking place at the University of Aveiro from July 12th to 14th with the aim of fostering collaboration and driving research forward. This year, under the theme “Inclusive, Innovative, and Sustainable Societies,” the event brings together researchers, educators, and students from various fields and with different backgrounds to share their knowledge, research findings, and innovative ideas.

The first day of this event featured Paulo Ferreira, Rector of the University of Aveiro, and Artur Silva, Vice-Rector, who moderated the plenary sessions that filled the day. Susana Loureiro, CESAM/DBio researcher, participated in one of these sessions with the theme “Insects, Circular Economy, and Sustainability,” discussing the importance of insects in promoting circularity and sustainable practices.

In the upcoming days of the Research Summit 2023, the presence of several CESAM members is highlighted, including various doctoral students, who will have the opportunity to present their work, establish partnerships, share expertise, and expand their networks.

We would like to thank all our members for their participation in this event.

For more information about Research Summit 2023 and its schedule, visit here.

Text by: CESAM

Olga Ameixa, a researcher from the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) at the University of Aveiro (UA), has been appointed as a member of the 4th Knowledge Coordination Body of EKLIPSE, a mechanism funded by the European Union aimed at harnessing available knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services to assist policymakers in environmental preservation.

Olga Ameixa’s election to the Knowledge Coordination Body strengthens the governance of EKLIPSE, which is responsible for selecting requests and ensuring that the needs of policymakers and other stakeholders are met through specialized knowledge.

EKLIPSE operates through a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, bringing together experts from various fields who work together to find solutions and answers to environmental challenges. The mechanism conducts analyses, identifies knowledge gaps, coordinates investigations, and produces reports and practical guidance to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and the enhancement of policies and practices related to ecosystems.

For more information about EKLIPSE, visit here.

Text by: CESAM based on UA online news

Two scientific publications co-authored by Cristina Pita, a researcher from CESAM and the Department of Environment and Planning at the University of Aveiro, are included in the list of scientific references supporting the European Parliament Resolution approved in 2023, titled “The Situation of Small-Scale Fishing in the EU and Future Perspectives.”

In early 2023, after a process of parliamentary debates and votes, the European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution on the situation of small-scale fishing in the European Union (EU) and its future prospects. With an extensive set of recommendations, this resolution considers it necessary to “strengthen small-scale fishing along the value chain, promote increased fishing income, and offer income diversification opportunities.” It also highlights the strategic value for the European Union of “improving operational conditions and ensuring the future of small-scale, artisanal, and coastal fishing.”

In the introductory part of the document, the EP presents a set of indicators that support its final recommendations. Among these indicators, two works co-authored by Cristina Pita appear: the article “Small-scale fisheries access to fishing opportunities in the European Union: Is the Common Fisheries Policy the right step to SDG14b?” and the book “Small-Scale Fisheries in Europe: Status, Resilience and Governance.”

The first, published in 2020 in the journal Marine Policy, demonstrates how artisanal fishing still does not derive real benefits from the European Common Fisheries Policy due to legal gaps in this legislative framework and the perpetuation of distributive injustice at the local level. The second is a book, also published in 2020 and co-edited by José J. Pascual-Fernández, Cristina Pita, and Maarten Bavinck. This book provides a detailed description of small-scale fishing in 25 European countries, which Ratana Chuenpagdee refers to in the book’s preface as “providing a vivid description of small-scale fishing, fully representing fishing communities and their cultural heritage.”

According to Cristina Pita, “this resolution shows that the EP, like the United Nations, is paying more attention to small-scale fishing” and that “this resolution is an excellent way to conclude the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, IYAFA 2022.” The researcher also emphasizes that “we are very proud to see our work recognized and used for decision-making.”

The Resolution concludes with the EP instructing its President to transmit the document to the other European institutions (European Council and European Commission) and to the governments and parliaments of all EU Member States.

The European Parliament is an important forum for political debate and decision-making at the EU level. The Parliament acts as a co-legislator, sharing with the Council the power to approve and amend legislative proposals and to decide on the EU budget. It also oversees the work of the Commission and other EU bodies and cooperates with the national parliaments of EU countries to obtain their viewpoints.

Text by: CESAM in collaboration with Cristina Pita