The seminar “Transdisciplinary Approaches Inspired by Nature”, organized by Cláudia Mieiro and Mário Pacheco, researchers at CESAM/DBIO, brought together seven talks and discussions showcasing how nature can inspire innovative solutions with transdisciplinary applications.
During the event, Alexandra Aragão (University of Coimbra) highlighted law as an essential instrument for environmental protection, capable of balancing human needs and serving as a bridge between society and political power, while emphasizing the active role of citizens in ensuring a healthy environment for future generations. Pedro Coelho and Ana Sousa (CESAM/DBIO) presented ecological restoration and ecosystem recovery projects that promote biodiversity, coastal resilience, and blue carbon storage as sustainable strategies for economic valorization. Architect Teresa Tellechea addressed the impact of contemporary architecture on pollution and advocated for the use of local and sustainable materials that enhance both the environment and communities.
Ricardo Leitão (University of Coimbra) highlighted collaboration between academia and local producers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices that merge scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom. André Lopes (CECOLAB/CICECO) emphasized the potential of biomass and green chemistry in developing natural compounds and more sustainable products. Cláudia Lopes (CICECO) presented low-cost natural materials for efficiently recovering valuable elements, reducing extraction and environmental pollution. Finally, Roberto Martins (CESAM/DBIO) introduced nature-inspired materials to combat marine biofouling in a more sustainable and less toxic way, reinforcing the importance of bridging research and the business sector.
The seminar underscored how different disciplines interconnect, showing that nature provides effective solutions, requiring only an appropriate (re)positioning of our epistemological perspective. It also reinforced the crucial role of science, traditional knowledge, and law in environmental protection and in shaping a sustainable future.