The awards ceremony for the 2023 VISÃO+ADP Green Awards took place on June 5th at the Águas de Alcântara Water Factory in Lisbon. José Alves, a researcher from the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the Department of Biology at the University of Aveiro, received an honorable mention in the Research category. The first place in this category was awarded to researcher Miguel Araújo from CSIC at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid) and Full Professor at the University of Évora, who also received the Pessoa Prize in 2018.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Pires, and Professor Tiago Domingos (FCUL), who addressed the theme of reconciling climate commitments with economic growth in his speech.
These awards are an initiative of VISÃO, in partnership with the Águas de Portugal Group, and under the high patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic. They aim to recognize, promote, and reward good practices and examples of excellence that stand out for their contribution to the environment and sustainable development in the context of the current climate emergency.
The winners were selected by an independent jury, chaired by Filipe Duarte Santos, the current president of the National Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CNADS). In the evaluation process of the candidates, criteria such as the quality and originality of the project, its impact on society, and its potential for replication were assessed.
The work of José Alves, representing the EcoFlyway team, was awarded one of the 15 honorable mentions and 8 prizes awarded in 10 categories out of over 170 applications received. With articles published in some of the most reputable scientific journals, José Alves has particularly stood out in studies on migratory birds, focusing on the threats they face due to the effects of climate change and habitat destruction.
For more information about these awards and the application process, you can refer to this link.