The Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) is a Research Unit of the University of Aveiro (UA) with the status of Laboratório Associado/Associated Laboratory since 2005, evaluated with the highest grade of Excellent since 2014.
The mission of CESAM is to develop leading international research on environmental and marine sciences, following a multi-actor and multisectoral approach, framed into 4 multidisciplinary thematic lines, promoting scientific knowledge and the connection between science and policies:
- Ecology & Functional Biodiversity
- Environment & Health
- Marine Ecosystems & Resources
- Integrated Environmental Systems
The main objective of CESAM is to promote a more efficient use of terrestrial and aquatic (from catchment to the deep sea) environmental resources and a more competitive, resilient and sustainable economy. CESAM also aims to promote advanced training (graduate & postgraduate), designed to endorse highly qualified job creation and assure territorial and social cohesion.
CESAM is committed to policy challenges related to adaptation and mitigation of climate change; regional, national and EU policies on water (freshwater and marine) and natural resources, including biodiversity, environmental health and sustainable development.
CESAM stands out due to its transdisciplinary research character and the promotion of international collaboration, gathering ca. 500 members (240 PhD) with knowledge and expertise on fundamental and applied research in the natural and social sciences, which is a unique asset in an Associated Laboratory in Portugal.
CESAM’s research is transversal, covering the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and anthroposphere. The team holds expertise in:
- Modelling and forecasting of atmospheric and hydrodynamic (freshwater, coastal & oceanic) processes
- Terrestrial and aquatic (including deep sea) biodiversity, mineral and energy resources, ecosystems structure, functions and services, and risk assessment from sub-cellular to ecosystem levels
- Development and validation of environmentally friendly technologies, analytical chemistry, marine geophysics, and ecotoxicological methods considering multiple stressors
- ‘Omics’ technologies and bioinformatics
- Stakeholder engagement, participatory methods and environmental planning.