On 17 December 2024, the University of Aveiro (UA) and the Port of Aveiro Authority (APA, S.A.) formalised the creation of the Non-Academic Chair UA/CESAM – Port of Aveiro. The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of APA, S.A., the Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Third-Cycle Training and Accreditation of Study Cycles, Prof. Dr Artur Silva, the Coordinator of CESAM, Prof. Dr Amadeu Soares, and the Director of the Department of Physics, also Vice Coordinator of CESAM, Prof. Dr João Dias, alongside representatives from APA and other partner organisations.
The initiative aims to drive interdisciplinary research and foster sustainable solutions to environmental and operational challenges in the area of influence of the Port of Aveiro and the Ria de Aveiro, an ecosystem classified as a Special Protection Area (SPA). The Chair will be co-funded by APA, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the FCT-Tenure competition, and CESAM/UA. This strategic collaboration will focus on the numerical modelling of hydrodynamic processes, such as tides, currents, and water quality, as well as the assessment of the environmental impacts of port projects, particularly the works to improve maritime accessibility to the Port of Aveiro. Additionally, it will explore strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change, which pose significant risks to the region.
The Non-Academic Chair UA/CESAM – Port of Aveiro includes the recruitment of a PhD researcher under a tenure-track contract within the framework of the Scientific Research Career Statute, as well as the award of a doctoral scholarship in a non-academic environment funded by FCT. Activities will be conducted in close collaboration between UA/CESAM and APA, promoting the integration of scientific knowledge and technological innovation with port management and environmental sustainability.
With an initial duration of six years, the initiative strengthens the long-standing partnership between UA, particularly through CESAM, and the Port of Aveiro Authority. It reflects the institutions’ commitment to contributing to the socio-economic and environmental development of the region.