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Activity Funded

Algarve Centre for Marine Sciences

Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve

Reference
UIDP/04326/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Natural sciences
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Programático

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes The objective of the CCMAR strategy and plan of activities is excellence and international cooperation and aims to answer the following key questions: 1) What are the causes of and consequences of environmental changes for marine ecosystems? 2) How to conserve and unlock the potential of living marine resources, in light of the expected environmental changes? The research strategy of CCMAR is based on an inter-disciplinary approach to understanding the nature of the challenges facing the marine environment and to benefit society. For this a holistic and integrated approach will be developed between researchers of the thematic lines and international collaborators to study the causes and effects of drivers of global change (climate, fisheries, pollution, invasive species, modification of habitat) on biodiversity function and structure, from the genetic to the ecosystem level. For 2018-2022, the research strategy is centered on three thematic lines: 1. Drivers, responses and tipping points in changing environments, 2. Management and conservation of marine resources, 3. Unlocking the potential of marine resources. CCMAR will develop indicators, carry out field and laboratory experiments, monitor, model, predict, assess new resources, and provide mitigation, conservation and management advice, thereby contributing to improved management and conservation of marine biological resources, ecosystem health, the blue economy, and bring benefits to society as a whole. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation CCMAR is a multidisciplinary centre with the mission of promoting research and education on the marine environment. CCMAR is a premier research institution with an international profile and is the national node of the European Research Infrastructures, ERIC-EMBRC (embrc.eu, marine biology RI), and a partner in ERIC-EMSO (oceanography RI) and Biodata/ELIXIR (Biodata RI). This membership has raised CCMARs profile in the International arena, has given access to funding and involvement in the European agenda. It is a recognition of excellence for CCMAR researchers, infrastructures and the expert support CCMAR provides to give managed access to the Ramsar Convention listed Ria Formosa wetlands (18,000 hectares), and also the extreme biodiversity and wealth of Portuguese coastal and off-shore waters that is at the heart of Portugal’s unique Maritime patrimony. Acquisition by CCMAR of European Research Infrastructure status was recognized by an 8.5-million-euro award to upgrade facilities and equipment. Proven effective and efficient operational capacity demonstrated by productivity in 2013 - 2017 in publishing, funding from Europe, funding in consortium with industry, organization of conferences, colloquia, outreach activities and the hosting of over 2500 person visits.day by foreign scientists over 4 years will be engaged and intensified for 2018 - 2022 activities.CCMAR intends with the present strategic plan to build on its recognised excellence rating in the last evaluation (2013) to leverage and accelerate progress and create conditions for CCMAR and its scientist to further excel. The new CCMAR paradigm that will enable a gear-shift in 2018 - 2022 is the catalysing action of the recently established business unit (BU), the recently approved Collaborative Laboratory, GreenColab, to develop microalgal biotechnology and improved operationalization of technology platforms. The CCMAR strategy and plan of activities is directed at answering the following key questions: 1) How are marine ecosystems being affected by environmental changes and how are they predicted to change in the future? 2) How can we preserve and unlock the potential of marine living resources in face of global change? and in parallel build and deliver, 3) conditions and opportunities for Science to Business, 4) foster Science for Society and 5) attract and train the next generation of young talents for the new global order and Marine Science challenges. To secure delivery of the full CCMAR agenda the strategic plan blueprint is organized into five pillars - Scientific Research, Scientific Training, Science to Business, Science for Society, Internationalization and Infrastructure Development. Each pillar has a co-ordinator and specific workpackage manager, experts that ensure timely execution and overall articulation between all players. Quality control of progress and outputs will be through yearly external feedback by the advisory board composed of internationally renowned scientists with strong experience in research institution leadership and policy, and internal evaluation (every 6 months) with consultation with regional and national policy and development bodies. Indicators of success will be the quality and intensity of scientific outputs and student training/theses, implementation of a CCMAR Doctoral School, but also competence building at a national and international level, volume of research funding both international and national, public dissemination, policy actions and support and the International recognition of the excellence of individual CCMAR scientists. CCMAR’s strategic plan for 2018-2022 is based on the need for an interdisciplinary approach to understand the nature of the challenges faced by the marine environment. For this reason a holistic and multidisciplinary approach is taken integrating CCMAR teams and international partnerships, to tackle the numerous challenges of global change (climate, fisheries, pollution, invasive species, habitat change) and to explore and manage the wealth and global importance of Marine systems and this will be the motor driving engagement and growth of a sustainable blue economy. The research strategy will follow three thematic lines: 1. Drivers, responses and tipping points in changing environments, 2. Management and conservation of marine resources, 3. Unlocking the potential of marine resources. CCMAR will develop indicators, field and laboratory experiments, will continue long-term monitoring, modelling, prediction, valuation of new resources, mitigation, and provision of management and strategic policy advice support through research and development of sustainable growth and use of resources for aquaculture and biotechnology. It will contribute excellence to global science, provide the basis for better management and conservation of marine biological resources, ecosystem health, the blue bio-economy (all economic activities that depend on the sea), and governance, bringing societal benefits in general. Enabling factors ensuring the implementation and impact of the research, innovation and societal strategies are CCMAR’s researcher excellence, strong embedding in the International scene, world class international network of partners and the timely and member inclusive approach to the development and organisation of the strategic workplan. CCMAR’s spreading and “inclusive and collaborative science” policy as national leaders and partners of EU research infrastructures, means CCMAR has built critical mass by coalescing a large consortium of marine researchers distributed from Faro, Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto to the Azores islands. This position makes CCMAR unique as it has access to and can tap into and promote excellence in Marine sciences in Portugal, reinforcing its strong international scope.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade do Algarve Centro de Ciências do Mar (UALG CCMAR)
  • Universidade do Algarve Centro de Ciências do Mar (UALG CCMAR)

Funding 1.385.000,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

1.385.000,00 €