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Activity Funded

Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes

Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais

Reference
UIDP/00329/2020
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 Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sciences, cE3c, is committed to a sustainable future: a planet that humans and other species can inhabit and continue to inhabit together. cE3c was born in 2015 by uniting research groups that work on Ecology (how species interact with each other and with their environment), Evolution (how species change over time and adapt to their environment) and Environmental sciences (the impacts of mankind, such as pollution, or of natural phenomenon, such as volcanoes, on the environment). What is special about us is that we combine knowledge from these areas. For example, to answer the question “Can ladybugs cope with mankind-induced environmental change?” we must know: what and how fast is changing in the environment (Environmental sciences), how ladybugs interact with the environment (Ecology), and how much variability ladybug populations have that may allow some to survive and reproduce, despite environmental change (Evolution). We study living systems in different regions of the planet, such as the Azores Islands, Mediterranean farmlands, Tropical forests in South America, and Drylands in Africa, directly in the field or in the laboratory. Our studies contribute scientific knowledge necessary to understand our planet's living-systems (fundamental science), and to design policy that avoids species extinctions, turns cities into healthier environments, helps regions dealing with the effects of climate change, contributes to reduce the effects of agriculture and logging in the environment (applied science). For example, we defined the threshold for nitrogen for the European Union, produced 30 Municipal strategies for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and collaborate with conservation authorities in African and South American countries. cE3c contributes tools, methods and facilities that other researchers or industries can use or need: new fertilizers for agriculture less harmful for the environment, software that other scientists use to analyse data, a Field Station in Alentejo that others may use for their work. Because sustainability can only be achieved if we all work together, we contribute to produce exhibitions, documentaries, and books that explain what we have found to the public. Bat-lovers and researchers travelling to the Amazon, will probably carry the only existing Field Guide that identifies their ultrasonic calls, which we produced. Science is a collaborative activity, so we work together with researchers from all over the world: since 2015, we published 596 scientific papers with other groups from Portugal and around the world, and trained 249 Master and Doctoral students, 54 of these in international collaboration since 2013. We serve on scientific and advisory forums, national and international, such as the Vice-Presidency of the European Ecological Federation, and the National Council of Environment and Sustainable Development. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation The Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sciences, cE3c, was created in 2015 as a unit committed to a sustainable future, strategically structured to fill in the integration gap between life (Ecology, Evolution) and Environmental, including Climate, sciences. Expertise and shared infrastructures and databases (germplasm bank, scientific collections and long-term data) of our 13 research groups (RG) constitute essential repositories of knowledge for Portugal, Macaronesian Islands, other Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and South America, and the European Union. Since 2015, we published 106 papers authored by more than one RG of cE3c, which demonstrates our success in integrating expertise, and 596 papers with other centres, which attest to the internationalization and extent of our scientific network. cE3c participated in 41 European projects and networks (coordinated 17). We serve on scientific and advisory forums, including the National representative in the International Long-Term Ecological Research network, Vice-Presidency of the European Ecological Federation, chairs of the National Council of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Scientific Council of the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change. cE3c's research and services quality attracts internationalized funding: since 2015, we executed €3.8M through competitive calls and €2.9M through contract services with stakeholders. 58% of competitive funding was European, compared to 38% in 2013-14. cE3c's mission is to use scientific knowledge to promote sustainable development: we combine research with action contributing to a generation of independent and motivated scientists (249 MSc and PhDs, 54 of these in international collaboration since 2013), a better-informed public (broad-audience exhibitions, documentaries, books and articles for wide-circulation), industrial innovation (a startup, new biofertilizers, a patent for mycelium production) and adequately-advised policy. cE3c has successfully informed policy at the regional, national and European levels: we defined EU's critical thresholds for nitrogen, advise conservation authorities in PT and Africa, city planning in Europe and South America, produced 30 Municipal strategies for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, contributed to the National Climate Change Strategy for Biodiversity, and informed policy for specific ecosystems (Montado; Drylands; Forests; Islands). Capitalizing on the success of our 2015-17 strategy, and on recent scientific results and their application to sustainable development, in 2018-22 the Centre's research groups will integrate their expertise in six Thematic Lines (TL). Three TLs (1-3) extend previous research on biodiversity across biological levels, to address crucial points raised by International and European Agendas (such as the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goals). These lines study processes that create and maintain diversity, major threats impacting it, and the services it provides: “Integrated ecological assessments of environmental change on biodiversity” (TL1); “Evolutionary processes that shape biodiversity and adaptation to environmental changes” (TL2); “Sustainable management strategies for high-nature-value farmlands” (TL3). TL4 addresses a field where cE3c is emerging notably: “Green& blue infrastructure for urban sustainability” arose from recent intensification of our work in urban ecology. TL5, “Human health: linking evolutionary history, environment and physiology” is an exploratory fundamental-research line that attempts to respond to COP23's statement on “the right to health” as central to actions to be taken. We will treat the environment as a major factor affecting human health, whose impact depends on physiology and evolutionary history. “Climate services” (TL6) addresses national and international demands for climate adaptation services, crucially required to respond to future climate and socio-economic changes. TL6 integrates expertise and knowledge produced by TLs 1 and 3-5. TL 1, 3-4 and 6 will yield crucial knowledge for conservation strategies, continue ongoing contributions to and coordination of International Union for Conservation of Nature specialist groups, and contribute information and advice to sustainable development policies at regional (municipalities, urban planning) and international (Mediterranean, African and South American) levels, along with specific contributions to industry and ecosystem services optimization (e.g. microbial driven processes for agriculture and greenhouse gas reduction). TL2 will generate genomic resources and tools of interest to the scientific community and industry (e.g. breeding strategies to farmers). TL5 may prove instrumental to define new therapies and design tailor-made public health prevention strategies at local to regional scales affected by various natural and anthropogenic environmental factors. The shared facilities we manage (Microscopy Facility, Stable Isotopes& Instrumental Analysis Facility, Field Station in Alentejo) and e-infrastructures created to promote collaboration among peers and knowledge transfer (UrbanL@b, ISLANDLAB, and AZORESBIOPORTAL), are instrumental to the success of our 2018-22 Strategic Project and will continue to support national and international research and services. We have secured €7.8M (42%) of our 2019-22 budget, which allocates 65% to human resources, as required to intensify research in our Strategic Project's key and emergent areas. We request 5M (28%, excluding PhD programs) from FCT. cE3c's confidence in the success of its strategy for 2018-22 is anchored on former achievements, particularly from 2015 onwards: cE3c has demonstrated it is uniquely positioned nationally and internationally to address scientific questions essential to inform sustainable development policies. Our inspiring past guides us towards a transforming future.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Ecologia Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (CE3C/FC/ULisboa)
  • FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências (Fciências.ID)

Other Institutions

  • Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso (FGF)
  • Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências (FCUL)
  • Universidade dos Açores (UAc)

Funding 1.081.250,00 €

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

1.081.250,00 €