Title: TREC: CIIMAR as the home of this great international expedition

Between October and November 2023, CIIMAR hosted the major international expedition, TREC (Traversing European Coastlines). This ambitious project is an initiative of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and its mission is to deepen knowledge about European coastal ecosystems. The TREC expedition has the collaboration of 150 research teams from more than 70 institutions in 29 countries. The voyage, which began in April 2023 in Roscoff, France, includes 46 stops along the way to carry out sampling at more than 120 points in the land-sea transition zone.

The stop in Porto was special because it included ocean exploration, led by the Tara Ocean Foundation and the Tara Oceans Consortium, combined with EMBL’s land-based mobile services, always with the fundamental support of CIIMAR. The expedition included the collection of samples of soil, sediment, shallow water and model organisms in various coastal habitats.

In addition to these activities, TREC’s visit to the north of Portugal was also marked by an extensive communication and dissemination programme, which involved the public and allowed them to come into direct contact with the research and science behind the expedition, as well as with CIIMAR’s own work.

In this seminar, we present the expedition, focusing on the passage of the TREC through northern Portugal, and revealing the challenges overcome and the legacy of this great expedition.

Name:

Mafalda Correia

Mafalda Correia is a postdoc researcher at the CIIMAR with a PhD in Biology (FCUP, 2020). She conducts research in the field of marine ecology since 2011, focusing on cetacean ecology and conservation, and has a strong profile as a fieldwork scientist with experience in organising at-sea campaigns. Mafalda was the CIIMAR’ Liaison Officer of the TREC expedition, integrated in a team of excellence that guaranteed the success of the TREC stop in the North of Portugal.

Marta Correia

Marta Correia is a marine biologist with a master’s degree in Aquatic Biological Resources. Her main interests centre on science communication and dissemination, especially related to Ocean Literacy projects. She has experience in implementing and evaluating science communication programmes, especially related to environmental education and marine education activities. Marta coordinated all the communication and outreach activities carried out as part of the TREC expedition at CIIMAR.

Free online webinar. To access please follow this LINK.

If you are a CIIMAR member you can also access last seminars recordings through the LINK.