2 Minutes of Science

To mark the National Day of Scientific Culture, which is celebrated on the 24th of November, the University of Algarve launches the “2 Minutes of Science” initiative, a project that aims to promote the teaching of science and scientific culture, also making known the faces of it's scientists.

The University of Algarve is thus associated with the “Science and Technology 2021 Week”, promoted by Ciência Viva, disclosing the science that is done at UAlg over a period of 34 weeks.

In line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which constitute the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations, and having science communication as a social imperative, UAlg will make available on its website and social media a set of 34 episodes, thus giving voice to dozens of scientists.

With a weekly periodicity, the videos will always be available on Wednesday, focusing on themes as different as health, education, climate action, marine life, sustainability or innovation, among others, always with the objective to celebrate science and pique its interest.

Establishing an analogy between the research concepts and the reader's experiences and experiences, the project seeks, through a generalist and easy-to-understand approach, to reach new audiences and expand the potential for transferring the knowledge produced at UAlg.

Terra

PALAEOCLIMOZ project – Permian-Triassic palaeoclimatic cycles of the Karoo Supergroup in Mozambique, and its implications on a changing world aims to better understand the natural response of terrestrial ecosystems to abrupt environmental and climate changes that took place before humans existed.

Alfredo Cravador, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development – MED, is coordinating the project “Using Phlomis purpurea to control Phytophthora cinnamomi”, the main objective of which is to use biological means to control the decline of the cork oak.

Cristina Veiga-Pires works at the University of Algarve’s Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA) and coordinates the TOSCI | LOVRia project, which aims to create a Ria Formosa Virtual Observation Laboratory for the purpose of science tourism.

Flávio Martins, a researcher at the Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA), is part of a consortium working to develop an Environmental Coastal Observatory of the Southwest Iberian Peninsula – OCASO, the main objective of which is to create an oceanographic observatory in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula.

Through the ODORACID project, Zélia Velez, a researcher at the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) at the University of Algarve, is trying to determine how ocean acidification influences the neuronal changes that lead to behavioural changes in fish, in order to be able to predict the environmental impact of these changes and try to develop strategies to reduce them.

Paulo Relvas is a researcher at the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) as well as being part of the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and Water Column Observatory – EMSO-PT, a project within the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures.

Operating through the RiaValue project coordinated by Rui Santos, the ALGAE-Ecology of Marine Plants Group at the Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) assessed the services provided by the Ria Formosa in order to gauge its social and economic importance and contribute to improving the conservation and management measures and policies applied to the Nature Park.

Coordinated by Cláudia Ribeiro de Almeida, the Beyond European Sustainable Tourism Med Path – BESTMED project aims to support the process of strengthening and developing multilateral Mediterranean coordination frameworks that are able to provide joint responses to common challenges.

The ACCES4ALL project, which is coordinated by Manuela Rosa, a researcher at the Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) at the University of Algarve, reinforces the social dimension of sustainability by looking at equal access to goods and services, thus guaranteeing the right of active participation to all citizens.

The GRAMPCITY – Moving Smartly Towards Accessible and Inclusive Urban Environments for our Elders project, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, is coordinated at UAlg by José de São José, a researcher at the Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs).

Pode o Turismo criativo contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentado das pequenas cidades e áreas rurais do País? Para dar resposta a esta questão, o projeto CREATOUR - Desenvolver Destinos de Turismo Criativo em Cidades de Pequena Dimensão e Áreas Rurais.

The “IMPACTUR ALGARVE – Platform for monitoring, forecasting and simulating the Algarve’s tourism competitiveness within Portugal and the Spanish Mediterranean Basin” project, is coordinated by Fernando Perna of the Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation (CiTUR).

The “IT-AMGABALGARVE – Technological Innovation in the Art of Pairing and Food and Beverage Management in the Algarve” project is coordinated by Manuel Serra and Carlos Afonso, researchers at the Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation (CiTUR).

Eusébio Conceição works at the Centre for Technological Research of the Algarve (CINTAL). His work focuses on developing an experimental chamber with asymmetric, non-uniform environmental conditions, which can be used to simulate occupied indoor spaces, such as those in buildings and passenger transport vehicles like buses and trains.

The acronym given to the MARSOLut project comes from the title “Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions”. Run by José Paulo Monteiro, a researcher at the Centre for Water Science and Technology (CTA), this “Marie Curie” project consists of making use of the volume of empty space in aquifers above the water table (which is gigantic).

Margarida Ribau Teixeira is a researcher at the Centre for Environmental and Sustainability Research (CENSE). She studies the treatment processes used at water treatment plants (WTPs) and suggests further processes that, alongside existing ones, could remove metallic nanoparticles from water and ensure they were safely distributed or deposited and that they would not affect the environment.

The ALGAMATER project came about as a means of overcoming difficulties in treating industrial wastewater, particularly leachate generated from landfill. It is based on the use of photobioreactor modules for microalgae culture (Green Dune Photobioreactor) in order to provide for the tertiary treatment of leachate in a process that requires no energy consumption, and that has a large carbon sequestration capacity.

Funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and coordinated by Ana Isabel Gomes, a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB) at the University of Algarve, the main aim of the InMoz project is to investigate Quaternary environmental changes in south-eastern Mozambique and their impacts on human evolution.

Cristina Nunes coordinates the Psychology Research Centre (CIP), and the University Centre for Psychology Research (CUIP) at UAlg. Along with her research team, she works to adapt the Family Training and Support Programme (FAF) to Portuguese needs, basing her work on consolidated, empirical evidence of the programme’s success in other countries.

Raquel Andrade’s research group, which operates within the Biomedical Research Centre (CBMR), studies the Temporal Control of Cell Differentiation in Embryonic Development. Though both scientific and technical advances have been made in recent decades, fundamental gaps still exist in our understanding of how a large number of diseases originate, as well as in the development of effective treatments for these diseases.

José Bragança is a researcher at the Biomedical Research Centre (CBMR). His team is trying to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in heart development, as even small changes during pregnancy can result in prenatal developmental delays or imperfections and, in extreme cases, even intra-uterine death.

Anabela Romano is the coordinator of the MD.net project which aims to reinforce the role of the Mediterranean Diet as a means with which to respond to the socioeconomic needs of local communities.

Sofia Engrola is a researcher at the University of Algarve’s Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), where she coordinates the Aquavitae project. The primary objective of this project is increasing the sustainability of aquaculture in the Atlantic Ocean, by developing the production of new species with low trophic levels.

“How did humans switch from hunting and gathering to farming?” This question was the starting point of the study conducted by Hugo Rafael Oliveira, a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and Evolution of Human
Behaviour (ICArEHB) at the University of Algarve, and head of the OWLDER - Old World Legume Domestication, Evolution and Resources Project.

The project “Dragon fruit: validating red dragon fruit production capacity” is coordinated by Amílcar Duarte, a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development – MED. Funded through the support provided for Operating Groups under the Rural Development Programme PDR2020, this project aims to develop dragon fruit production in Portugal.

To mark the National Day of Scientific Culture, which is celebrated on the 24th of November, the University of Algarve launches the “2 Minutes of Science” initiative, a project that aims to promote the teaching of science and scientific culture, also making known the faces of it's scientists.

Sustainable Development Goal 1

No Poverty

End Poverty in all its forms everywhere.

 

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 2

Zero hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

 

Sustainable Development Goal 3

Good Health and Well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 4

Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 5

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 6

Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 7

Affordable and clean Energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 8

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 9

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 10

Reduced inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 11

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 12

Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 13

Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 14

Life below water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 15

Life on Land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 16

Peace, Justice and strong institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

 

 

Sustainable Development Goal 17

Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.