MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre – Is a centre for research, technological development and innovation, with regional research units located across Portugal mainland and in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with an integrative and holistic approach, concentrating on a wide diversity of expertise, skills, and capabilities, with a nationwide territorial implementation. Develops its activities oriented to societal challenges, in close partnership with national and international research centres. MARE combines expertise allowing approaching scientifically and technologically all types of aquatic systems, from river basins, estuaries and coastal areas, to the open ocean and the deep sea, in a context of global and regional changes and cumulative anthropogenic impacts. It comprises seven poles, with more than 500 researchers distributed among two Research Groups: River Basins and Coastal Systems and Ocean. In the last evaluation promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology, MARE obtained the classification of Excellent.
The objective of MARE is to seek excellence in the study of aquatic ecosystems and disseminate knowledge to support sustainable development policies, also contributing to a participative Blue Society. This is achieved through scientific research, education and knowledge and technology transfer to the industry, as well as science dissemination and the establishment of collaborative networks at both national and international levels. MARE-NOVA develops research activities of recognized quality in the following areas: environmental toxicology and risk analysis, water resources management, hydraulics and hydrology, management of living marine resources, marine biology and ecology, marine litter and microplastics, water pollution bioremediation, waste prevention and management, life cycle analysis and circular economy, coastal zone planning, urban sustainability and adaptations to climate change, ocean governance and literacy, socio-cultural studies of coastal communities and blue sustainability.
