Steve Groom and Vanda Brotas were invited to speak at a roundtable discussion on “Ocean Research: the future for science collaboration” on June 28th at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, co-organized by the British Embassy in Lisbon and the UK Science and Innovation Network on the occasion of the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon.
Prof. Groom (above) and Prof. Brotas (below) presenting their talks at the “Ocean Research: the future for science collaboration” roundtable discussion, at FCUL.
The debate included a panel of experts in marine research together with an audience of stakeholders, discussing key topics to foster scientific collaboration between Portugal and the UK, including the transfer of data, joint use of scientific platforms, researchers’ mobility and capacity building and advance training.
In addition to other ongoing international projects, PRIMUS project was mentioned as a successful example of such ocean science collaboration between both countries.
The debate also included: Alan Simcock (moderator), currently Joint Coordinator of the United Nations' Group of Experts for the assessment of the state of the world's oceans, with 25+ years’ experience in working on international policy on the oceans; José Xavier, researcher in polar regions, honorary fellow of the British Antarctic Survey and Portuguese representative to the Antarctic Treaty; and Nadine Johnston, marine ecologist with the British Antarctic Survey doing research on the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems in the Scotia Sea region, in the Southern Ocean, and investigating the impacts of climate and other human stressors.