Monday, September 26, 2016

ChallenGen at the SIEBM 2016 in Porto

by Marta Campos

From the 5th to 9th September, several ChallenGen members attended the XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM) in Porto, Portugal, which this year was hosted by the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR). Throughout the week, scientific posters and oral communications were presented and we could learn about biodiversity, conservation, ecology, invasive species and oceanography. Moreover, eight invited speakers, from different parts of Europe, explained current research on hot topics and forecasted future directions in marine biology research. One of these speakers was Xavier Turon, who presented a talk about the use of genetic tools in marine biology in the Iberian context. His talk included some of the newest results attained in the ChallenGen Project.

Aside from this plenary lecture, 8 oral communications and 3 posters were presented with ChallenGen results, so the project had a very relevant presence in this meeting.

We also participated in several social events and cultural activities. In addition, we could enjoy the opportunity to know the wonderful city of Porto and its famous wine. We also had plenty of opportunities to eat codfish, which is cooked in apparently endless ways!

We hope to meet again in the next SIEBM which will take place in two years in Algarve!

The eight members of the ChallenGen Project who attended the SIEBM 2016, at the new CIIMAR building.