MARE researcher received the Career Award in Limnology by the Iberian Association of Limnology

Manuel Graça, a researcher at MARE/ARNET at the University of Coimbra, has received the 2025 Career Award in Limnology from the Iberian Association of Limnology. The award acknowledges an exceptional scientific career dedicated to the study of inland waters within the Iberian Peninsula.

The distinction will be officially presented at the next Congress of the Iberian Association of Limnology, which will be held in Bilbao in June 2026, bringing together researchers and experts in limnology from throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

The Career Award in Limnology honours limnologists with an exceptional scientific record, recognising sustained and long-term contributions to the advancement of knowledge on freshwater ecosystems, as well as the scientific, educational, and institutional impact of their work.

Full Professor at the University of Coimbra and researcher at MARE/ARNET, Manuel Graça has built a widely recognised career in stream and river ecology, focusing particularly on leaf litter decomposition, detrital food webs, and the assessment of ecological quality in fluvial ecosystems. His research has significantly contributed to understanding freshwater ecosystem functioning and to the development of biomonitoring tools widely used in both scientific research and environmental management.

Throughout his career, Manuel Graça has published over 100 scientific articles in international journals, as well as books and book chapters. He has supervised numerous doctoral and master’s students and held significant editorial and scientific roles at the international level. His work also maintains a strong interface with society through collaboration with public authorities and private entities in environmental monitoring programmes and impact assessments in freshwater ecosystems.

This distinction emphasises MARE's contribution to excellence in aquatic sciences and highlights the importance of limnology for the knowledge, conservation, and sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.

Text: Vera Sequeira