About MARE

MARE

MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CENTRE

MARE is a research, technological development, and innovation center focused on addressing society’s problems and challenges.

With technical and scientific expertise to study all aquatic ecosystems — including river basins and adjacent areas, estuaries, coastal and oceanic marine ecosystems — MARE adopts an integrated and holistic approach, working in close partnership with national and international institutions.

Established in January 2015, MARE is a multi-institutional center with a nationwide presence, organized into eight Regional Research Units located on higher education campuses: University of Coimbra (MARE-UCoimbra), Polytechnic of Leiria (MARE-PLeiria), University of Lisbon (MARE-ULisboa), NOVA University of Lisbon (MARE-NOVA), ISPA (MARE-ISPA), Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal (MARE-IPSetúbal), University of Évora (MARE-UÉvora), and ARDITI/University of Madeira (MARE-Madeira).

MARE’s structure fosters continuous knowledge sharing among researchers specialized in different aquatic ecosystems — marine, coastal, transitional, and freshwater — enabling an integrated vision that enhances the quality and originality of both fundamental and applied research. This approach leads to more comprehensive studies and the development of solutions that encompass the entire river basin to the open sea, including migratory species cycles, spatial movement of aquatic and terrestrial species using riparian zones, biological invasions, and ecological, hydromorphological, and sedimentological processes.

What is MARE's vision?

MARE seeks to be a reference institution in Marine and Environmental Sciences, contributing to understanding how aquatic ecosystems work, promoting the sustainable use of resources and ocean literacy.

What is MARE's mission?

MARE pursues excellence in the study of aquatic ecosystems and disseminates this knowledge in support of human progress and sustainable development policies. This is achieved through collaborative networks developed at both national and international levels, focusing on scientific research, education, knowledge and technology transfer, and science dissemination.​​

THE MAIN GOALS OF MARE ARE

  • Advance the knowledge on the functioning of marine ecosystems, and interrelated estuarine and freshwater systems;
  • Develop scientific and technological tools towards the sustainable use of freshwater, estuaries and marine ecosystems under the framework of regional, national and international priorities;
  • Develop scientific knowledge and sound technology to help providing food and other biotic and non-biotic resources to society;
  • Promoting good ecological and healthy status of oceans and seas, estuaries and river basins;
  • Drive international cooperation to advanced education and training resulting in a new generation of scientists and professionals prepared for the Blue Economy;
  • Promote Ocean literacy and contribute to a participative Blue Society.