MARE researchers featured in new exhibition at the Ílhavo Maritime Museum
In the main hall of the Ílhavo Maritime Museum, fifteen faces gaze back at visitors. These are women who dedicated their lives to the sea, portrayed by Aníbal Lemos with an object in their hands, a personal and scientific symbol of their journey. The exhibition “The Sea as an Object: Women, Science, and the Other Side of the Ocean,” which opened on the day the museum celebrated its 88th anniversary, is an invitation to learn not only about research, but also about the stories, passions, and memories that inhabit each career.
Among the protagonists, six are researchers at MARE: Alexandra Silva, Clara Amorim, Mafalda Freitas, Maria José Costa, Teresa Mouga, and Vanda Brotas. Each one, depending on their background and experience, has contributed to unlocking the secrets of the ocean, whether through fish bioacoustics, phytoplankton studies, ecotoxicology, sustainable fisheries management, or marine macroalgae protection.
For Maria José Costa, this exhibition is more than just a collection of photographs: “I think this exhibition is extremely important. There were 15 of us there, but there could have been many more, especially younger women. Today there is a large group of scientists working in the field of marine science, but when I started there were practically no women. It is essential to give visibility to this work and inspire others to follow this path.”
In the exhibition's preface, the museum's director, Nuno Miguel Costa, points out that talking about the role of women in maritime communities also means affirming identity and preserving memories, bringing new perspectives to marine science.
Walking through the room, one realizes that each photographed object is a common thread: there are books that have marked decades of study, models of marine species, scientific instruments, and mementos from research missions. These are objects that condense a lifetime of work and reveal the deep connection between science and the sea.
The exhibition can be visited until December 31, 2025, at the Ílhavo Maritime Museum, a landmark in the preservation and promotion of Portuguese maritime heritage, which also includes the Santo André Museum Ship and the Center for Maritime Religiosity. Founded in 1937, the museum is renowned for its connection to the history of cod fishing and the culture of maritime communities.
The author of the photographs, Aníbal Lemos, is a photographer and director of the S. João da Madeira Art Center. His work often combines portraiture and visual narrative, seeking to capture the essence and identity of the people photographed. In this exhibition, his intimate approach and choice of personal objects lend depth and closeness to the portraits, transforming each image into a unique visual story.
Visiting this exhibition is like entering into a dialogue with the sea through the faces and memories of these fifteen women. It is about letting yourself be inspired by their journeys and recognizing that science is also about work, dedication, and love for the ocean.
Text by Vera Sequeira