Think Tank sessions bring together researchers and, when applicable, industrial partners to discuss in brainstorming sessions and develop strategic solutions to scientific or real-world challenges.

Out think tanks fuel pillars RESEARCH and SOCIETY.

Target: researchers, PhD students and industry.

These annual events take place off-campus, in a unique and inspiring venue, often set in natural or historically significant locations. These special days aim to strengthen team cohesion and enhance scientific collaboration among people within the CBMA ecosystem.

The program includes collective brainstorming sessions and team-building activities to foster engagement and interaction in a barrier-free environment. These events fuel pillars RESEARCH and TEAM.

Target: researchers, PhD students, staff.

CBMA members are active participants in scientific and organizing committees of international conferences. Recently, we had the opportunity to host in Braga the conferences “Plant Biology 2023”, “PLPF9 – 9^th Plant Litter Processing in Freshwaters Congress” or “SIEBM XX – 20^th Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies”, gathering delegates and invited speakers from all over the world.

The participation and organisation of international meetings supports pillars RESEARCH and TRAINING.

Target: researchers, PhD students.

We promote regular seminars with invited scientists from worldwide reference institutions to facilitate knowledge sharing and to connect the CBMA community with a broader scientific audience. Successful initiatives include “Science on the Screen” (an online seminar series launched during the Covid pandemic), CBMA Conferences (a regular seminars with invited scientists), as well as “Talk(ing) series(ously) about Biodiversity, Ecology, and Global Change” and “Talk(ing) series(ously) about Artificial Intelligence” (talk series organized in collaboration with IB-S).

Through these initiatives, we strengthen scientific networks and promote the exchange of ideas. Such events fuel pillars RESEARCH, TEAM and TRAINING.

Target: researchers, PhD students, post-graduate students.

Workshops and symposia are organized regularly in the scope of ongoing research projects and other initiatives. These activities can be restricted to CBMA members or include researchers from other institutions and invited stakeholders outside the academia. These events cover debate or training sessions on: funding opportunities, transferable skills, data analysis and software, scientific hot topics, participative actions with societal players, or knowledge transfer initiatives, among others.

Workshops and symposia fuel pillars RESEARCH, TEAM, TRAINING and SOCIETY.

Target: variable according to specific activity (researchers, PhD students, staff, under- and post-graduate students, society).

Besides participating in existing initiatives (e.g., University Open Days, European Researchers’ Night, Fascination of Plants Day, or Ecology Day), several outreach programs have or are being carried out to reach different audiences and targets. Good examples include EArTh (an Environmental Education project to raise awareness to the paradigm shift in the relationship between human activities and available resources), Science on the Road (“Ciência Andante” – a mobile science lab on wheels), A Drop in the Ocean (“Uma Gota No Oceano” – a podcast centred on ocean literacy).

These and other outreach actions underpin our pillar SOCIETY.

Target: variable according to specific activity (children, adolescents, adults).

Artistic and cultural creation are integral to our activities, and our members seamlessly blend art and science, creating authentic pieces of interdisciplinary depth. Some examples include Small world (“Pequeno Mundo” – which converts objects of study in the field of Biology into elements of artistic expression), Science of Things (“Scientia das Coisas” – an exhibition that challenges the public to look differently at everyday objects, Rear Window to the Environment (“Janela Indiscreta para o Ambiente” – a photography contest to raise awareness about global environmental challenges).

These initiatives not only engage our team internally but also reach out to the broader community, showcasing the harmonious integration of creativity and scientific inquiry. As such, these actions fuel pillars TEAM, TRAINING and SOCIETY.

Target: researchers, PhD students, staff, under- and post-graduate students, society.

This is an annual event organized by our PhD students, showcasing their research projects and featuring invited lecturers addressing high-profile scientific topics. It offers a platform for students to present their work, engage with new scientific ideas, and learn from external experts. Additionally, the symposium provides hands-on experience in the organization of the event, capacitating students for event management, teamwork, and professional networking.

This event leverages pillars RESEARCH, TEAM, TRAINING and SOCIETY.

Target: researchers, PhD students, staff, under- and post-graduate students, society.

CBMA’s Elevator Pitch Contest challenges PhD students to present their research concisely and engagingly in just 90 seconds. This contest helps students to develop the ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to a broad audience, enhancing their public speaking skills and boosting their confidence. Participants are judged on clarity, engagement, and the ability to convey the significance of their research.

Initiatives like this feed pillars RESEARCH, TRAINING and SOCIETY.

Target: PhD students, society.