The Vertical Algas project took part in yet another edition of the Marine Forests Festival, held at Colégio Nossa Senhora da Graça in Vila Nova de Milfontes, helping to promote ocean literacy and raise awareness among the younger generation about the importance of seaweed and marine ecosystems.
Over two days of activities, the Outreach Team (WP7) from GreenCoLab interacted with around 700 participants, including pupils from primary to secondary school, teachers and other members of the school community. Through dynamic presentations, practical demonstrations and interactive activities, participants had the opportunity to discover the fundamental role of seagrass beds in ocean health, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.
GreenCoLab’s participation also helped raise awareness of algae’s potential as a sustainable resource for sectors such as food, biotechnology, agriculture, and the blue economy, highlighting the research and innovation currently underway in Portugal.
The Marine Forests Festival once again brought together scientists, students, residents and visitors in a celebration of the ocean and its ecosystems. Through science outreach initiatives, hands-on experiences and opportunities for knowledge sharing, the event continues to establish itself as an important platform for environmental education and community engagement in marine conservation.
The event was organised by the CCMAR – Algarve Marine Science Centre, as part of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation’s Marine Forests project, in partnership with the Municipality of Odemira, Colégio Nossa Senhora da Graça, the Vila Nova de Milfontes Parish Council and the University of the Algarve. The initiative also benefited from the collaboration of various local and national organisations, notably the Oceano Azul Foundation and the associations Cultivamos Cultura and Viridia, whose involvement was crucial to the festival’s success.
The strong support from the educational community at Colégio Nossa Senhora da Graça demonstrated young people’s growing interest in ocean-related topics and reinforced the importance of bringing science into schools, inspiring future generations to contribute to a more sustainable future and the preservation of marine ecosystems.
