EuroMarine Open Science Days 2026 bring together a thriving European marine research community in Cádiz

Press Release — 20 March 2026

EuroMarine Open Science Days 2026 Successfully Concluded in Cádiz

The EuroMarine Network is pleased to announce the successful completion of the EuroMarine Open Science Days 2026, held on 10–11 March at the Universidad de Cádiz (UCA), co-hosted with CSIC and supported by the Junta de Andalucía and the Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR). The two-day event brought together 140 participants onsite and 35 online, representing more than 20 European countries, reaffirming EuroMarine's role as a central forum for European marine science.

A Strong Opening: Welcome, Keynotes and Interdisciplinary Exchange

Day 1 opened with welcome remarks from the Universidad de Cádiz, CSIC, CEI·MAR and the SEA-EU European University Alliance, followed by an introduction from EuroMarine Co-Chairs Simonetta Fraschetti and Mark John Costello, who reflected on a network that has grown into a mature, resilient and truly collaborative community.

Two keynote lectures set the scientific tone: Juanjo Vergara (UCA) presented on the role of seagrasses in blue carbon sequestration and coastal ecosystem restoration, and Emma Huertas (CSIC) used the Strait of Gibraltar as a lens for reading long-term climate change signals at the ocean's gateway. Scientific presentations covered satellite monitoring of invasive macroalgae, Antarctic phytoplankton dynamics, intertidal biodiversity, Digital Twin applications for Marine Protected Areas, and non-native species in aquaculture systems.

The afternoon featured a participatory workshop led by Emma McKinley (Cardiff University) on linking marine research with social sciences, exploring conservation social science, local knowledge systems and policy interfaces within the framework of the UN Ocean Decade. The day concluded with a Science & Cocktails poster session, offering early-career researchers and SMEs a lively and informal platform for exchange and visibility.

Deep-Sea Science, Infrastructure Collaboration and Policy

Day 2 opened with a keynote from Ronnie Glud (University of Southern Denmark) on life and biogeochemical element cycling in the deepest oceanic environments, bringing frontier deep-sea science to the heart of the programme. Presentations spanned a wide range of topics including legal and ethical challenges in deep-sea resource exploitation, marine heatwave-linked viral outbreaks, eDNA biodiversity monitoring, microbiome applications for seaweed cultivation, and integrated coastal observation strategies.

An afternoon session highlighted the importance of European and global marine research infrastructures, with invited contributions from Christos Arvanitidis (LifeWatch ERIC), Thorsten Kiefer (JPI Oceans) and Axel Miller (Scottish Association for Marine Science / World Association of Marine Stations), followed by a round-table discussion on cross-infrastructure collaboration and shared priorities for ocean science.

Workshop 2, led by Denis Naughten (InnoSphere Consulting), addressed the realities of the European policy landscape, equipping participants with tools to align research with policy windows, communicate science through clear narratives, and build trust with decision-makers. The day concluded with a cultural visit to the Roman Theatre of Cádiz.

EuroMarine General Assembly 2026

The annual EuroMarine General Assembly convened on 12 March, gathering representatives from member organisations to review the network's 2025 activities, approve the 2026 work plan, and discuss strategic priorities. A dedicated Horizon Europe Matchmaking Session, facilitated by Dr. Georgina Spyres (PLOATECH), provided members with a structured opportunity to explore collaborative opportunities around the September 2026 calls, identifying complementary expertise and potential EuroMarine-based consortia.

Acknowledgements

EuroMarine extends its gratitude to Laura Prieto, María Laura Martín Díaz, the local teams at UCA and CSIC, the OYSTER Early Career Researcher Network, all keynote speakers, workshop facilitators, presenters and participants who contributed to making the 2026 edition an outstanding success.

The EuroMarine Open Science Days 2026 demonstrated once more the strength of a community committed to scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based contributions to marine policy and governance.

For more information: comm@euromarinenetwork.eu