ECR - GES4SEAS

The Horizon Europe (HE) GES4SEAS project, along with its sister initiatives (Marine SABRES, MARBEFES, Marine Plan, OBAMA-NEXT, Future Mares, etc.) focusing on marine ecosystem-based management, has created a community tailored for Early Career Researchers (ECRs).

This group aims to enhance the professional profiles of its members, which include master’s its members’ professional profiles, including students, doctoral candidates/students, and post-doctoral researchers – generally, anyone who identifies as an ECR within the HE projects. Aspiring to be a self-organising community to promote knowledge exchanges, networking and communication between ECRs within GES4SEAS and potentially further to the Horizon Europe sister projects.

For those interested in becoming part of this evolving academic environment, we invite you to subscribe to our LinkedIn group and contribute your details via the specified online form below.

Community updates

We’ll be posting updated information about future and past activities.

GES4SEAS summer school 2024 (by AZTI): AZTI organizes annually (since 2004) an international summer school on marine research relate cutting-edge topics. Angel Borja, GES4SEAS project coordinator and Director of AZTI summer school, will be organizing a summer school in 2024, where international experts ill speak to an audience of early career researchers. In 2024 the topic of the summer school Will focus on science communication to different audiences.

Given sufficient interest potential activities may include:

Monthly meetings or workshops to share research findings and discuss current challenges in the field
Hosting guest lectures or seminars by leading experts in the field
Providing mentorship or guidance for junior researchers
Organising events or activities to promote networking and community building among members.
Creating a platform or forum where members can share their publications and papers.
Organising events or activities that promote science communication and outreach to the broader community and that promote professional development and training, such as grant-writing workshops or public speaking training.

Reach out to our community to suggest other activities (Twitter and LinkedIn).

ECR Community Seminar Sessions

The Community Seminar Sessions is a series of webinars intended for ECRs specialising in Ocean Science, with a particular focus on marine ecosystem-based management.

Researchers in the field will lead the sessions, covering vital developmental topics for ECRs, including but not limited to grant writing, academic publishing, and science communication. By participating in these seminars, ECRs gain the opportunity not only to enhance their skill sets in academic and professional spheres but also to establish networks with experts from both their own and adjacent scientific disciplines.

Conducted monthly, these webinars serve as a prelude to more advanced and in-depth sessions to be held at the AZTI Summer School in June 2024. Notably, the series aims to build connections with sister projects under the European Union Horizon framework, such as Marine SABRES, OBAMA Next, MARBEFES, Marine Plan, and many more. These collaborations are envisaged to broaden the academic discourse and facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to marine ecosystem-based management.

In summary, the GES4SEAS ECR Community Seminar Sessions and the leading AZTI Summer School offer a multifaceted development platform that aims to equip ECRs with the competencies and collaborative opportunities required for a successful academic and professional trajectory within the marine research sphere.

MEMBERS OF THE ECR’S COMMUNITY

Sophie Schoenherr

(She/Her)

Institutions and roles:
Aveiro University – Master student

Description:
The proposed MSc thesis project aims to advance our current knowledge on cold-water corals and deep-sea connectivity in the South Iberian Margin (GES4SEAS Learning Site 5) using biophysical modelling. Given the abundance and diversity of deep-sea habitats and the site’s relevance for connectivity of (deep-sea) marine life between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, this area has been proposed as an MPA by Portugal. The identification of diversity hotspots, source populations and connectivity pathways may therefore be particularly relevant to assist in the successful management, conservation and protection of key deep-sea habitats, here cold-water corals.

Keywords:
Deep-sea; Cold-water corals; Connectivity; Computational models.

Katriina Juva

(She/Her)

Institutions and roles:
Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) – Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
As a SYKE researcher, I’m involved in several EU or national projects where my research topics deal with both past, current and future effects of climate change on the Baltic Sea marine nature.

Keywords:
Marine system thresholds; Breaking points; Human pressures; Baltic Sea; Climate change

Gemma Smith

(She/Her)
Based in the UK

Institutions and roles:
International Estuarine and Coastal Specialists – Post-Graduate Research Assistant (PGRA)
University of Hull – PhD student of Systems Science

Description:
PhD Student of Systems Science, an MSc in Environmental Management, and a Bachelor of Law is the foundations of my interdisciplinary research interests of marine, coastal and estuarine management. Currently researching the role of Socio-Ecological Systems within complex adaptive management regarding marine quality assessment and spatial planning.

Keywords:
Marine Management, Systems thinking, Environmental governance, Socio-Ecological Systems, and complex adaptive systems.

Irene Akhmadeeva

(She/Her)

Institutions and roles:
CNRS – PhD Student

Description:
The GES4SEAS toolbox will be validated and applied within the context of ecosystem-based management in multiple Learning Sites (LS) to ensure its applicability and flexibility across multiple scales and contexts. It is mainly designed within scenarios and marine management systems that regard developed nations where learning sites are often data-rich. My PhD research project will concentrate its questions on the applicability of the toolbox to assess and predict integrated impacts of cumulative pressures in the context of developing countries, this is the case of Learning Site 11. The Caribbean Sea.

Link to GES4SEAs:
I will be focusing my research questions around WP5 by focusing on the identification of drivers in various social-ecological contexts affecting the effective application of the GES4SEAS toolbox within countries that are not part of the European Union. This is relevant as it will allow us to understand the potential gaps that underlie a global use of the GES4SEAS toolbox.

Maria Bas

(She/Her)

Institutions and roles:
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) – Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
My main interest is to study the ecology of wildlife and predict the impact of environmental changes and anthropogenic pressures to design precise management programs. I have special interest in understanding the ecological role of marine organisms and their trophic links in the marine food web and how natural factors and human activities may change these processes. My research is developed within a multi-interdisciplinary framework to provide holistic solutions to manage conservation problems in an ecosystem approach. I am a member of Q-MARE international group from Past Global Changes as a leader. The aim is to disentangle climate and pre-industrial human impacts on marine ecosystems. Apart from this historical ecology research I am also interested species distribution models to predict future distribution of different funcitonal groups to impliement better management measures and I am also involved maritime spatial planning.

Link to GES4SEAs:
I am involved in the WP3, to apply different methods or solutions related to ecosystem services and links to GES, testing tipping points and thresholds, investigating effects of measures on mitigating impacts and building analytical capacity. I am also involved in the Learning Site case study (Western Mediterranean Sea) in order to apply all the methods and the toolbox generated from this project.

Christie O’Donnell

(She/Her)

Institutions and roles:
Marine Institute – Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
My main responsibility is to carry out research related to the Celtic Sea Learning Site for the GES4SEAS project. This involves collating and managing existing data on human activities, pressures and state of the ecosystem and identifying knowledge and data gaps to prepare for analysis work. I am interested in completing Cumulative Effects Assessments for the Celtic Sea. Stakeholder engagement is an important part of my role and will involve holding stakeholder workshops to elicit their views and requirements. In addition to participating in other work packages in the GES4SEAS project, I also assist the Ecosystems Approach to Fisheries Management team which I am a part of in the Marine Institute.

Link to GES4SEAs:
As a representative of the Marine Institute, I am involved in aspects of WP1 (Task 1.4), WP2 (Task 2.1), WP3 (Tasks 3.1 and 3.4), WP4 (currently on an observation basis), WP5 (Tasks 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5) and WP6 (Tasks 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7 and 6.8). My research will contribute to the GES4SEAS goals by testing the GES4SEAS toolbox prototypes and final products in our learning site, carrying out assessments to examine the possibility of achieving GES in the Celtic Sea LS, and engaging with stakeholders and the public.

Elena Corredor

(She/Her)

Institutions and roles:
ICM-CSIC – PhD student

Description:
My PhD focuses on the conservation and management of endangered pelagic predators, with a multidisciplinary approach focused on two model species: the swordfish and the blue shark. Our main goal is to provide new ecological information in order to identify those areas with special conservation interest.

Link to GES4SEAs:
WP2: task 2.2 State of the art in support of EBM of specific and increasing problems, such as HABs, jellyfish outbreaks, invasive species and the decline of top predators.

Furqan Asif

Institutions and roles:
Centre for Blue Governance, Aalborg University – Researcher

Description:
As Assistant Professor at the Centre for Blue Governance (CBG) at Aalborg University, I am involved in research projects focusing on improving EU fisheries governance (SEAwise) and increasing the uptake of ecosystem-based management in Europe to support a sustainable blue economy via integration of marine biodiversity conservation (MarineSABRES)

Link to GES4SEAs:
I’m involved in the Marine SABRES project.

Mireia

Institutions and roles:
AZTI – Researcher

Description:
My MSc/PhD and Post-doc research projects have been focused on variation and changes in the marine environment applying species distribution modelling, monitoring and mapping. During my MSc and PhD I worked with seagrasses and during my Post-doctoral stage I have worked with rocky coral reefs in Ecuador and marine fish in EEUU.

Link to GES4SEAs:
I am involved in OBAMA-Next HE project, MISSION Atlantic and will be working on a HE related to Blue Carbon starting next year

Gregory Fuchs

Institutions and roles:
Ecologic Institute – Researcher

Description:
Currently, I am not involved in any active MSc/PhD or Post-doc projects; instead, I work as a researcher at the Ecologic Institute, holding an MSc in Marine Environmental Management from the University of York. My research predominantly focuses on marine biodiversity and ecosystem-based governance. I explore the human-induced impacts on marine ecosystems and their sustainable management, especially within the EU and German national contexts. Additionally, my research delves into specific conservation strategies and the implementation of nature-based solutions, such as marine habitat restoration, to bolster the functionality and resilience of marine ecosystems.

Link to GES4SEAs:
I’m involved in the Marine SABRES project.

Furkan Durmaz

Institutions and roles:
TUBITAK Marine Studies and Technologies Research Group – PhD student

Description:
Determining the effects of micro/nanoplastics in the aquatic environment.

Link to GES4SEAs:
The projects I work on are not included in Horizon Europe.

Athanasios Nikolaou

Institutions and roles:
University of the Aegean – Master student

Description:
I have successfully completed my undergraduate studies in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of the Aegean. I am currently continuing my studies in the master’s program “Research in Marine Sciences” in the same department. The focus of my master thesis is to assess the Environmental Status of European seas, in an integrative manner, by utilizing open-access data provided by EU Member States for the purpose of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

Link to GES4SEAs:
I am currently involved in the GES4SEAS project. My contribution has been in Task 2.2 of Work Package 2 “Developing the conceptual framework and knowledge base for ecosystem-based management”. Specifically, I took part in the writing of a state-of-the-art review article titled “Management of jellyfish outbreaks to achieve Good Environmental Status”. Furthermore, I will be participating in Work Package 5 “Learning Sites: Testing and Synthesis”. Within Task 5.2 of this Work Package, we will be working on the development and the implementation of strategies assessing and managing HABs, invasive species, jellyfish blooms and top predators will take place.

Nikolaos Nagkoulis

Institutions and roles:
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
I am mostly interested in environmental economics. I recently finished a PhD in water resources management where I applied game theoretical methods. What excites me in general is modelling the intersection of natural and social phenomena. During this period I am working on marine planning, trying to answer questions such as the following: why do we prioritize the protection of some species instead of others? how can an ecosystem sustain its stability?

Link to GES4SEAs:
I am currently working on marine spatial planning (MarinePlan EU project), targeting on spatial optimization tools’ development in order to maximize the protection of threatened species and ecosystems

Dorota Kolbuk

Institutions and roles:
UCD – Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
I am a postdoctoral researcher at University College Dublin in Ireland. During my postdoc, I’ll be testing out the ecological / biological tools developed by the project to describe biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the Irish Sea and how they translate to ecosystem services.

Link to GES4SEAs:
MARBEFES (MARine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning leading to Ecosystem Services), https://marbefes.eu

Konstantinos Tsirintanis

Institutions and roles:
University of the Aegean – Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
Post-doc research project: Development of the CIMPAL+ index to assess positive alien species impacts on the biodiversity of the Aegean Sea. Application of the CIMPAL index to assess invasive species impacts on the European Seas.

Link to GES4SEAs:
I’m involved in the GES4SEAS project.

Denise O’Sullivan

Institutions and roles:
Marine Institute – Researcher

Description:
I am working on the Celtic Sea Learning site for the GES4SEAS project. My main responsibility is gathering and processing relevant datasets on human activities and ecosystem components which can be used for analysis and to create spatial maps to help identify marine areas most at risk to human pressures. This also includes identifying knowledge gaps and establishing how to address these gaps through stakeholder consultation.

Link to GES4SEAs:
My work will contribute to GES4SEAS by testing the GES4SEAS toolbox prototypes and final products to carry out Cumulative Effects Assessment in the Celtic Sea Learning Site.

Maria Papazekou

Institutions and roles:
University of the Aegean – Research Assistant

Description:
In my current research pursuits, I focus on Maritime Spatial Planning, utilizing spatial prioritization software to optimize resource allocation and strategically plan conservation efforts. Beyond spatial prioritization, I also delve into broader aspects of ecosystem-based marine management by studying the interplay between ecological processes, human activities, and the marine environment.

Link to GES4SEAs:
I am involved in the MarinePlan project, aligning with GES4SEAS in the shared commitment to ecosystem-based management at sea. Both projects are focused on applying tools and practices in the Greek Seas (Aegean Sea), which is the region I am working on.

Maila Guilhon

Institutions and roles:
University of the Aegean – ResearcherResearch Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam; The Nippon Foundation – University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices Programme
Post-doctoral researcher

Description:
I’m looking into governance measures and solutions for areas facing various human pressures – from tourism activities, fishing and climate change, and the establishment of marine protected areas in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction – with the objective to accelerate the uptake of Ecosystem-based Management in European waters and beyond.

Link to GES4SEAs:
Marine SABRES

Linda Del Savio

Institutions and roles:

Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – Researcher

Description:
My research focuses on governance approaches for achieving sustainability and resilience within three context-diverse Demonstration Areas (Tuscan Archipelago, the Arctic and the Macaronesia) and beyond, to promote effective governance arrangements for Ecosystem-Based Management, including challenges and opportunities for transboundary cooperation.

Link to GES4SEAs:
Marine SABRES

Olga Lukyanova

Institutions and roles:

AZTI – PhD Student

Description:

My PhD focuses on conservation aspects of ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning, specifically on using the Systematic Conservation Planning approach and CBD criteria for Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas to advance marine conservation in the Bay of Biscay.

Keywords:
Marine Spatial Planning; Marine Conservation; Systematic Conservation Planning

Ryan Smazal

Institutions and roles:

University College Dublin – Post-Doctoral Researcher

Description:

My post-doc research project focus on investigating and quantifying links of carbon storage to biodiversity and taxa contribution using stable isotopes. This is based on three studies sites across Europe, including the Irish Sea, Mallorca, and the Curonian Split.

Link to GES4SEAS:
I am a part of the MARBEFES (MARine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning leading to Ecosystem Services) project, and part of WP3.

Valentini Stamatiadou

Institutions and roles:

University of the Aegean – PhD student

Description:

My PhD focuses on environmental economics and spatial analysis. The objective is to assess the fundamental ecosystem services in the Greek seas and create integrated maps depicting their values. These quantitative and spatial insights are useful for informing and shaping marine policies.

Keywords:
Environmental economics; Spatial analysis; Ecosystem services; Marine policies

Ioannis Rallis

Institutions and roles:

Hellnic Centre for Marine Research – HCMR

Description:

My PhD focuses on enhancing rapid monitoring protocols for the early detection of Non-Indigenous Species in the Ionian Sea. It proposes an innovative, low-effort methodological approach that combines both morphological and genetic taxonomic analyses to produce quick results. Additionally, it includes a risk assessment of selected hotspot areas (ports and marinas) to determine their potential to host newly introduced species, as well as an evaluation of selected species traits that characterize potential newcomers in the study areas. The ultimate goal is to establish foundational work that can be used for future research, management by local authorities or stakeholders, and communication and dissemination of the impacts of NIS to the general public.

Link to GES4SEAS:

NAUTILOS focuses on improving marine observation with new sensors and engaging the public in citizen science. This project aims to enhance marine observation capabilities and public engagement through citizen science, improving our understanding of environmental changes
FUTURE MARES develops nature-based solutions for climate change in marine ecosystems, safeguarding biodiversity and informing resilient management strategies.

Both projects help us manage marine environments better by understanding changes, working together across disciplines, and informing smart policies.

Aubrie Onoufriou

Institutions and roles:

Marine Directorate, Scottish Government

Description:

I work in a team that uses DNA-based tools to monitor for invasive species and priority species in the Scottish marine and freshwater environments. I also am developing DNA-based tools for monitoring Scottish biodiversity.

Link to GES4SEAS:

I am a member of MarcoBolo and am specifically tasked with reviewing the suitability of eDNA methods to investigate biodiversity.

Natalya Gallo

Institutions and roles:

Researcher, NORCE

Description:

I am interested in how climate change affects marine ecosystems and fisheries and how scientific research can contribute to sustainable ocean management. I received my M.S. in Marine Biology and Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, and then worked as a postdoctoral research for the CalCOFI ecosystem monitoring program at Scripps and NOAA, and then for the HypOnFjordFish project at the University of Bergen. Under Marco-Bolo, I am working at NORCE on examining the potential of satellite remote sensing to estimate blue carbon storage in seagrass beds within the European coastal system. Under OceanICU, I will focus on linking the project scientific outcomes to stakeholder needs to support decision making around activities that affect the ocean biological carbon pump.

Keywords:

Climate change; Marine Ecosystems ; Fisheries ; Satellite Remote Sensing ; Blue Carbon

Ben McAteer

Institutions and roles:

Post-doctoral researcher – Queen’s University Belfast

Description:

I work as a Postdoc researcher within the MarinePlan project. The MarinePlan project supports the implementation of ecosystem-based MSP through the development of a decision support system. The system, when developed and launched, will offer guidance for an improved alignment of MSP, spatial conservation and restoration measures during the challenging times of ever-increasing pressures on marine ecosystems. Specifically, I contribute to a work package that focuses on the co-development of planning scenarios and guides the engagement with pan-European, national and local stakeholders. This work has involved mapping out the institutional landscape of each of the project’s 8 Planning Sites, as well as assessing the adaptive capacity of the governance system in each Planning Site.

Link to GES4SEAS:

I am working on the MarinePlan project which supports the implementation of ecosystem-based MSP through the development of a decision support system. Currently, I am involved in work that has proposed a novel framework to assess the degree of implementation of EB-MSP. Drawing on a synthesis of ecosystem-based principles and existing EB-MSP frameworks, coupled with high-level practitioners/stakeholders and conservation managers’ consultation process, the EB-MSP assessment framework offers a comprehensive evaluation tool to identify shortcomings and present potential areas for improvement.

Ruairi Gallagher

Institutions and roles:

Researcher – FjordStrong

Description:

Using stereo-BRUVs to monitor changes in elasmobranch communities around coral restoration efforts in a Mediterranean MPA

Link to GES4SEAS:

Part of Work Package 5 – Learning sites: testing and synthesis

Gary Kett

Institutions and roles:

Researcher – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR)

Description:

My primary roles are: stakeholder engagement, network expansion, ECR capacity building, outreach and communication activities. I mainly work in the science-policy-society interface forming networks and Working Groups, organising webinars, and conducting Citizen Science and public outreach events. Within both pollution-focused projects, I am involved in field-campaigns to assess the ecological status of rivers and coastal areas, and assess the sustainability of technologies implemented to reduce pollution.
The projects I am employed under are not specifically focused on Ecosystem-Based-Management, however, my role in them does apply to this consortium in terms of network and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and science-policy. Further, my specific Coastal Biodiversity research group in CIIMAR are involved in Future Mares, Marco-Bolo, ACTNOW, and Marine SABRES.

Link to GES4SEAS:

Currently working on the HE INSPIRE project which has a primary objective to contribute to the drastic reduction of litter, macro and microplastics in European rivers in a holistic approach, by bringing together 20 technologies and actions for the detection, collection, and prevention of plastics and litter.

Also working on the H2020 MAELSTROM project which is bringing together key research centres, enterprises, recycling centres with stakeholders in political and societal realms. This project is working on the design, manufacture and integrate scalable, replicable and automated technologies, co-powered with renewable energy and second-generation fuel, to identify, remove, sort and recycle all types of collected marine litter into valuable raw materials. This project develops the connection between science and policy in the production of policy briefs and position papers and the enhancing of connections between the scientific and stakeholder communities.