CE3C - Towards a Sustainable Future

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Echoes against time

Echoes against time

A pioneering study by Hugo Rebelo and Tiago Lapão is shedding light on the behaviour of bats that have made one of the world’s most beautiful libraries — the Library of the National Palace of Mafra — their home.

Triangular cooperation promotes honey in Mozambique

Triangular cooperation promotes honey in Mozambique

The new PróMEL project seeks to promote sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in Gorongosa and Chimanimani National Parks in Mozambique.

Gems of the North Atlantic: CE3C in the Azores

Gems of the North Atlantic: CE3C in the Azores

The new video takes us to the heart of the Azores and the richness of the Laurissilva forest. Decades of ongoing research have made it possible to track the trajectory of biodiversity on the islands and understand its variation.

Sara Magalhães elected President of ESEB

Sara Magalhães elected President of ESEB

CE3C researcher is the first representative from Southern Europe to take up the position in the institution's nearly 40 years of existence.

CE3C revalidates classification as an excellent R&D unit

CE3C revalidates classification as an excellent R&D unit

The provisional results published by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) once again place CE3C in a position of excellence, acknowledging the path it has followed to date and the vision it has for 2025-2029 period.

A new and pioneering Chair dedicated to the subterranean ecosystems

A new and pioneering Chair dedicated to the subterranean ecosystems

The Chair in ‘Sustainability of Subterranean Ecosystems - Loulé’ is coordinated by CE3C researcher Ana Sofia Reboleira and is focussed on three main areas: Science, Education and Nature Conservation.

Eyes and minds focused on a brighter tomorrow

Eyes and minds focused on a brighter tomorrow

CE3C envisions a safe and sustainable future where scientific knowledge fosters ecological resilience, biodiversity, and the health of ecosystems and all living beings, ensuring a thriving planet for the generations to come.

What's New

Deadline Extended: Submit & Register by July 25!
Frontiers in E3
Deadline Extended: Submit & Register by July 25!

The 11th Frontiers in E3, CE3C's Annual Meeting will be held from October 10–12 in the Azores, under the theme “Shifting Tides: Building a Healthy Future in an Unstable World.” This year’s meeting calls us to navigate the fragile balance between humanity and the environment through cross-disciplinary and collaborative research. In a time of deep uncertainty, we come together to forge resilient pathways for a healthier future.

Extended deadline: Register and submit abstracts by July 25

Synthetic ropes used by storks in their nests are killing the chicks
Media Research Plastic pollution Bird mortality Agriculture
Synthetic ropes used by storks in their nests are killing the chicks

A study coordinated by CE3C researcher Inês Catry, involving dozens of colonies and more than 500 white stork nests in Alentejo and Algarve, concluded that 91% of nests contained materials of human origin. Featured article in Público newspaper.

Do you hate spiders? Scientists give us several reasons to like them
Media Spiders Ecosystem services Biological Reviews
Do you hate spiders? Scientists give us several reasons to like them

Study details all the valuable contributions spiders make to ecosystems, highlighting the importance of restoring, preserving or imitating the natural processes of these eight-legged creatures. Article signed by CE3C researcher Pedro Cardoso featured in Público newspaper.

The diet of Amazonian river communities is changing: what does this mean?
Amazonia Communities Biocultural resilience Food transition Socioecology PhD student
The diet of Amazonian river communities is changing: what does this mean?

A Portugal-Brazil study shows that young people's access to and preference for ultra-processed foods is challenging the daily lives of communities, their traditions, and their socio-ecological profile.

Researchers for Nature: César Garcia, passionate about the study of plants
Media Interview Bryophytes Taxonomy National History Museum Botanical Gardens
Researchers for Nature: César Garcia, passionate about the study of plants

CE3C researcher César Garcia was the latest interviewee in Wilder's ‘Researchers for Nature’ series, where he discusses his career, his research in the field of bryophyte taxonomy, and his role as curator of MUHNAC and coordinator of the Botanical Gardens Centre at the University of Lisbon.

Discover CE3C’s Advanced Courses 2025–2026
Advanced Courses Training Research Skills
Discover CE3C’s Advanced Courses 2025–2026

The new programme is out — with three exciting new courses on the list!

Get a head start and see what’s coming in the next academic year.

Nadito Barbosa, Laurine Parmentier, and Fátima Inácio da Costa: meet the winners of the CE3C 2025 Participatory Budget and discover their projects
CE3C Participatory Budget PhD student CE3C Experience Cape Verde Azores Mozambique
Nadito Barbosa, Laurine Parmentier, and Fátima Inácio da Costa: meet the winners of the CE3C 2025 Participatory Budget and discover their projects

Azores, Cape Verde, and Mozambique: winners of the CE3C 2025 Participatory Budget will address ecosystems and species from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.

EYES
AND MINDS FOCUSED ON A
BRIGHTER
TOMORROW

It is vital that we look at ecosystems in an integrative approach, understand the impacts of global changes on their functioning and share the knowledge acquired with new generations of scientists, with society and decision-makers.

EYES<br />AND MINDS FOCUSED ON A<br /><b>BRIGHTER<br />TOMORROW</b>

CE3C is building a prosperous and sustainable future based on science, education and knowledge transfer.

Learn more
Research Groups
Research Groups

CE3C is home to over 400 researchers, working together in 39 groups, clustered in 4 thematic lines. Get to know the knowledge we help build every day, its diversity, and how we integrate it to respond to today's pressing issues.

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Cooperation
Cooperation

Like lichens, CE3C works symbiotically with different academic partners, both in Portugal and internationally, that span across various scientific domains and contribute to increase the collective impact on society.

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Training
Training

With recognised skills that span theory and practice, CE3C researchers dedicate an important part of their time to train new generations of scientists, knowledge transfer and to empower multiple fields of activity in society.

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MEDIA

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Ecos contra o tempo: a incrível história dos morcegos numa das mais belas bibliotecas do mundo
Ecos contra o tempo: a incrível história dos morcegos numa das mais belas bibliotecas do mundo

Estudo pioneiro de Hugo Rebelo e Tiago Lapão está a desvendar o comportamento dos morcegos que fazem da Biblioteca do Palácio Nacional de Mafra a sua casa.

22 Jul 2025

CHANGE no Encontro Ciência 2025
CHANGE no Encontro Ciência 2025

O Laboratório Associado CHANGE marcou presença ativa no Encontro Ciência 2025, de 9 a 11 de julho, no campus da Nova SBE, em Carcavelos.

14 Jul 2025

ScienceCast - Hugo Rebelo: Morcegos podem salvar vidas!
ScienceCast - Hugo Rebelo: Morcegos podem salvar vidas!

O investigador CE3C Hugo Rebelo esteve à conversa com Vasco Matos Trigo para o ScienceCast, podcast da PlaySolutions - Audiovisuais que conta com o apoio do CESAM da Universidade de Aveiro.

10 Jul 2025

Agenda

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XXV Encontro da REALP | I Encontro Internacional do projeto AMIGO
XXV Encontro da REALP | I Encontro Internacional do projeto AMIGO

From 02 Sep 2025 until 06 Sep 2025

Location: Colégio do Espírito Santo, Universidade de Évora

FloraMac 2025
FloraMac 2025

From 22 Sep 2025 until 26 Sep 2025

Location: Centro Interpretativo de Angra do Heroísmo, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal

CE3C SEMINAR I - 2025-2026
CE3C SEMINAR I - 2025-2026

From 09 Oct 2025 until 02 Feb 2026

Deadline for Applications: 12 Sep 2025

Location: Room 2.2.31, C2 Building, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa; some sessions may be in mixed format, in person and online, using the Zoom platform

We are home to more than
400 researchers
We produce science that crosses all levels of biological organisation, from organisms up to ecosystems, both natural and anthropogenic

We produce science that crosses all levels of biological organisation, from organisms up to ecosystems, both natural and anthropogenic

We raise relevant questions and apply innovative techniques to answer them

We raise relevant questions and apply innovative techniques to answer them

We investigate fauna and flora and their relationship with their environment

We investigate fauna and flora and their relationship with their environment

We design models build scenarios and predict changes

We design models build scenarios and predict changes

We produce knowledge and develop tools to understand the impact of global changes on biodiversity and on human health and well-being

We produce knowledge and develop tools to understand the impact of global changes on biodiversity and on human health and well-being