This year, we had the pleasure of taking part in the CEAB Researchers’ Night, an event aimed at bringing the international scientific research conducted at the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB) closer to the public. The event took place on Friday, September 27, at the CEAB in Blanes, and focused on the study of freshwater ecosystems.

This event is part of the European Researchers’ Night, which promotes activities that allow the public to engage directly with researchers in an accessible and engaging environment.

The evening began with a visit to the interactive exhibition “Augmented Ecofeminisms: Climate, Water, and Women”, which highlighted the major challenges facing continental water ecosystems around the world. The exhibition not only addressed ecological impacts but also explored the socio-economic consequences, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls.

Based on the content of the exhibition, several CEAB researchers, experts in limnology, explained key concepts such as eutrophication, salinization, biodiversity loss, and the different forms of pollution affecting freshwater ecosystems. They also emphasized the increasing frequency of extreme events like droughts and the consequences they entail.

In addition, various research projects conducted by the CEAB in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and high mountain ponds were presented, including preliminary results from the LIFE RESQUE ALPYR project.

Teresa Buchaca, a researcher at the CEAB and part of the project, was one of the main speakers of the event. During her presentation, she explained fundamental concepts related to biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems and answered the audience’s questions. She also provided a detailed overview of the project’s objectives and opened a discussion on the actions that can be taken, both individually and collectively, to protect high mountain lakes.