IMEDEA celebrates 30 years of leading the scientific study for a more sustainable Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, mixed centre of the CSIC and the Balearic Islands University - UIB) turns 30 this year as the international referent in marine, climate change and environmental sustainability investigation.

The institutional act, celebrated this Friday, June 27th, in IMEDEA’S location in Esporles, has gathered representatives from scientific and administrative institutions, investigating personnel and collaborating entities to celebrate three decades of science of excellence and commitment with the Mediterranean.

The delegate from the Balearic Islands Government, Alfonso Rodríguez Bada, who has centered his intervention on a reflection about the fragility of our territory and the importance of science to protect our biodiversity and environment; the councilor of Education and Universities, Antoni Vera, has pointed out the essential contribution of IMEDEA with its science made with rigor, vision and responsibility, from the Balearics towards the world. In addition, the president of the Superior Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC), Eloísa del Pino Matute, who has highlighted the importance of the centre’s Maria de Maeztu excellence stamp, a difficult to obtain award, and has congratulated the centre’s investigators for their effort and the rector of the Balearic Islands University, Jaume Carot, who has congratulated the centre for its long and prolific trajectory.

For the opening of the act, IMEDEA’s director, Alejandro Orfila Föster, has put into value the centre’s trajectory and the role of all the people that have worked with him along these 30 years, highlighting his contribution as a part of the alive heritage of the institute.

During the journey, some main scientific achievements have been reviewed and the key role of the knowledge generation about Mediterranean ecosystems, marine biodiversity and adaptation regarding climate change has been pointed out.

Since its foundation in 1995, IMDEDEA has encouraged an interdisciplinary investigation and forefronts in ecology, oceanography, natural systems modelling and environmental processes, consolidating itself as one of the centres of the CSIC with the most international projection in a coastal and marine environment.

Located in Esporles, the institute takes part in European projects and collaborates with public administrations, colleges and investigation centres to transfer the the scientific knowledge to the strategic decisions making in terms of sustainability and environment.