ECOMOD latest updates
May 2025
Liège colloquium (May, 26 - May, 30)
This year’s the 56th Liège Colloquium, focused on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal. Marine-based CDR techniques are gaining attention to achieve the CO2 removal necessary for climate stabilisation. The colloquium brought together experts from diverse disciplines to discuss marine CDR approaches’ potential, feasibility, efficiency, risks, and the need for adequate monitoring and policy regulations. Arthur presented, as a co-author; a poster made by Keziah Pepiette and Sandra Arndt (ULB) exploring the response of benthic biogeochemistry to scenario of olivine enrichement, which is perceived as a technically tractable mean to enhance ocean alkalinity, and increase mare CO2 uptake.
EuroGOOS General Assembly (May, 19 - May, 21)
EuroGOOS held it’s 2025 General Assembly this 19-21 May 2025 in Helsinky. Arthur Capet took part, as co-chair of the Coastal Working Group, and to present recent analyses of the OceanPrediction Atlas. 127 European operational ocean forecasting systems are already represented!
North Sea Working Group (May, 1)
During the last EGU Conference, ECOMOD colleagues and other scientists came together to initiate the creation of a North Sea Working Group. The aim is to strengthen networking across North Sea institutes, build consortia, share data and knowledge, and develop collaborative initiatives. Stay tuned!
EGU General Assembly 2025 (Apr, 27 - May, 2)
With 2 oral presentations (by Arthur and Pauline), 1 poster, and 2 co-organized sessions, ECOMOD was well represented at this year’s EGU Conference in Vienna, Austria!
Maria’s 3-month Visit (March - May)
Maria Pedreros, originally from Chile, returned to Brussels for the second time to work with us as she finalizes the last phase of her PhD. Maria adapted the ocean-based COHERENS model to simulate how seasonal temperature variations affect Chile’s Lake Lanalhue. Despite challenges like coarse weather data and necessary lake-specific adjustments, the model successfully captured the lake’s real-life patterns of stratifying in summer and mixing in winter. Great work, Maria!
April 2025
Policy brief CLIMDIS (Apr, 30)
The Policy Brief on the use of COHERENS to model scenarios to safeguard Halong Bay waters has been released. This Policy brief, which is an outcome of the project CLIMDIS funded by BELSPO, has been designed in collaboration with CEBioS (Capacities for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development) program.
Press release of Olivier’s work (Apr, 17)
Saltmarshes are among nature’s best defenses against rising sea levels, acting as natural barriers that protect coastlines. New research shows that dense vegetation on saltmarshes makes them more vulnerable to sea level rise because the vegetation hinders sediment transport. A surprising twist, as it was believed that dense vegetation played a crucial role in helping these ecosystems survive. Check it out!
WGIPEM Annual Meeting (March, 31 - Apr, 3)
Several team members attended the WGIPEM Annual Meeting (ICES Working Group on Integrative, Physical-biological and Ecosystem Modelling). The meeting took place in Norrköping, Sweden, with most participants joining remotely. Arthur, Geneviève, and Pauline had the opportunity to present their research, leading to many interactions, insightful discussions, and potential future collaborations.
March 2025
FOCCUS General Assembly (March, 17-19)
Arthur and Florian attended the FOCCUS General Assembly at Palma de Mallorca (Spain) for the technical review of the project and scientific round tables.
SWIM Workshop (March, 6)
Pauline, Arthur and Geneviève organized the first SWIM project workshop at RBINS. Managed by Blue Cluster, the workshop brought together policymakers, industry experts, and researchers to discuss key challenges and opportunities related to regulation, tendering, and environmental permitting criteria for floating solar installations.
VLIZ Marine Science Day (March, 5)
Pauline was awarded the second prize for best oral presentation at the VLIZ Marine Science Day in Bruges, Belgium. She was elected for this by an audience of approximately 500 attendees, for her presentation Assessing the hydrodynamic impacts and carbon deposition pattern associated with floating solar structures within a Belgian offshore wind farm
February 2025
“Saviez-vous?” seminar (Feb, 21)
Leo had the opportunity to give a major presentation at the latest “Saviez-vous?” seminar at RBINS, Brussels. His talk focused on interactions between ocean currents and fish larvae, titled: “Currents and larvae: an invisible journey through the heart of the ocean.” “Saviez-vous?” is a public lecture series organized by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, offering accessible talks by researchers to share current scientific insights and discoveries with a broad audience.
Visit of Flanders Hydraulics (Feb, 4)
Olivier, Hugo, and Pauline were invited to a meeting at the Flanders Hydraulics offices in Antwerp, Belgium. This RBINS–FH meeting provided an opportunity to identify potential future collaborations. We also had the chance to visit their impressive facilities.
Policy brief SHRIMP (Feb, 3)
The Policy Brief on the challenges of sustainable management of shrimp from the Nokoué lagoon in Benin has been released. It is an outcome of the project SHRIMP funded through the CEBioS (Capacities for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development) program.
November 2024
Team building ECOMOD-SUMO (Nov, 20)
As a joint team-building activity with the SUMO team, we all went hiking in the marshes of the “Drowned Land of Saeftinghe” (NL) to explore this unique and geologically fascinating landscape. The mud didn’t get the better of us!
September 2024
ICES Annual Science Conference (Sep, 09-12)
Pauline and Arthur attended the ICES Annual Science Conference in Newcastle, UK. As part of the ECOMPV project, they both presented their research on modelling the impact of floating solar panels in the North Sea. Arthur focused on the shading and biogeochemical aspects, while Pauline presented results on the hydrodynamic impacts.
