Save the Date: 9th Fortaleza Spring School 2026 LABOMAR UFC

From September 14 to 18, 2026, the Institute of Marine Sciences (LABOMAR) at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) hosts this edition of the Fortaleza-Austral Spring School, dedicated to the urgent theme of "Coastal Management and Vulnerability." Bringing together leading researchers from Brazil, Costa Rica, Portugal, Spain, Colombia, Angola, and beyond, the program offers a rich blend of keynote lectures, roundtable debates, hands-on mini-courses, and student-led project workshops. Participants will explore topics ranging from nature-based solutions and mangrove valuation to governance, citizen science, and climate adaptation. The school aims to foster critical thinking, cross-national collaboration, and practical skills for addressing the growing pressures on coastal ecosystems. We invite all attendees to engage actively, share knowledge, and contribute to building more resilient and sustainable coastal futures.

>> Join the 9th Fortaleza Spring School 2026 LABOMAR UFC <<

PROGRAMME

14 September (Monday)

8:30 – Opening table
Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the PRPPG, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Prointer, Coordinator of the PPGGEO and Coordinator of the PPGCMT, Director of Labomar, and Event Coordinator

9:00 – Opening lecture
Degraded Natural Barriers and Accelerated Erosion in the Costa Rican Caribbean: Possible Limits to Nature-Based Solutions? 
Prof. Gustavo Barrametes (Universidad Nacional), Costa Rica

Lectures
10:00 – When the Beach Runs Out of Room: Carrying Capacity and Coastal Vulnerability
Prof. Carlos Pereira da Silva (University Nova of Lisboa), Portugal

11:00 – On the value of mangrove intangible assets
Prof. Tallita Tavares (PPGCMT/UFC), Brazil

12:00–14:20 – Lunch

14:30–16:30 – Round table

Moderator: Sergio Rossi

Participants:
Jader de Oliveira Santos- PPGGeografia/UFC
Carlos Teixeira – PPGCMT/UFC
Kamila Vieira – PPGCMT/UFC
Maria Cristina de Sousa Paula – Chair of the Fishermen’s Community/Z8 Community

15 September (Tuesday)

Lectures
9:00 – Biological control on the marine carbonate cycle
Prof. Patrizia Ziveri (ICREA/ICTA-UAB), Spain

10:00 – From Coastal Vulnerability to Evidence-Based Management: Linking Risk, Coastal Health and Governance
Nelson Rangel-Buitrago (Universidade do Atlântido), Colombia

11:00 – Coastal Risks and the Impacts of Climate Change in São Paulo, Brazil: What to do and What not to do?
Celia Regina de Gouveia Souza (Instituto de São Paulo/USP), Brazil

12:00-14:20 – Lunch

14:30–16:30 – Round table

Moderator: Sergio Rossi

Participants:
Iran Lima Neto (PPGDEHA – UFC)
Jorge Botero (PPGCMT-UFC)
Rivelino Martins Cavalcante (PPGCMT-UFC)
Antonio Geraldo Ferreira (PPGCMT-UFC)

16 September (Wednesday)

Lectures

9:00 – Climate Change and Coastal Vulnerability in the African Semi-Arid Region: An Integrated Approach to the Catumbela River Catchment, Angola 
Khokhy Sefo Maria Barros (Universidade Agostinho Neto FCN-UAN) - Angola

10:00 – Beach Squeeze: socio-environmental pressure on beaches in Brazil and around the world
Vanda Claudino Sales (Universidade Federal de Pelotas- Presidente da Associação Brasileira de Geografia Física), Brazil

11:00 – Coastal Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil)
Prof. Thaís Baptista da Rocha (Universidade Federal Fluminense-UFF), Brazil

12:00-14:20 – Lunch

14:30 – 17:00 – Proposals and project work by students on the event’s theme

17 September (Thursday)

9:00-12:00: Mini-course on coastal vulnerability
Gustavo Barramantes

12:00-14:20 – Lunch

14:30–17:00 – Case Study – Afternoon Session "Citizen Science and Ocean Literacy as Allies in Coastal Management"
Drs Eduardo Lacerda Barros (LGCO/UECE) and Renan Guerra (Escola Azul Program – City of Fortaleza)

18 September (Friday)

9:00-12:00 – Presentation of the students’ proposals, awards ceremony and closing ceremony