The AIR Centre held its 2nd PhD Scholarship Annual Meeting on 24 and 25 June, welcoming 22 doctoral students from around the world as part of its international PhD Scholarships Programme. The meeting focused on assessing how each research project had progressed over the past year, giving scholars a space to present new findings, reflect on their development, and discuss the scientific directions they are now pursuing.
Funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the programme supports 3‑ to 4‑year doctoral scholarships across a wide range of disciplines, helping to build a global community of emerging ocean scientists. Research topics spanned marine litter, ocean accounting, robotics, earth observation, and data science, many of them aligned with international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and the Paris Agreement.
The programme is designed not only to advance research but also to strengthen the capacity, networks, and collaborations that underpin long‑term ocean solutions.
Students joined from countries including Brazil, Portugal, India, South Africa, Mexico, and Spain, with projects demonstrating both scientific excellence and a commitment to producing practical, policy‑relevant knowledge with impact across the Atlantic basin and beyond.
The Annual Meeting also deepened connections between the scholars, their supervisors, and the AIR Centre’s wider ecosystem. Students and supervisors engaged directly with the organisation’s thematic programmes and international partners, exploring opportunities for co‑supervision, joint research, and integration into ongoing initiatives. The progress presented over the two days underscored the growing potential for long‑term cooperation—both within the cohort and across the broader AIR Centre network.
By fostering interdisciplinary research and international collaboration, the AIR Centre PhD Programme continues to consolidate its role as a catalyst for sustainable ocean governance. The 2nd Annual Meeting reaffirmed that ambition, demonstrating not only how much has been achieved in a single year, but also how far this global community of researchers can advance together.
[PC, 26 June 2026]
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