This week, the AIR Centre participated in the European Cetacean Society (ECS) Annual Conference 2026, held from 22 to 24 April in Dundee, Scotland, one of the leading gatherings for cetacean research and conservation in Europe.
At the conference, Andrea Giusti, researcher from AIR Centre's Space Systems and Applications Programme, presented the poster "Detecting Whales from Space in Meter-Class Satellite Imagery to Enable Scalable Monitoring and Ship-Strike Mitigation." The presentation showcased the ongoing work on the use of satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to support whale detection and reduce ship-strike risk in key marine regions of the Azores and the Canary Islands.
This research is being developed within the Atlantic Whale Deal project, which aims to advance innovative technologies and foster transnational cooperation for whale protection. Bringing together science, technology, and end-user needs, the project focuses on improving whale detection capabilities, developing risk maps for ship-whale collisions, and supporting more effective marine conservation actions across the Atlantic.
The ECS Annual Conference provided a valuable platform to engage with the broader cetacean research community and contribute to the growing conversation around scalable, technology-driven approaches to marine biodiversity monitoring.
Event
calendar_today July 17, 2026
The AIR Centre took part in the Portuguese Science Summit Innovation 2026, held on 15–16 July at the Lisbon Convention Center, marking the first major event organised by Portugal’s newly established Agency for Research and Innovation (AI²).
Innovation
calendar_today July 16, 2026
On 15 July 2026, the AIR Centre took part in the official visit of Brazil’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, marking the formal launch of the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) Office in Lisbon. The new office is located in the same building that also hosts ApexBrasil, Embratur and Sebrae, reinforcing Brazil’s institutional presence in Portugal and expanding opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
Collaboration
calendar_today July 9, 2026
On 2 July, the AIR Centre hosted a meeting at its Lisbon office with the Comendador Anthony Bailey, Honourable Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic. The discussion brought together AIR Centre Executive Director Miguel Miranda, Deputy Executive Director Mafalda Carapuço, and researcher Ana Faria, marking the beginning of a promising dialogue between the two nations.