Last August, the average temperature of all oceans broke all records, according to a report from the European Copernicus program, reaching the worrying figure of 20.96 °C. To protect the marine environment, undoubtedly one of the most threatened, it is necessary, among other measures, to dedicate time and resources to research. Along these lines, there are many large companies that are committed to doing their bit by supporting the work of researchers, as is the case of Banco Sabadell with the Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Marine Sustainability. This year the winner has been Elena Ojea, researcher at the Mariña Research Center (CIM) of the University of Vigo and leader of the Future Oceans Lab group, for her work in the adaptation and transformation of marine socio-ecological systems and in the evaluation of vulnerability and risks to climate change.
The award jury, chaired by Dr. Isabel Cacho, has valued the holistic perspective of the work carried out by Elena Ojea, in which she integrates “not only ecosystem aspects of marine sustainability, but also the more social aspect, emphasizing the vision of justice and equity and including the gender perspective.” The jury has also highlighted Dr. Ojea's role in international panels such as the IPCC, the FAO and the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy in which her contributions to advising new policies in the international sphere have been “highly valued.” Elena Ojea's research is dedicated to adaptive solutions for marine socio-ecological systems, which allow sustainable resource management, social equity and care for ways of life linked to the sea.
Its line explores to what extent and for what reasons communities dependent on the marine environment, such as artisanal fishermen, and conservation instruments, such as marine protected areas, are capable of responding to the impacts of climate change. In his work he combines the use of risk indices, socio-ecological network analysis and statistical models of human behavior to identify adaptation and transformation strategies in marine systems. “I am motivated to contribute to the urgent change that we as a society have to make by putting a stop to climate change, and taking advantage of the opportunity to adapt in a socially fair and inclusive way.
We are at the critical moment to wake up and be able to leave a sustainable marine legacy for the little ones.” explained Dr. Ojea, leader of the Future Oceans Lab group at the Mariña Research Center (CIM) of the University of Vigo, focuses her research on sustainable resource management, social equity and care for lifestyles. linked to the sea Dr. Ojea, who added that receiving this award makes her especially excited because it means “being recognized by a scientific community that I deeply admire. “I am excited to know that I am part of a great collective effort that is impacting the sustainability of the oceans.”
The Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Marine Sustainability was created in 2022 with the aim of encouraging and recognizing the work of Spanish scientists in the field of regeneration of the marine environment, as well as in the sustainable exploitation of its resources, and specifically, those investigations that show tangible evidence of its applicability and incidence. The award is part, along with the awards for Economic Research, Biomedical Research and Sciences and Engineering, of the Banco Sabadell Foundation's commitment to promoting research and education, with special interest in promoting young talent.
This award is also part of the ESG action framework, the Sabadell Sustainable Commitment, which seeks to promote transformation actions that contribute to sustainable development and the fight against climate change. Josep Oliu, president of Banco Sabadell, will present the award on November 15 at an event held in Vigo. The Banco Sabadell Foundation, created in 1994 as an expression of Banco Sabadell's commitment to the progress and well-being of people, has the mission of promoting culture and the arts, research and education.
