VLIZ and LifeWatch Belgium brought together 170 marine biologists from 25 countries on EMBS53 in Ostend
From 17 to 21 September 2018, the Flanders Marine Institute and LifeWatch Belgium organized the 53rd European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS53) in Ostend, Belgium. Five days full of presentations on historical, contemporary and future marine biological research. With talks and posters divided into four major themes: 'Science in a historical perspective', 'Science in the North Sea', 'Science in the modern era' and 'Citizen Science'. An information market by marine organizations and companies, an excursion to Het Zwin or the historic city center of Bruges, and many networking moments completed the program for the 170 marine biologists from 25 countries.
EMBS53: a strong scientific programme and many networking opportunities for marine biologists. Photo: VLIZ
The general aim of the EMBS symposium series is to put European marine biological sciences in the spotlight and give it international visibility. But the goal is just as much to strengthen the network, through a strong scientific program and social side events such as excursions and the Yellow Submarine competition (playful competition between national teams).
After a first edition in 1966 in Helgoland, the EMBS was organized annually since by 20 different European countries. In 2018, VLIZ and LifeWatch Belgium put their back into the organization of the 53rd edition, 43 years after a former edition in Ostend (1975).
The scientific presentations (5 keynote speakers, 60 oral presentations and 51 posters) were concentrated in four major symposium themes: 'Science in a historical perspective', 'Science in the North Sea', 'Science in modern times' and 'Citizen Science'.
The research using the virtual biodiversity laboratory of LifeWatch was discussed extensively at the symposium, with various presentations and live demonstrations of equipment in the information market.
The scientific contributions of EMBS53 will be published in a Special Issue from JMBA (Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom) with Pascal Hablützel of VLIZ as guest editor.
Posthumous sniffing up the atmosphere of EMBS53? Watch the photo gallery on the VLIZ website, and the live reporting on Twitter @EMBSsymposium or via the hashtag #EMBS53. The programme and abstract book can be consulted via the symposium website.
In the meantime, did you become interested in participating in next editions of the European Marine Biology Symposium? In 2019 #EMBS54 will be present in Dublin, Ireland between 25 and 29 August, where themes such as 'Blue growth', 'Rapid Change', 'Fundamental bio traits' and 'Species movement' will be dealt with. In 2020 #EMBS55 will go to Gdansk (Poland), and in 2021 #EMBS56 to Bilbao (Spain). Note them in your agenda and keep an eye on the social media channels of the @EMBSsymposium for more news!
