On 30 October, 2025, Rafaela Carriel – a second-year student of the EU-CONEXUS Joint Master in Marine Biotechnology (JMPMB), took part in an Academic Research Integration (ARI) mobility at UTCB. During this visit, she participated in the EX-AQUA Workshop “Advancing algae aquaculture: innovative pathways for the Black Sea region”, hosted by the National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa” in the city of Constanţa.
The workshop – an in-person satellite event of the Annual Common Maritime Agenda Stakeholder Conference – brought together researchers, industry representatives, and policymakers, aiming to strengthen a collaborative, future-orientated algae aquaculture ecosystem in the Black Sea. The programme featured sessions on scalable farming and offshore cultivation, progress on the EX-AQUA roadmap, industrial applications (food, aqua feed, biofuels, pharmaceuticals), and an industry roundtable on competitiveness, followed by a guided visit to NIMRD facilities.
Rafaela’s mobility aligns with the aims and structure of the EU-CONEXUS JMPMB – an integrated, multidisciplinary Master’s within a transnational European university alliance. The programme provides rigorous interdisciplinary training in marine (blue) biotechnology, offering specialisation through four thematic tracks: Innovative Bioproducts for the Future, Blue Biomass, Marine Biorefinery, and Aquaculture Biotechnology. It also includes tailored components such as professional practice (internship), the ARI, and the master’s thesis – all delivered within a mobility-based study pathway across alliance institutions.
EU-CONEXUS commends Ms Carriel for her engagement in this international setting. Her participation illustrates how academic mobility consolidates the nexus between research, education and the challenges of the blue economy, particularly in emerging domains such as algae aquaculture for sustainable regional development.
Congratulations to Ms Carriel on her contribution and commitment to advancing a sustainable marine sector.
More info about the event.
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