The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) actively contributes to three of CSIC’s strategic networks to tackle global ocean challenges, further reinforcing its leadership in marine research.
The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) has strengthened its position as a leading center in marine research through its prominent involvement in three strategic networks of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC): the POLARCSIC Connection, focused on polar science; the MICROBIOMA Connection, centered on the study of microbiomes; and the GEOSCIENCES Connection, aimed at addressing planetary challenges through Earth sciences. These networks foster collaborative and interdisciplinary structures to tackle complex global issues.
Polar science for a changing planet
The POLARCSIC Connection, coordinated by María Gema Llorens (GEO3BCN-CSIC) and Ricardo León (IGME-CSIC), brings together 131 members from 23 CSIC centers. Its goal is to generate knowledge on the impact of global warming in the Arctic and Antarctic, anticipate future scenarios, and strengthen CSIC’s international role in polar science.
ICM-CSIC has a strong presence in this network. Microbial ecologist Dolors Vaqué, a member of the executive committee and co-coordinator of the outreach, training, and education working group, highlights that POLARCSIC “enables us to build a cross-cutting structure focused on polar regions, which are key to addressing global environmental challenges.”
Blanca Figuerola, a specialist in polar benthic ecology, co-coordinates the working group on risks and hazards and acts as a liaison with the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS). In particular, she co-leads the node on Ocean Acidification (SO-OA), which promotes the improvement of observational practices, the contribution of data to global networks such as GOA-ON, and the link between science and conservation policy to protect the marine ecosystems of this region particularly vulnerable to acidification.
“As part of the risks and hazards group, we promote a multidisciplinary approach to identify emerging threats in polar ecosystems. Furthermore, our connection with SOOS positions ICM-CSIC as a key node in polar observation,” Figuerola notes.
POLARCSIC also promotes training through workshops, internships, mentorship programs, and annual meetings, and it will produce policy reports to align science with decision-making.
Joining forces in microbiome research
The MICROBIOMA Connection aims to coordinate microbiome research currently spread across various CSIC centers. With over 80 researchers from 45 institutes, this network aspires to make CSIC a national and international benchmark in this field.
Researchers Victoria Moreno (CIAL-CSIC) and Ramiro Logares (ICM-CSIC) lead the network. From ICM-CSIC, key initiatives will be led, such as integrating marine microbial time series into the new MICROBIOMA-CSIC Catalogue. In addition, the connection with international infrastructures such as MIRRI-ERIC will be strengthened.
“Our challenge is to coordinate researchers working on diverse microbiomes within CSIC, enhancing synergies and interdisciplinary science. From ICM-CSIC, we contribute our expertise in marine microbiomes and time series, which are essential to understanding changes in the oceans,” says Logares.
The MICROBIOMA Connection also promotes training, mobility, mentoring, scientific events, and participation in European calls. It fosters knowledge transfer through initiatives such as the Cicerón Program and the development of policy reports.
As part of its international outreach, the MICROBIOMA Connection will sponsor the SAME18 conference, a key event in aquatic microbial ecology to be held in Barcelona in fall 2025.
Towards a Planetary Perspective
Approved in a previous call (2023), the GEOSCIENCES Connection aims to provide this discipline with a collaborative structure among science, administration, businesses, and citizens to tackle challenges such as climate change, geological risks, and other planetary crises. It brings together more than 300 researchers from 19 CSIC centers.
ICM-CSIC is one of the centers with the highest participation in this network, with staff involved in groups focused on environmental crises and geological hazards, as well as committees on infrastructure, repositories, and outreach.
Eva Calvo, researcher at ICM-CSIC and member of the executive committee, highlights “the wide range of activities carried out over the past two years, from mobility programs and a traveling exhibition to collaboration and foresight workshops.”
Finally, as part of this connection, ICM-CSIC is preparing a report for public administrations to improve evidence-based decision-making, as well as a Cicerón itinerary scheduled for the end of the year.