The investment will serve to acquire new strategic capabilities such as the analysis of toxic elements or the use of isotopes for particle traceability.
The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) of Barcelona will allocate more than 200,000 euros to the purchase of scientific equipment aimed at acquiring new strategic capabilities such as the analysis of toxic elements such as mercury or the use of isotopes for the traceability of particles present in the water column.
Specifically, the funds, from the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation of the Spanish Research Agency, will be used to purchase an atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer to measure the concentration of mercury in oceanic waters, where it is usually very low.
The center will also purchase a pump capable of filtering, in situ and at depths of up to 5,000 meters, hundreds of liters of water every hour and analyzing, through the use of isotopes, the carbon content, microorganisms and contaminating particles present, such as microplastics.
Finally, an epifluorescence microscope will be acquired that incorporates, in addition to the classic microscopy techniques, differential interference contrast (Nomarski), which makes it possible to obtain images with a "3D" optical effect. This instrument will be equipped with high quality objectives, a high resolution micro-camera and an anti-vibration optical table, which will make it possible to obtain high quality images and videos.
The equipment selection has taken into account scientific relevance and the added value they can bring to the research carried out at the ICM-CSIC. Likewise, the center has opted to reinforce the equipment most used by the staff, both from the center and from outside, including other research centers and universities.
The funding of the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation is aimed at acquiring new technical capabilities to open new emerging lines of research. The ICM-CSIC was recognized with this distinction in 2020, becoming the first Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence in the field of marine research.
The accreditation, which is valid for four years and involves funding of four million euros, recognizes the excellence and scientific contributions of research centers on a national and international scale, their social and business impact, and their ability to attract talent.
Among its objectives is to finance and distinguish public research centers and units that have highly competitive, cutting-edge research programs and are among the best in the world in their respective scientific areas.