The Young Algaeneers Symposium 2023 in Portugal, joined by GreenCoLab

The Young Algaeneers Symposium (YAS) 2023, held at the Universidade do Algarve, Portugal, brought together over 150 students, researchers, and enthusiasts in the field of algae. Over the course of three eventful days, from the 09^th to the 11^th of May, participants had the opportunity to discuss the latest advancements and discoveries in this research area.

GreenCoLab, along with its associates, played an active role in the symposium. The event was joined by Hugo Pereira (GreenCoLab), João Varela (CCMAR/GreenCoLab), Victória del Pino (Allmicroalgae/Necton), Luísa Barreira (CCMAR/GreenCoLab), Jorge Dias (Sparos), Lais Speranza (GreenCoLab), and João Navalho (Necton) that participated in lectures, round table discussions and coordination working groups leaderships, contributing with their expertise, and sharing their experiences.

Furthermore, the work of several GCL students and members was showcased through a series of scientific posters by Pedro Cunha, Sofia Navalho, Gustavo Nogueira, Daniel Figueiredo, Catarina Viana, Mélissa José, Bernardo Carvalho, Maurean Guerreiro, Rafael Vitorino, Inês Guerra, covering topics like carbonation efficiency, novel strains, optimal light, cell disruption, microalgae control, contaminant detection, aquaculture, and biomass valorization.

During the event, CCMAR, Necton, and GreenCoLab had the pleasure of hosting the YAS23 participants. In the latter, attendees were given a guided tour of the Molecular Biology and Chemistry lab, Biorefinery, and Algae Culture Collection. This visit provided an opportunity for the young algaeneers to witness the research work being carried out by GreenCoLab and also understand the technologies and research methodologies employed by the organization.

YAS23 fostered a dynamic atmosphere for collaboration and idea exchange. Participants engaged in challenging Working Groups dedicated to transversal themes such as Feed/Food, Biorefinery, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Circular Economy, and more. These groups facilitated in-depth discussions, encouraging participants to share their knowledge, experiences, and innovative ideas.

Supported by the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA), the symposium provided a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among attendees.