Origins
The seed of the Aquatic Macrophyte Ecology Group would be sown around the year 2000. For the study of long-term organic carbon accumulation in sediments of Posidonia oceanicaIt was necessary to develop a sampling technique (borings) feasible in shallow waters. Using a lightweight floating platform, with a rotary-percussion drilling system and a lot of motivation, we achieved our goal by obtaining a 5-metre-long sediment core in Portlligat Bay, Girona. The sediment sequence obtained proved to have excellent chrono-stratigraphic coherence, which indicated great potential of these soils for (1) the study of the long-term dynamics of carbon accumulation and other associated elements, and (2) for their use as a palaeoecological archive for the entire Holocene. The 2000 core or “Core 2000” is already legendary in our group.
Mission and vision
The main objective of GAME is to provide quality knowledge and contribute to raising awareness of the key role that macrophyte-dominated coastal ecosystems play in the resilience of this very fragile area of our planet: the boundary between the Terrestrial ecosystems and coastlines. To this end, we conduct experiments in mesocosms and in situ, and apply environmental paleo-reconstruction techniques in order to determine which natural and anthropogenic factors are behind the changes we observe in ecosystems.
To best fulfil this mission, we believe in the need to let science happen naturally, driven by curiosity and passion, avoiding science dictated by trends or opportunism. Nature is complex; complexity requires time to be absorbed. Scientists need time to think (http://slow-science.org/At the same time, scientists are human beings with the same goal as anyone else: to enjoy life. "Research should be a game, as only by playing are we happy."Ramon Margalef 1984). Science is our game (GAME).
Team
The people at GAME share a passion for nature. Always eager to learn and discover, committed to the rigour demanded by honest scientific research. We see collaboration with other groups from anywhere in the world as a necessity. And we enjoy it. GAME has no borders and makes no distinctions based on race, gender, or any other condition.
Our Centre
GAME is headquartered at the Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The centre is surrounded by nature, about 5 minutes from one of the most beautiful coves on the Costa Brava. The CEAB is a community made up of around 100 people, including permanent research staff, technical and administrative personnel, students (from high school to doctoral candidates), post-docs, and visiting researchers. It is a very active and close-knit community, whose size provides the critical mass necessary to foster rich multidisciplinary discussions, while maintaining a strong sense of group cohesion. More about us.
Some numbers
The GAME team typically consists of around ten active members and more than 20 collaborators, both national and international. Portugal, Italy, France, the Netherlands, England (Wales), Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Croatia, Malta, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Kenya, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the USA, and Australia are the main countries with which our team collaborates (or has collaborated in the past) in scientific or training activities.
Among all the members of GAME, around 200 international conferences have been held, approximately 600 articles have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, which have received around 10,000 citations and resulted in an h-index of 60.
Training
In our group, we place great importance on fostering scientific vocations among those who collaborate or work with us. Since its inception, our group has trained dozens of students from around the world, including more than 20 Doctoral Theses, over 60 Master’s Theses, as well as countless undergraduate final projects, university internships, or work placements. Check the options!
Since its inception in the year 2000, GAME has included numerous professionals in its team and has fostered collaborations and projects among research groups worldwide. Currently, GAME has a team of environmental professionals specialised in various fields, which allows the group to have a broad and generous perspective on the concepts and projects carried out.
