The book «Mar Português», a book published by the University of Algarve (UAlg) and which brings together the communications made at a meeting promoted by the Algarve Higher Education Institution on Dia do Mar in 2011, was launched this Wednesday in Lisbon, in a session that took place at the Pavilion of Knowledge.
About a year ago, the meeting dedicated to the Sea of UAlg brought together experts in the most diverse areas around the theme «Knowledge, Valorization and Development» of the Portuguese Sea and was a contribution of the Algarve academy to the dynamization of the Economy of the Sea and the creation of a cluster in the region in this economic sector.
The book presentation session, in charge of the administrator of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Emílio Rui Vilar, was chaired by the rector of the University of Algarve João Guerreiro and was attended by the president of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities António Rendas.
According to a statement from the University of Algarve, João Guerreiro considered, at the time, that «although there is a colossal agitation around the sea, this almost frantic activity often lacks orientation, lacks coherence, avoids concertation, inhibits partnership and, for all these reasons, it does not reflect or impose a national strategy».
Hence the promotion, first, of the meeting dedicated to the Sea and, now, the launch of this work. For João Guerreiro, this is a «field in which the approximation of companies, research laboratories, universities and administration could give better results and catapult the exploration and valorization of the resources and services provided by the Sea towards a national objective».
For Rui Vilar, this book «opens the way for the enormous economic potential of the Sea». The administrator of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation highlighted the parallel between the work now presented and the book launched in 2010 «Public Policies of the Sea», of which he is co-author. For Rui Vilar, both books reflect «the same concerns» and try to «overcome this apparent enigma and paradox that has to do with Portugal's relationship with the Sea».
The book presentation session was attended by several members of the Government, including the minister of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning Assunção Cristas.
As part of the Science and Technology Week 2012, organized by the Ciência Viva National Agency, this initiative also had the participation of renowned experts, including Mário Ruivo, president of the National Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CNADS) and some Members of the Assembly of the Republic.
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