The new degree of Marine Sciences is open

Last Wednesday, September 23th, the Faculty of Geology of the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) hosted the opening ceremony of the new degree of Marine Sciences, given with the collaboration of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Albert Palanques, director of ICM, participated at the event, together with Carles Pedrós Alió, researcher at the Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, who gave the inaugural lecture "The ocean: a microbial ecosystem."

In his lecture, Carles Pedrós Alió highlighted the crucial role of microorganisms in the functioning of ecosystems in general, and more particularly, in marine ones. These beings colonize all the environments in the planet, even those with the most extreme conditions such as the hydrothermal vents.

In the oceans, microbes are the basis of the trophic networks (the feeding relationships between species) are structured. Now, the new genomic tools and technologies allow to increase the knowledge around the enormous diversity of these organisms, their role in the functioning of ecosystems. In turn, this knowledge represents a source of potential applications in areas such as pharmacology, and biotechnology Bioremediation.

The new grade of Marine Sciences is promoted by the faculties of Biology and Geology of the UB, it is organized in four courses, with a total of 240 credits, and provides access to sixty new students each course. Biology, marine geology and ecology comprise the main subjects of the studies, yet the degree also has a multidisciplinary character so that students not only receive training in scientific areas but also in other sea-related disciplines, such as laws and economy.

Source: Universitat de Barcelona