Last Saturday, 27 June, , the “One Health Aboard the Santa Maria Manuela” event brought together researchers and experts to discuss the importance of the One Health approach.
The event, promoted by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) and the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), also marked the official launch of the book “One Health: Science Aboard the Santa Maria Manuela.”
The publication stems from a scientific expedition carried out in June 2024 aboard the historic sailing vessel Santa Maria Manuela, off the Portuguese coast. Organised under the One Health framework and promoted by the Montenegro Veterinary Hospital, the expedition brought together researchers from diverse scientific disciplines to better understand how the health of the Ocean, animals and people is fundamentally interconnected.
The book bridges maritime heritage and scientific research, and encompasses contributions from researchers from CIIMAR, namely, Mafalda Correia, Luís Afonso, Maria de Fátima Carvalho, Mariana Girão, Luís R. Vieira, Paulo Vaz-Pires, Francisco Arenas and Catarina Magalhães. It also includes chapters by researchers from ICBAS, the Maritime Museum of Ílhavo, and Dr Luís Montenegro, Director of the Montenegro Veterinary Hospital and sponsor of the expedition.
The publication explores marine biodiversity conservation, microplastic pollution, food safety and the impacts of climate change. The authors demonstrate how the One Health concept provides an integrated framework for addressing the environmental and public health challenges of the 21st century.
The book will soon be available at CIIMAR and ICBAS.
