OUR MISSION
THE ESSENCE OF OKEANOS

Welcoming message

The Institute of Marine Sciences – OKEANOS, located in the city of Horta, Faial Island, is a recent research unit which heir more than 40 years of both applied and fundamental marine research conducted in the Azores by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) of the University of the Azores.

The Institute hosts more than 150 members including senior, mid-carrier and junior scientists, technicians, students, and other collaborators. OKEANOS benefits from different facilities and resources such as laboratories, scientific equipment, sea-going platforms, and established throughout the years a wide international network of scientific collaborations.

Our research focuses on the deep sea, open ocean, and insular coastal ecosystems, and spans from microorganisms to the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale. We enhance understanding of species and ecosystem resilience to global changes and anthropogenic pressures, promote blue growth opportunities, and develop new technologies for research. Our work also informs ocean governance and conservation policies and contributes to graduate and advanced masters and doctoral courses in ocean sciences.

The dissemination of scientific knowledge to the public at large is also a key element of our strategy. Therefore, I invite you to get to know our team, our activities, initiatives, and achievements, and navigate through our research projects.