To increase the scientific knowledge about the marine and coastal areas and stimulate the Algarve students to pursue scientific studies is the great challenge that CCMAR-Algarve, the Faculty of Science and Technology (University of Algarve) and the University of Akureyri (Iceland) intend to achieve.

The BridgingAll project - funded by the EEA Grants - will create a bridge between academia and schools with the goal of improving the quality of the education system in the Algarve, from primary school to university, while promoting ocean literacy and marine science communication.

The aim is to increase the quality of science education and communication in the Algarve, promoting training courses that will contribute to raise ocean literacy and develop communication skills and competences to 3 audiences.

Science teachers will be given a career development opportunity, along with scientific and technical skills and access to up-to-date digital and multimedia resources that they can integrate into their lessons to stimulate students' interest in science. University students (masters and PhD) will be able to gain skills in outreach activities about ocean science, and the students, aged 13 to 15, will be motivated to pursue scientific studies through informal training, experimental science activities and field trips to learn about marine and ocean sciences.

The BridgingAll project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and the Directorate General of Sea Policy, Ministry of the Sea, promoted by the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve and has as partners the Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) Algarve and the University of Akureyri (Iceland).

About the EEA Grants:

Through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are partners in the internal market with the Member States of the European Union. As a means of promoting a continued and balanced strengthening of economic and trade relations, the parties to the EEA Agreement have established a multi-annual financial mechanism, known as EEA Grants. EEA Grants are aimed at reducing social and economic disparities in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations between these three countries and the beneficiary countries. For the period 2014-2021, a total contribution of €2.8 billion has been agreed for 15 beneficiary countries. Portugal will benefit from a sum of €102.7 million. Find out more at eeagrants.gov.pt