Browsing by Author "Pinto, Bruno"
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- Bioremediation of drainwater from soilless cultivation by Tetradesmus obliquus and Raphidonema monicae: growth performance and biochemical composition from lab to industrial scalePublication . Maia, Inês Beatriz; Pinto, Bruno; Carneiro, Mariana; Konucu, Merve; Schulze, Peter S.C.; Santos, Tamara; Rodrigues, Alexandre M.C.; Esteves Lopes Navalho, João Carlos; Costa, Monya; Pereira, Hugo; Varela, JoãoTo meet the demands of the growing population, agricultural practices have been increasing and putting a strain on land and freshwater usage. Soilless agriculture has emerged as a more sustainable practice to mitigate this issue but still generates nutrient-rich drainwater that can harm the environment if not properly managed. In this context, this study explores a circular economy approach to reuse the drainwater of soilless farming as a culture medium for microalgae production. For this, the growth performance of four strains, Chlorella sp., Nannochloropsis limnetica, Raphidonema monicae and Tetradesmus obliquus, was assessed using drainwater under summer and winter conditions at lab-scale. Based on productivity, protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contents, T. obliquus and R. monicae were selected for comparison in pilot-scale flat-panel photobioreactors (FP-PBR) and raceway ponds (RW). T. obliquus presented significantly higher growth in FP-PBR (0.11 g L-1 d(-1)) compared to RW (0.09 g L-1 d(-1)), with complete nitrate removal in both systems. R. monicae showed similar growth across systems, removing 19 % of nitrate in FP-PBR and 56 % in RW. Principal component analysis indicated species-specific traits drive biochemical profiles, with limited influence from the cultivation system. Both species were cultivated in 19-m(3) tubular photobioreactors, with improved productivities (T. obliquus with 0.23 g L-1 d(-1) and R. monicae with 0.13 g L-1 d(-1)) until stationary phase or legal nitrate limits, yielding about 20 kg of dry weight each. The biomass produced in drainwater was biochemically characterized, showing it was rich in proteins (>30 %), PUFA (>55 %) and phenolics, highlighting their potential application in various sectors, including aquaculture and agriculture. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of these strains for drainwater treatment, promoting a circular economy by converting waste into valuable biomass.
- European journalists and the sea: Contexts, motivations, and difficultiesPublication . Pinto, Bruno; Matias, AnaThe media play an important role in informing us about new developments in our understanding of the sea and raising awareness about its sustainability. However, press coverage of marine issues seems to be modest, compared with the importance oceans have in our lives. In this study, we examine science journalists’ working contexts, motivations, and difficulties in writing about the sea in Europe. We conducted semi structured interviews with 26 journalists who write for quality newspapers from 13 European countries. We found that the recent production of press news on marine issues is mainly conditioned by working contexts in newspapers, the personal and professional interests of journalists, and the available resources to write news. More studies are needed to compare our findings, including with other regions outside Europe.
- How European journalists cover marine issuesPublication . Pinto, Bruno; Matias, AnaKeeping citizens informed about the sea is important because it can motivate collective actions to address threats to coastal and marine sustainability. In this article, we wondered how European science and environmental journalists cover marine issues in the print media. We conducted 26 interviews with press journalists in 13 European countries and asked about topics, triggers, and sources to write marine-related news. We found that climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity are the most important issues and that good working relationships with both scientists and NGOs are key for this media coverage.
- Insights into the public engagement of coastal geoscientistsPublication . Matias, Ana; Pinto, Bruno; Areia, Neide P.; Carrasco, RitaThe scientific field of coastal geoscience and engineering addresses crucial issues such as coastal evolution, the impacts of sea level rise, and effective coastal management. These concerns have become increasingly relevant in the current global scenario marked by socio-demographic development along coastal areas facing the effects of climate change. Furthermore, communication by scientists/engineers in this field can contribute to informed participatory decision-making. The objectives of this study were to gain insights into the science engagement of coastal geoscientists and engineers by examining international science communication practices, target audiences, motivations, and barriers. An online questionnaire directed at geoscientists/engineers was used to collect socio-demographic data and experts' perspectives and practices on this communication. The analysis of 133 valid responses, primarily from Europe, North America, and Oceania, revealed that nearly all participants (95 %) actively engage in public communication. For most analysed aspects, differences in opinion according to gender, age, and professional category were not significant. A preference was observed for direct interaction with audiences (e.g., lectures) over indirect ways of communicating (e.g., media), with a focus on coastal risk (75 %) and climate change impacts (69 %). The public sector (e.g., municipalities) and school students were the preferred audiences. These findings align with the prevalent altruistic motives pointed out by respondents: to engage with society (76 %) and to help citizens make informed decisions (68 %). While the present research provides valuable insights, further studies are necessary to delve deeper into the analysis and further enhance our understanding of this important interconnection between coastal experts and society.
- Measuring the effectiveness of communication of a podcast on food sustainabilityPublication . Pinto, Bruno; Matias, Ana; Granado, AntónioIn this study, the effectiveness of communication of a podcast was assessed regarding the variables knowledge retention and interest. Two podcast episodes were produced about Portuguese research in sustainable food, and two news pieces with similar information and reading times were written to be used as a control for this experiment. Initially, 115 students from two universities in Lisbon filled in an online pre-test questionnaire. One week later, 102 students from those 115 students initially assessed listened to one podcast or read one news piece and completed an online post-test questionnaire. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in the knowledge retention in both media and no significant differences in what concerns interest on food sustainability or science. Moreover, it was found that there were no significant differences between the two tested media in both the knowledge retention and interest. Nevertheless, the recent popularity of podcasts may justify its production as a new and flexible way to communicate science.