This week, our colleague Sabiha Akter successfully defended her PhD entitled "Getting A Burn-Out: How Heatwave Impact Eutrophic Freshwater ecosystem". Congratulations, Dr. Sabiha Akter 🎉

🌱How can we boost mangrove restoration success? In the MESODROME tidal flume, our researchers Dr. Ken Schoutens and Dr. Ignace Pelckmans are exploring how planting density affects seedling stability under hydrodynamic stress... all while the warm weather set the perfect mood ☀️

💧Floods one year, drought the next: Flanders drains too much water. With 70,000 km of ditches, even one poorly placed can dry out a valley, emphasise Prof. Jan Staes and Dr. Dirk Vrebos. Read the full article here (in Dutch):

🌍ECOSPHERE was present at Society for Experimental Biology in Antwerp! 🔬Our #PhDs presented their innovative #research with poster and platform presentations. 🎉Special congratulations to @GudrunDeboeck for stepping in as the new President of the SEB! @SEBiology #UAntwerp

Last week, our colleague Dorian Bas successfully defended her PhD entitled "Multiscale assessment of microphytobenthic biomass and functioning along an estuarine gradient using remote sensing". Congratulations, Dr. Dorian Bas 🎉

This week, our colleague Maede Gazor successfully defended her PhD entitled "Intertidal Areas as Accommodation Space for Suspended Sediments Case Study: Scheldt Estuary". Congratulations, Dr. Maede Gazor 🎉

🌍 In Damme (Belgium), our research group with Prof. @Patrick_Meire is using world-first sensors to study how landscapes retain water. A promising step toward smarter #drought management and #climate resilience. 👉 (in Dutch) https://t.co/nhcbSvlj5z #Science #Innovation

This week, our colleague @april_opinion successfully defended her PhD entitled "Chronic stress-induced cardiac remodelling in salmonids and its influence on organismal performance". Congratulations, Dr. April Grace Opinion 🎉

🌊 Prof. @GudrunDeboeck spoke to VTM News about the urgent need for global action to protect our ocean with the UN Oceans Conference in Nice nearing. 💙 Let’s turn words into action, the ocean can’t wait. 📺 Interview (in Dutch) 👇

🌊🪸 Coral reefs may be more resilient to climate change than we thought, says Prof. De Boeck. But this is no reason for false confidence — without major CO₂ cuts, the risk remains high! 🔗Read the full interview in Dutch here:

Happy World Environment Day! 🌍🌊🐟 #WorldEnvironmentDay #research #environment

Full link here:

🌎 Prof. Jan Staes warns of rising water insecurity as extreme droughts and downpours alternate unpredictably. Nature-based solutions are key, but budget cuts threaten progress. Read the full article: Belgium's water 'roulette': Extreme weather complicates water resilience

🐟 In an interview on VRT's Nieuwe Feiten, Prof. @GudrunDeboeck discussed how overfishing is affecting herring populations, not only in terms of numbers but also their ability to remember. 🔊Listen to the interview here: https://t.co/NMKpoFAQI0 #MarineScience #Overfishing

🌎 ECOSPHERE was at SETAC in Vienna, Austria! 🔬#PhD and #postdoctoral fellows presented their #research with platform and poster presentations!

For more information:

📢 PhD opportunity to study carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas balance across different types of tidal and non-tidal wetland restoration projects located in the Scheldt river basin. Interested? Deadline: June 1, 2025

👉 https://t.co/dHF6AJc9XH #wolhandkrab #vissen #natuur 2/2

🦀 De Chinese wolhandkrab veroorzaakt nog steeds overlast in Vlaanderen. Om de impact op hobbyvissers beter te begrijpen, loopt er nu een enquête vanuit Universiteit Antwerpen. Ben jij hengelaar of ken je hangelaars? Help mee door de enquête in te vullen of te delen! 1/2

🌊 84% of the world's reefs are experiencing coral bleaching. Prof. Dr. @GudrunDeboeck explains the impact on ecosystems on @vrtnws (Dutch) 🎥 More details in the @dailyguardianph (English) 📰 https://t.co/1nbX8gepwk #ClimateCrisis #CoralBleaching #MarineScience #VRT #Research