About the Talk: Macrophages, traditionally known as chief defenders of our body, play essential roles in tissue repair. Because their phenotype is highly plastic, it may be feasible to regulate their functions and harness their power to aid tissue regeneration. Inspired by microbial signals, our team have devised a series of glucomannan polymers in various […]

About the Talk: Telomeres, the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, shorten at each cell division contributing to aging. When reaching a critical length, they trigger DNA damage responses and p53-dependent cell cycle arrest, culminating in apoptosis or senescence. Telomere shortening is counteracted by telomorase (TERT). Our group has previously characterized the zebrafish telomerase mutant (tert) and […]

About the Talk: For adapting to changes in the environment, animals change behavioral strategies and switch between states. For example, when a behavior repeatedly fails to achieve its goal, animals often give up and become passive, which can be strategic for preserving energy or regrouping between attempts. This transition requires a joint effort from the […]

WORKSHOP: NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS IN CITIESThis workshop will be delivered within the context of the project “Nature-based solutions for a cleaner and safer Macao” implemented by the Institute of Science and Environment at USJ and supported by the Drop by Drop Project, Clean the World Foundation and Las Vegas Sands. Workshop framework The increase of population […]

About the Talk: Caenorhabditis elegans is a ~1 mm roundworm found in decomposing organic materials in nature. Its adoption as a model organism in the modern research laboratory has led to fundamental discoveries in biological processes important to all metazoan species including development, control of transcription, and aging. The seminar will present basic aspects of […]

About the Talk There is now overwhelming evidence that anthropogenic activities are increasingly altering the planet climate, driving oceans towards irreversible ecological transformations. These changes are expected to challenge many marine organisms across multiple levels of biological organization. In this talk I will present how seahorses are affected by these environmental changes. Although seahorses are […]

About the Talk: Granites are the most abundant rocks in the continental crust, which makes their study essential to understand the origin and evolution of this terrestrial reservoir. The large crystals in granites are evidence that they cooled slowly from a magma beneath Earth’s surface. However, the erosion of the overlying sedimentary rocks through geological […]

About the Talk: Anthropogenic noise is creating a serious hazard to the auditory system of animals including humans. However, very limited information is known on this global environmental pollutant affects auditory function and inner ear receptors in early ontogeny. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a valuable model in hearing research, including investigation regarding developmental processes […]

About the talk This talk will provide an introduction to insects and their role in Macao’s ecosystem. Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on Earth, with around 1 million species discovered. In Macao, almost 1,200 insect species have been recorded with some endemic species. Insects are an essential group due to their biomass […]

(Online) Lecture The Benefits Provided by Urban Mangroves By Dr. Daniel Friess   Organised by the Institute of Science and Environment Tuesday, 10 November 2020   05:00 PM Online (ZOOM) About the talk Mangrove forests are now well known to provide a range of benefits, or ecosystem services to human populations. These are varied, and include fisheries, medicinal […]

(Online) Lecture Mangrove Rehabilitation and Conservation  in the Philippines By Dr. Jurgenne Primavera   Organised by the Institute of Science and Environment Tuesday, 29 September 2020   05:00 PM Online (ZOOM)     About the talk Among the many and diverse ecosystem services of mangroves, coastal protection and carbon sequestration place them in the forefront of Climate Change adaptation […]

Mangrove forests are one of the most valuable ecosystems on earth and an important natural coastal treasure. They protect our coastlines from rising sea levels and extreme weather events, help mitigate climate change, improve coastal water quality, and host a wide variety of flora and fauna. Known in Chinese as 紅樹林 (red forest), mangroves are […]

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94772960524?pwd=OWZ4eVE1OWx5V2VVNERLNTg3TzdVdz09 (Meeting ID: 947 7296 0524; Password: 062507) By A.F.A. Marques Abstract: The Rainbow vent field is vigorous ultramafic rock hosted seafloor hydrothermal system located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). This system is quite remarkable due to its record high temperature for MAR fluids, low pH and metal-rich nature (e.g., Fe-Cu-Au-Co) within a non-transform […]

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/95534095604 (Meeting ID: 955 3409 5604) By Prof. Fangyi Chen Abstract: How we detect and process sound is a fundamental question in auditory research. Quantification of hearing abilities is the technical basis for answering this question. In this talk, I will first present the anatomy of the mammalian ear, followed by the optical measurement […]

Online via zoom meeting By Dr. Yafei Wu Abstract: Hydrothermal processes in Earth’s crust are responsible for the transfer of heat and mass and formation of giant hydrothermal mineral systems. Minerals, such as pyrite, deposited from these processes record the complex history of fluid evolution and associated metal deposition. This presentation provides an overview of […]

Cities have become more impermeable and with increasing habitat fragmentation and ecosystem degradation. Nature has been called back to the city not as an ornament but for its valuable services. Green Infrastructures act as a structuring element of the urban landscape by allowing connectivity between territories and helping to maintain the services provided by ecosystems, […]

Lecture presentation PDF link https://vimeo.com/425737185/e2deeecc3e   Nature-based solutions for water in cities  About the Talk Cities have become more impermeable and with an increasing habitat fragmentation and ecosystem degradation. Nature has been called back to the city not as an ornament but for its valuable services. Green Infrastructures act as a structuring element of the […]

Anthropogenic activities are causing global climate change at an unprecedented rate. The uptake of additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is changing ocean chemistry, with potentially far-reaching impacts on marine life. There is a great concern that the environmental change is outpacing the rate of genetic adaptation. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that […]

FROM THE RED SEA TO THE RED PLANET AND BEYOND: EXPLORING THE LIMITS OF LIFE By Prof Dr André Antunes Organised by the Institute of Science and Environment Thursday, 31 October 2019 06:30 PM – 08:00 PM University of Saint Joseph, NAPE Campus, Speakers’ Hall   ABOUT THE TALK The study of extreme environments and […]

Standing on Peak 1844: the Case of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park NE Philippines By Prof. Roberto R. Arano Organised by the Institute of Science and Environment Thursday, 24 October 2019 07:00 PM University of Saint Joseph, Speaker’s Hall, NAPE Campus

Science communication needs to be able to translate complex science topics into a form that is easily understandable by the general public. This process raises awareness about the contribution of science to solve societal issues and is part of an educational framework that provides tools for informed decision-making. The development of a sustainable society should […]

Minerals, as the inorganic solids that comprise the rocks, ores, sediments and soils of the Earth and any solid space object, are the essential part of our environment and the universe. The mineralogical characterization of these materials is of paramount importance for the society, no matter what the final objectives of its study are (research, […]

Interaction between hydrothermal and biological activities on a paleo-venting seafloor during formation of a SEDEX pyrite deposits By Wenghong Qiu (Post~doc of the SWIMAR project)  

By Isabel Costa (INCITE and IDL-FCUL) Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen hydrothermal fields are located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), southwest of the Azores islands. In the areas surrounding the active sites, the alteration processes affecting basaltic rocks are prominent and form hydrothermal breccias by the circulation of low temperature hydrothermal fluids in diffuse vents. […]

ISE participation in the 1st international meeting and workshop of the InterRidge Working Group on Seafloor Massive Sulfides Resource along MOR  @ Hangzhou, China: http://www.interridge.org/WG_SMS_MOR    

Zinc ameliorates human aortic valve calcification through GPR39 mediated ERK1/2 signaling pathway by Flora Gordillo Martine

The lecture will discuss the Syngnathids form a truly unique family of teleost fish that encompasses pipefishes, seadragons and the iconic seahorses. Apart from obvious genetical, morphological and behavioural similarities, all syngnathids share an unique character that sets them aside from all other taxa, aquatic or terrestrial: male pregnancy. During development, the male’s brood pouch […]

Public lecture: SEAFLOOR MINERAL RESOURCES by Prof. Vesselin Dekov on 4th Dec., 2018, 6:00pm @ ISE, USJ – Institute of Science and Environment of the University of Saint Joseph. Speakers´ Hall. Rua de Londres 106, Macau, China. 中國澳門倫敦街一零六號（環宇豪庭三樓） Abstract The lecture will discuss the main characteristics, types, mode of formation, occurrence and economic value of […]

To a largely visual and auditory species, such as ourselves, the importance of chemical communication is often under-estimated, or even ignored. Nevertheless, it is the most ancient and widespread form of communication among all living organisms. Many animals – including fish – rely heavily on chemical communication especially during reproduction to find, identify and choose […]

On 13th of November Prof. Ágata Alveirinho Dias visited the department of Earth Sciences of the University of Hong Kong. She met Prof Mei-Fu Zhou, Prof. Zhao, Prof. Min Sun and Prof. Jin and worked in the ICP-MS lab running Hf isotopic analyses on zircons from granites of Macau

On 5th of November, Dr. Sonia Gabriel from the Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon gave a talk on “Fish remains in archaeology: biodiversity, ecology, and human impact on aquatic environments” at the Institute of Science and Environment, USJ. @ISE, USJ

Students from USJ Master programme of Environmental Sciences and Management and from Pre-U Human Geography visited the Macao Wastewater Treatment Plant, under the coordination of Professor Cristina Calheiros and Raquel Vasconcelos.

FDCT (Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau) – Science Promotion Week at the Venetian Exhibition Hall

Education for sustainability and cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices Prof Cristina Calheiros (CIIMAR, UP, Portugal)

Environmental risk assessment of 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) in the mouth of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), by Lucia Ivorra Gonzalez (ISE, USJ, Macau) By Lucia Ivorra Gonzalez (ISE, USJ, Macau)  

The head from COMRA (China) and the Head of EMEPC (Portugal) visited us on May 2015 Aldino Santos de Campos: Head of the Task Group for the Portuguese Continental Shelf Extension / Estrutura de Missão para a Extensão da Plataforma Continental  (EMEPC): http://www.emepc.pt/ LIU Feng: Secretary-General of China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association / 中国在国际海底区域的活动及“蛟龙号”载人潜水器的海底发现 (COMRA): http://www.comra.org/2014-04/29/content_6856835.htm […]

Circular Economy: Concept and Solutions By Filipe Silveira and Ricardo Vicente (Co-Founders of Green Circle – Rethinking Waste) IMAGE GALLERY  

Quelhas P, Mata J, Lou U T, Ribeiro M L, Borges R, Dias Á (2018) I-type granites of Macao: evidences for fractional crystallization and petrogenetic affinities with Jurassic-Cretaceous granites in SE China. XIV Congresso de Geoquímica dos Países de Língua Portuguesa e XIX Semana de Geoquímica (XIV CGPLP/XIX SG, 25-29 March 2018, Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, […]

The role of ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems in the formation of seafloor deposits: comparison between SWIR and MAR fields 超基性岩系海底熱泉系統於海床熱液礦床扮演之角色:以 SWIR 及 MAR 熱泉系統相互比較為例 By Prof. Ágata Alveirinho Dias (ISE, USJ, Macau)

Environmental Effects under China’s Western Development Strategy: a case study in the Beipan River Basin, Guizhou Province By Dr Xiaojiang Yo (School of Geosciences, the University of Sydney)   About the Talk This talk will discuss the environmental effects in southwest China under the national Western Development Strategy based on a case study in the Beipan River basin through […]

Hormonal Pheromones in Tilapia, by Prof. Adelino Canário Prof. Adelino Canário (University of Algarve, Portugal and Shanghai Ocean University, China) ABOUT THE TALK Communication and behaviour are tightly linked and fish use several sensory channels to communicate. Chemical communication is the most ancient form of communication but its role is often ignored because the substances […]

Architecture students from Life and Science module and Pre-U students from Physical Sciences visited the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau of Macau (SMG) installations in order to better understand how air pollutants in Macau are measured and monitored. We were received by the meteorologist Dr. Frankie Tam Chan Vai who kindly explained the origin of the […]

Offshore Assessment of Minerals in Deep-Sea Sediments from the TAG-area Milinovic J, Barriga F, Dias Á, Martins S, Pereira M & Janeiro A (2017) Offshore Assessment of Minerals in Deep-Sea Sediments from the TAG-Area (26°N, 44°W). Goldschmidt2017. Paris.

Goldschmidt is the foremost annual, international conference on geochemistry and related subjects, organised by the European Association of Geochemistry and the Geochemical Society. Goldschmidt 2017 (Paris) August 13-18 New Geochemical Constraints on I-Type Granites of Macao: Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Implications Quelhas P, Mata J, Lou UT, Borges R, Ribeiro ML & Dias Á A Session 06D: CRUSTAL MELTS: FRACTIONATION MECHANISMS AND LINK WITH […]

José Eduardo Martins (Former Secretary of State for the Environment of Portugal) Prof. Julien Chaisse (Faculty of Law, Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong)  

Fluorinated Compounds in the Environment: routes and fate of biodegradation. By Prof. Paula Castro (UCP-ESB, Portugal)

Fluorinated compounds in the environment: routes and fate of biodegradation Prof. Paula Castro (UCP-ESB, Portugal) About the Talk Fluorinated compounds have unique properties, and their synthesis was a major technological advance of the twentieth century in the field of organic chemistry. The introduction of the C-F bond in organic compounds has led to the development […]

Dr. Olívia Monteiro (Univ. of Dandee) About the Talk Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.  The function of GABA-ergic neurotransmission is to inhibit neuronal firing. The GABAAR is a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel which consists of 5 subunits with the most common receptor formed by two α, two β, and […]

On 1 June 2017, Prof. David Goncalves (Dean of ISE) and Prof. Ágata Alveirinho Dias went in Hangzhou at the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), State Oceanic Administration (SOA), to establish research collaborations between Macau and China, focused mainly in the area of the deep-sea and environment.

Dynamic Earth: the wonders of drifting continents Dr. Fernando Ornelas Marques (Faculty of Science of the Univ. of Lisbon) About the Talk The lecture will be discussing, in a very intuitive and accessible manner, the behaviour of materials, more specifically of rocks, at different conditions of temperature and pressure, and over time and under the […]

Prof Chan Lung Sang (PHKU and HKU SPACE) Prof Chan Lung Sang is currently Principal of HKU SPACE Community College and HKU SPACE-Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College, as well as professor in Department of Earth Sciences at HKU. He received his bachelor degree from CUHK and his Masters and PhD in geology and […]

Dr. Pedro Quelhas (ISE-USJ and FCUL)   Pedro Quelhas graduated in geology from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL) and is currently a PhD student in the Institute of Science and Environment from USJ, where he is developing his research work on the petrology and geochemistry of Igneous Rocks from Macao: […]

Denise Tang (GEO/CEDD, Hong Kong)   Denise graduated from the Department of Earth Sciences, HKU and joined the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) as a graduate trainee in 1999. Since then, she has dedicated herself to the geology profession, and been working at the GEO for over 15 years. Denise co-authored the popular geology book “Hong […]

Dr. Roderick J. Sewell (Hong Kong Geological Survey, GEO, CEDD, HKSAR)   Rod Sewell has been a member of the Hong Kong Geological Survey for over 27 years. Following completion of his PhD on an extinct volcano in New Zealand, he worked for the New Zealand Geological Survey studying volcanic geology and tectonics, with excursions […]

Brain Cholesterol metabolism: secrets and lies Dr. Elsa Rodrigues (iMed.ULisbon-FFUL) About the Talk Dysfunctions in brain cholesterol homeostasis have been extensively related to brain disorders. The major elimination pathway of brain cholesterol is its hydroxylation into 24 (S)-hydroxycholesterol by the cholesterol 24- hydroxylase (CYP46A1). Interestingly, there seems to be an association between CYP46A1 and high-order […]

Interactive effects of warming, acidification and progestins on aquatic systems Dr. Patrícia Cardoso (Univ. of Coimbra and IMAR-CMA) About the Talk The emergence of climate change and endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) as crucial societal challenges became priority topics in the last decades. Still, there is a flagrant knowledge gap in relating those 2 kinds of […]

Marine conservation under stormy skies and troubled waters Dr. Isabel Noronha About the Talk Ocean and coastal conservation, management and policy are impacted by expanding coastal populations, increased exploration of resources and climate change; solutions to address these problems are urgent. However, the ocean and the resources therein cannot be understood or managed solely within […]

Participation in the Goldschmidt 2016 conference, Japan The Goldschmidt Conference provides a forum for its members to discuss their latest research. It brings together thousands of scientists from throughout the world to talk about subjects including the origin of the Earth and planets, the chemical processes that have shaped Earth’s evolution over time, the interconnections between […]

We are geographers! The power of spatial data infrastructures and (un)volunteered geography information Rui Pedro Julião (Assist. Prof. and head of GRPD from the UNL and researcher at CICS.NOVA)

Geotechnical and environmental applications of geophysics methods in Hong Kong Prof Chan Lung Sang (陳龍生教授) (PHKU and HKU SPACE) ABOUT THE TALK Geophysical surveys in an urban setting are subject to anthropogenic noise, electromagnetic interference and traffic and other regulatory constraints. In spite of these limitations, a large range of geophysical techniques have been applied […]

Hong Kong’s big bang: The story behind the discovery of Hong Kong’s supervolcano Dr. Roderick J. Sewell (Hong Kong Geological Survey, GEO, CEDD, HKSAR) ABOUT THE TALK HONG KONG’S BIG BANG: THE STORY BEHIND THE DISCOVERY OF HONG KONG’S SUPERVOLCANO (Dr. Roderick J. Sewell) The talk will describe the clues that led to the discovery, […]

Gardens to treat water – Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and reuse By Cristina Calheiros (ESB, UCP)   About the Talk It is crucial that wastewater treatment systems fulfill entirely their function so water reuse may be allowed as the ecosystems protection. Constructed wetlands are an ecotechnology to complement wastewater existing treatment systems or act […]

Prof. Wen-Xiong Wang (Chair Prof in the Division of Life Science, HKUST) About the Talk With increasing industrialization, metal pollution has become a new emerging environmental problem in many estuaries in China. Our understanding of the scale of metal pollution, as well as the impact on the estuarine ecosystem, is still limited, largely due to […]

Speakers: David Gonçalves (ISE, USJ), “The COP21 Paris Agreement: what is it about?” Liu Jingjing (Macau Ricci Institute), “Chinese Perspectives on the COP21 Agreement”. Franz Gassner (USJ), “The COP21 Agreement and Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudatu Si’” Diogo Teixeira (USJ), “Urban Challenges and Insights from COP 21 Agreement” From November 30 to December 11 2015 the […]

Abstract: Development of the vocal-auditory systems for social communication in a teleost fish Raquel O. Vasconcelos1, Paulo J. Fonseca2, M. Clara P. Amorim3, and Joseph A. Sisneros4 1Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macau S.A.R., People’s Republic of China. 2Departamento de Biologia Animal, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Universidade de […]

On a windy day lets go flying Dr. Miguel Repas (Intern. EIA consultant and Exec. Dir. of STRIX) About the Talk The energy sector is a key component and driver of economic development requiring a large amount of infrastructure, both to generate the electricity and to transmit it through electrical power lines. These important developments […]

The 2014-15 volcanic eruption on the Fogo Island in Cape Vert Prof. João Mata (GeoFCUL, IDL) About the Talk The Cape Verde Archipelago (eastern middle Atlantic) comprises 10 major islands (9 inhabited) and some islets with a volcanic origin and formed along a period of more than 26 millions of years. However, since its discovery […]

P. Cardoso (Univ. of Coimbra) ABOUT THE TALK Coastal zones and shallow marine habitats are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. In many locations, they are subject to a variety of anthropogenic stressors, such as pollution and eutrophication (organic enrichment). Over the last 30 years, loss of seagrasses and mangroves associated with eutrophication phenomena […]

AGU’s Fall Meeting is the largest Earth and space science meeting in the world. Fall Meeting brings together the entire Earth and space science community from across the globe for discussions of emerging trends and the latest research. The AGU Fall meeting will be in New Orleans, between 11-15 December, 2017.

First Meeting on the Geology of Macao (Ma.G.I.C project – FDCT 043/2014/A1) Petrology and Geochemistry of Igneous Rocks from Macao: Implications for the Crustal Evolution of Southern China (Ma.G.I.C) 澳门火成岩之岩石学与地球化学: 对华南地壳演化的影响 The meeting took place between 9 and 13 of November, 2105 at the Institute of Science and Environment (ISE) from the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), NAPE1 […]

Conservation and contamination of mangrove wetland Prof. Nora F-Y Tam (Chair Prof. in the Dep. of Biology and Chemistry and Dir. of Futian-CityU Mangrove R&D at CUHK). ABOUT THE TALK Mangrove wetlands, one of the three coastal wetland ecosystems in the intertidal zone in tropical and subtropical regions, have important ecological and socioeconomic values. They […]

A sailing trip around Macao was organised in October 2015 with students from our Master in Environmental Sciences and Management. A series of talks onboard about topics like environmental protection in Macao, sustainable architecture, the geological origin of the territory and biodiversity and coastal ecosystems conservation were given by USJ professors. You can check the […]

InterRidge promotes interdisciplinary, international studies of oceanic spreading centers by creating a global research community, planning and coordinating new science programs that no single nation can achieve alone, exchanging scientific information, and sharing new technologies and facilities. InterRidge is dedicated to reaching out to the public, scientists and governments, and to providing a unified voice […]

Aldino Campos (EMEPC), Ágata Dias (ISE,USJ) and Liu Feng (COMRA)   The ISE from USJ had a pleasure to receive the Secretary-General at China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA) – Dr. Liu Feng – and the head of the Portuguese task group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC) – Commander Aldino Campos.    

PHOTO and VIDEO EXHIBITIONS, WORKSHOPS and OPEN TALKS Organisers University of Saint Joseph Macao Science Center Sponsors Macau Foundation Local Macao Science Center Target Participants / Audience Macao citizens, teachers and students with interest in science topics, environment and sustainability, and local and international researchers Introduction The deep-sea ocean remains vastly unexplored due to the technical […]

“The Earth’s Last Frontier” Mini-ROVs and “Kit do Mar” WORKSHOPS During the exhibition duration, free workshops on how to use the Mini-ROV will be offered to the public. We invite you to join us in the lobby exhibition gallery to enjoy this innovating experience. 8 to 10 of May 2015 Mini-ROV workshops: Interactive activities in a […]

Prof. Fernando Barriga (FCUL, Portugal)

ABOUT THE TALK Environmental issues have become pervasive in our daily lives and there has been an increase in public concern on the degradation of the environment in recent decades. The Macau SAR government has been a major player in the promotion of public environmental awareness in the local arena but there has been no […]