The Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes addresses science and societal challenges.
Formerly named Centre of Environmental Biology, a R&D unit based at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, the cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes has evolved its vision and strategy in recent years, expanding its research to address science and societal challenges in Ecology, Evolution and the Environment (the three “E”s in the Centre’s name), enlarging its geographic scope to encompass tropical and insular ecosystems, and embracing new innovative methodologies and collaborative approach.
With these changes and the integration of two further research groups (Azorean Biodiversity Group and the Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Modeling Group), the cE3c now includes 12 research groups. It conducts scientific activity in the domain of natural and environmental sciences, combining fundamental and theoretical research with applied research and services.
cE3c’s proposes a concerted, transregional and transnational research effort addressing major threats to sustainability: i) loss of biodiversity with potential impact on ecosystem services, ii) climate and land-use changes, iii) biological invasions, and iv) lack of societal awareness and skills to address these issues. We are well positioned to take on key priorities at the regional, national and EU levels, namely those of the Strategy for Sustainable Development and the Europe 2020 Strategy, which call for cost-effective, integrated and interdisciplinary policies to ensure future economic development rooted in principles of social cohesion and environmental protection.
Mission & Vision
cE3c is committed to a sustainable future. Tackling the challenges posed by global change requires a tighter integration of the knowledge from life and environmental sciences, and cE3c was built to meet this necessity.
At cE3c we acknowledge that producing the necessary knowledge is a crucial step, and that using this knowledge to effectively promote change is another. We combine research with action and integrate science and education, to produce a capable next generation of scientists, a better-informed public, and adequately advised policy.
Our research examines and integrates all levels of biological organization -from organisms up to entire ecosystems (natural and anthropogenic) and is used to support and inform governmental agencies and entities, nonprofit organizations, private companies and citizens. The combined expertise and unique databases of cE3c constitute fundamental repositories of knowledge for Portugal, insular Europe, other Portuguese-speaking countries and the European Union. Not surprisingly, therefore, we have been successful in informing and influencing policy at the regional, national and European level.
