“A unique opportunity had participated in the 7th International Symposium on Deep Sea Corals (7IDSC)”
The marine biologist and CEMarin early stage researcher Milena Benavides, told us about her experience after winning the CEMarin call No.15 that allowed her to attend to 7IDSC – 2019.
Between July 29th and August 3rd of 2019, the seventh edition of the “International Symposium Deep-Sea Corals” was held in Cartagena de Indias, which brought together scientists, students, researchers, doctors and specialists in coral knowledge Deep water.
Being one of the most important events of the year around of marine sciences, the CEMarin Corporation made a call with the objective of financially supporting early stage researchers and thus, enabling their participation in this international Symposium.
After closing the call, the winner was the PhD candidate of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Milena Benavides. For her, participating in this event was one: “opportunity to qestablish a more direct relationship with colleagues who are working in these deep coral ecosystems (…), is related to my thesis theme,” she explained.
In addition, Milena emphasized in the importance of the talk that was given about: “Corals of National Natural Park Depth (PNNCPR): A Unique Marine Protected Area in Colombian Caribbean Sea”, where it was indicated that this park is a coastal marine area where In addition to having a high water quality index, it also has depths of up to 1220 meters.
For this reason, the park ecosystem has corals such as Madracis miriaster, which worldwide is considered a “rare” species. However, in this park “it is abundantly found,” Milena said. Similarly, a large number of species are associated with this coral, which are scarce in other marine ecosystems in the Caribbean.
7th International Symposium on Deep Sea Corals (7IDSC): “allowed the attendees to consider the need to increase knowledge about the condition and the pressures that affect deep corals, so that the results obtained in the different investigations contribute to decision making and management planning, depending on the achievement of the established conservation objectives”, concluded the early stage researcher.
Finally, Milena Benavides thanked the CEMarin Corporation for contributing to her career with the following words: “The Corporation helped me specifically to register the event, and definitely without its help I could not have participated, to which I find myself infinitely grateful.”
Hand in hand with researchers such as Milena, partner universities and other organizations in favor of marine sciences, CEMarin continues in the mission of being a central platform in order to promote and coordinate high impact research projects for society.