On 8 October, to mark European Maritime Day 2026, members of the ERUA Blue Commission from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of the Aegean are organising the event “Diving Into Blue Horizon”, which will take place at the ULPGC’s institutional headquarters.
The event aims to create a space for meeting, exchange and debate on the Blue Economy, marine sustainability and the challenges facing island territories, drawing parallels between the situations in the Canary Islands and the Aegean. The programme will bring together different perspectives from the academic, scientific, institutional and student spheres.
As part of the programme, a call for Flash Talks is now open, aimed at students and teaching staff from ERUA universities. This initiative offers the opportunity to give a brief presentation on a project, a piece of research, a teaching experience or an initiative related to the event’s theme.
Successful candidates will have 5 minutes to present a proposal relating to:
- The Blue Economy and its opportunities and challenges.
- Marine sustainability.
- The protection and conservation of the seas and oceans.
- Innovation and new solutions to tackle challenges in the marine sector.
- Initiatives to raise awareness of these issues.
- Academic work, such as final-year undergraduate or postgraduate dissertations, linked to these topics.
The selected proposals will form part of the event’s official programme. Presentations by participants from the ULPGC may be delivered in person at the university’s main campus, whilst those taking part from other ERUA universities will deliver their presentations online.
The Flash Talks session will take place from 12:30 to 14:00 (WEST), as part of a day that will also include academic presentations, a talk by the University of the Aegean and a round-table discussion with representatives from institutions and organisations linked to the Blue Economy.
Registration
If you are interested in taking part, you can submit your proposal via the registration form:
Flash Talks Call — Diving Into Blue Horizon (ERUA)
Deadline for submitting proposals: 15 September 2026
This call for proposals aims to create a forum for sharing proposals, research and experiences on marine sustainability, fostering exchange amongst students, academic staff, researchers, institutions and other stakeholders linked to the Blue Economy.
Proposals do not need to have been developed specifically within the framework of ERUA. The aim is to bring together different perspectives and experiences from the alliance’s universities and to create a forum for discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the marine sector.
Further information
For further information about the event, please contact the organising committee by email at: erua@ulpgc.es
