The meeting opened with a dedicated Early Career Researchers (ECR) Day, where young scientists and PhD students shared their work on rewilding intertidal ecosystems and discussed new interdisciplinary approaches. The ECR Day fostered vibrant discussions and collaboration among early-career participants, while the “Frames of Nature” photo contest invited them to capture the diversity and beauty of coastal environments. The resulting exhibition will soon be available on the REWRITE website.
On 28 October, the official annual meeting began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Ana Lillebo, Vice-Rector of the University of Aveiro, followed by Vona Méléder (University of Nantes), REWRITE coordinator, and Tamiris Moreno (University of Aveiro). The sessions that followed covered REWRITE’s progress across work packages, from ecosystem service assessments and biodiversity research to governance frameworks and modelling tools, highlighting the project’s holistic approach to understanding and restoring coastal ecosystems.
A key highlight of the week was the Global Multi-Actor Lab (GMAL), held at ECOMARE, an inspiring venue dedicated to marine and coastal research. The GMAL brought together scientists, policymakers, and practitioners for a full-day vision-building workshop, where participants collaboratively developed three forward-looking visions for rewilding European and global shorelines. Geonardo played an active role in this process, facilitating discussions and guiding group exercises to foster dialogue, creativity, and shared understanding among participants.
In addition to supporting the GMAL, Geonardo contributed throughout the meeting by participating in discussions on communication, stakeholder engagement, and exploitation strategies, ensuring that REWRITE’s outcomes are effectively communicated and translated into actionable insights.
The meeting concluded with feedback from the Advisory Board and Stakeholder Steering Committee, followed by closing remarks from Vona Méléder, who emphasized the importance of continued collaboration in driving REWRITE’s mission forward.
Geonardo left Aveiro inspired by the progress made and proud to support the project’s work in connecting science, policy, and practice. As REWRITE continues to advance the concept of coastal rewilding, Geonardo remains committed to facilitating dialogue, enhancing visibility, and supporting the exploitation and long-term impact of project results across Europe.
