“Laboratórios da Natureza” (Nature Laboratories) is a documentary that follows biologists from the University of Aveiro.

In Portugal, there is no strong tradition of producing national documentaries about science, and even less so about scientific research carried out in Portugal. For this reason, the broadcast on the SIC television channel of the new documentary "Laboratórios da Natureza" on the SIC television channel is excellent news for science and science communication. All the more so because it was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Ecology and Biodiversity at the VIII Art&Tur International Tourism Film Festival, a festival that this year fe Call 256 films from 54 countries.

The documentary follows five research projects and around 30 scientists from the University of Aveiro. It is divided into five chapters: "Endangered marine species," "Nanoparticles—the invisible dangers," "The threat of multi-resistant bacteria," "The Baixo Vouga Lagoon—Biodiversity Reserve," and "Life in the deep seas." It was the brainchild of Joaquim Pedro Ferreira and Paulo Caetano, authors of several popular science books on natural life and biodiversity, who also wrote the documentary. Their goal was to show how biologists contribute to the well-being of society and to a better relationship with the living world. Joaquim Pedro Ferreira is a postdoctoral fellow at FCT in the field of Science Communication, and this documentary is part of his research project.

Filming for the documentary took place over 16 months, following the research projects research projects as they unfolded. Of the five projects covered, three are or were supported by FCT. One of the projects is coordinated by an FCT researcher, selected in Call . Isabel Henriques studies the risks associated with the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from hospitals to the aquatic environments of the Vouga River, and seeks solutions to minimize these risks.

Another project funded by FCT, coordinated by Ana Hilário, seeks to identify how different species live on the seabed. To simulate the habitat of whale carcasses at the bottom of the ocean, the team placed cow carcasses in the Setúbal Canyon. They collected them a year later to analyze what types of organisms had colonized the carcasses.

Carlos Fonseca's team investigates the unique habitat of agricultural land surrounded by hedgerows. These habitats are home to a wide variety of animals, including frogs, mice, bats, foxes, genets, and otters. By identifying and tracking these animals, researchers hope to contribute to the sustainable coexistence of agriculture and biodiversity.

Susana Loureiro and her team aim to understand the effects of nanoparticles used in sportswear and sunscreen, for example, on the environment and health. 

The documentary also follows a team of biologists, coordinated by Catarina Eira, who rescue animals such as dolphins, sea turtles, and even seals that wash up on the Portuguese coast, attempting to identify the main threats to these species.

(Image credits: University of Aveiro and Terra Líquida Filmes)