Sari Ponnet | CCMAR

From a young age I have been drawn to the ocean, fascinated by the life it holds and the connections it sustains with people and the planet. This passion has guided my journey across the globe, where I have worked alongside scientists, NGOs, and local communities. My experiences range from studying large ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows in Portugal, Bermuda, and the Philippines, to investigating the foraging behaviour of ceteceans in Canada and Brazil, and finally to exploring the tiniest ocean creatures by analysing microscopic foraminifera in the Red Sea.

These experiences have shown me both the extraordinary resilience of marine ecosystems and the increasing pressures they face. They ultimately inspired me to specialise in marine conservation and restoration during my master’s, and now to pursue a PhD dedicated to seagrass mapping, restoration, and ocean literacy.

Alongside research, I’m passionate about science communication and community collaboration. As a course representative and a Science Leader aboard sailing vessels, I have trained volunteers, engaged with the public, and shared ocean issues through interviews with BBC News. Through these roles, I’ve learned that science becomes most powerful when shared.

Project membership

RESTORESEAGRASS

I am currently beginning my PhD as a Doctoral INPhINIT Fellow funded by the “La Caixa” Foundation at the Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve. My research focuses on developing scalable and environmentally responsible approaches to seagrass restoration, combining ecological science, spatial mapping, and community engagement.

My project brings together three main components:

1. Mapping seagrass and the pressures it faces

Using GIS tools and remote-sensing datasets, I aim to improve our understanding of seagrass extent, health, and the human-driven pressures affecting these ecosystems at different scales.

2. Developing aquaculture-based cultivation for restoration

I will explore how aquaculture methods can support large-scale, low-impact seagrass restoration, followed by field outplanting trials to test what works best under real environmental conditions.

3. Strengthening public engagement and ocean literacy

Because long-term conservation depends on people, my research also examines how citizen science and community participation can support monitoring, stewardship, and broader ocean literacy.

This fellowship (≈7% success rate) provides funding to develop this independent research project (€165,000), with the overarching goal of contributing practical solutions for restoring seagrass ecosystems while connecting science with society.