The Next Step in the Adriatic Biodiversity Conservation
International Conference AdriBioPro2019 Creates Platform for Adriatic Biodiversity Conservation
AdriBioPro2019 conference
The International Conference “Adriatic Biodiversity Conservation – AdriBioPro2019” was held in Cultural Center “Nikola Đurković”, to provide updated scientific, decision-making and policy-relevant information across a broad array of different Adriatic issues, marine biology, and related scientific disciplines. More than 100 participants from 16 countries delivered 92 presentations during two conference days in 9 topics: Marine biodiversity conservation, Conservation of coastal and marine areas, Preventing marine pollution, Rare and endangered species in the Adriatic Sea, Marine invasive and alien species, Roles of aquaria, Sustainable use of marine resources, Marine biotechnology, and Freshwater biodiversity conservation.
This conference was organized by the Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro. Few words about the Conference background. In December 2017, the Institute was granted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement a project “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center “Boka Aquarium” – MonteAqua”, in cooperation with the Center for Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation of Inland Waters, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac. The main project activity is setting up Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center “Boka Aquarium” in the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor. This conference is organized as final project event, dedicated to gather all relevant national and regional stakeholders and to secure closer regional cooperation in the Adriatic Sea region.
Of the Conference’s scope, Dr. Aleksandar Joksimović, Conference Scientific Committee Chair said, “The Conference is organized to include plenary and breakout sessions covering both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives. Particular focus is put on the development opportunities which marine biotechnology can offer in the Adriatic.”
Commenting expected Conference impact, Professor Đurđica Perović, the University of Montenegro Vice Rector said, “We trust that Conference results will be used in shaping future marine science priorities and policy in Montenegro and other Adriatic countries.”
Conference presentations
All conference presentations are published in the Book of Abstracts, which you can download by clicking on the cover page below:
Selected papers will be published in the journal of the Institute of Marine Biology “Studia Marina”.
Conference exhibition
The main Conference side event was the exhibition of underwater photography “Hidden Beauty of the Sea”. The exhibition was opened on April 7, in the gallery of the Cultural Center “Nikola Đurković” in Kotor, Montenegro, revealing wonderful Adriatic sea life and presenting its biodiversity. Two authors, Ms. Ivana Orlović Kranjc and Mr. Janez Kranjc, presented forty photographs in large format, bringing to Kotor underwater landscapes, wildlife, and plants from the Adriatic Sea.
Of the exhibition concept, Ms. Marija Bernard, the Cultural Center “Nikola Đurković” Director said, “This exhibition is a unique opportunity for all citizens and guests of the city of Kotor to learn about and enjoy the hidden beauty of the seas.”
On the exhibition opening, Vesna Mačić, PhD, expert of the Institute of the Marine Biology, said “Diving is not only sport and recreational activity, it is also important skill for all marine biologists. Underwater photography is not only artistic activity, it is also an important scientific method of non-invasive studies of sea life”.
Ms. Janne Knutrud, Deputy Head of Mission from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade, said: “This exhibition is marking the start of the regional conference on Adriatic Biodiversity Conservation 2019. This conference is part of the project Norwegian embassy cooperates on with the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor. We can enjoy in photographs of the sea creatures, and if you are divers, you can meet them underwater, like the authors of this beautiful exhibition.”
About authors
Ms. Ivana Orlović Kranjc is diver for more than 35 years. With her husband Janez, she is managing the largest diving club in Serbia – S.D.T. Svet Ronjenja. In the last ten years she has dedicated her diving career to underwater photography. Ivana uses the Nikon D7000 and D810 in Subal’s case. Company Mares promoted Ivana for their global ambassador.
Mr. Janez Kranjc is a diving instructor, an underwater photographer, and a video cameraman. He dives since 1997. In last fifteen years, he has been recording intricately underwater photos published in many magazines. He is associate of National Geographic Serbia. Janez uses the Nikon D810, D7000 in Subal’s case. He is also the global ambassador of diving equipment Mares, CMAS M2 instructor, underwater photography instructor, and nitrox instructor.
Conference evaluation
Based on the Post-conference Feedback Survey, our Net Promoter Score®, or NPS®, which measures customer experience and predicts business growth, is far above SurveyMonkey Global Benchmark based on the average from 8,992 organizations:
How likely is it that you would recommend AdriBioPro2019 conference to a colleague? (Answered: 47 Skipped: 1)
Participants were satisfied with the conference organization:
How organized was the AdriBioPro20109 conference? (Answered: 48 Skipped: 0)
The whole team, the Organizing Committee and all volunteers performed extremely well:
How friendly was the staff at the AdriBioPro2019 conference? (Answered: 47 Skipped: 1)
How helpful was the staff at the AdriBioPro2019 conference? (Answered: 47 Skipped: 1)
Four days, out of which 2 with scientific programme, appeared as right conference length:
Was the AdriBioPro2019 conference length too long, too short or about right? (Answered: 48 Skipped: 0)
We invite you to pencil in your calendars April 2021, for the #AdriBioPro2021 conference!
