FLAD and Ciência Viva distinguish innovative projects in the 5th edition of the Atlantic Junior Award

The projects Bloom, DeepLab4, MusselUP and Os Bartolomeus were distinguished in the 5th edition of the Atlântico Junior Award (2025-2026), an initiative promoted by FLAD, in partnership with Ciência Viva.

The competition challenges secondary and vocational school students from all over the country to develop innovative solutions for the monitoring, preservation and sustainable use of the Atlantic, through the creation of prototypes, instrumented models or biotechnological products.

The final classification of this edition was as follows:

• 1st place – Bloom (Colégio Ribadouro)
• 2nd place – DeepLab4 (Colégio São José do Ramalhão)
• 3rd place (ex aequo) – MusselUP (Colégio Júlio Dinis)
• 3rd place (ex aequo) – Os Bartolomeus (Camões Secondary School)

The 1st place was won by the Bloom project, from Colégio Ribadouro, guided by teacher Elsa Coimbra Santana de Oliveira and developed by students Bernardo Camisão, Francisco Marques Ribeiro and Raquel Alves Pires. The project presented a solution for the valorization of excess or invasive marine macroalgae through the extraction of struvite, a combustion retardant, while contributing to the mitigation of algal blooms and the prevention of forest fires.

The 2nd place was awarded to DeepLab4, which developed NAUFRI, a Wi-Fi remote-controlled mini-submarine, capable of measuring temperature and pressure, capturing images and collecting water samples for later analysis.

MusselUP, distinguished with 3rd place (ex aequo), proposed an autonomous and sustainable vessel for monitoring the quality of seawater through the behavioral analysis of mussels.

Also distinguished with the 3rd place (ex aequo), Os Bartolomeus presented a triangular maritime platform that integrates renewable energy production (wind, solar and hydro) with a marine robot for environmental monitoring and continuous assessment of water quality.

The projects were evaluated by a jury made up of researchers and professors with recognized experience in the areas of science, technology and environment, distinguishing proposals that show creativity and potential impact on the sustainability of marine ecosystems.

In addition to recognition for the merit of the projects, the winners receive prizes that support the development of new initiatives in the technological area. The 1st place is distinguished with a trip by the winning team to the USA and a prize worth 2,000 euros. The 2nd place receives a prize of 2,000 euros and the 3rd place a prize of 1,500 euros. The monetary amounts are allocated to schools in the form of equipment and materials for the development of new technological projects in the following school years, namely within the scope of the Atlântico Júnior competition.

To all participating students, teachers and schools, our congratulations for the excellent work developed and for the contribution to a greater appreciation of science and innovation at the service of the ocean.