Sara Bettencourt is a PhD student of Social Sustainability and Development, in Universidade Aberta and is developing her thesis at MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Regional Agency for the Development of Research Technology and Innovation (ARDITI), OOM – Oceanic Observatory of Madeira and CENSE – Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research. Education for sustainable development and marine litter are the areas that she is exploring during her thesis, with a grant financed by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.

Sara Bettencourt completed the bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2016 and the master’s degree in Applied Biochemistry in 2018, both in Universidade do Minho. Sara master’s dissertation was inserted in an European project and focused on lipid production using oleaginous yeasts and volatile fatty acids as carbon sources. Now she is a PhD student of Social Sustainability and Development and is exploring the role of education in curbing marine litter rise and the awareness of Madeira inhabitants concerning marine litter issues. Sara performed functions as tutor of the ‘European Virtual Seminar on Sustainable Development’ during the academic year 2019-2020 and participated in science dissemination events, mainly in schools.

Marine litter; education; sustainable development; behavior change; waste management; microorganisms; yeasts; volatile fatty acids.

Coastal Systems and Ocean

Governance and Literacy