- Claudio Sáez, Professor at the University of Alicante, was recognised with the 4th Marine Sustainability Award for his work on the development of tools aimed at industrial application and the promotion of conservation policiesción
- During the ceremony, Oscar Serrano, researcher at the Blanes Centre for Advanced Studies, received the 3rd Marine Sustainability Award, which was awarded in 2024 in recognition for his contributions to blue carbon conservation
- Josep Oliu, Chairman of Banco Sabadell and its Foundation, presented both awards in a ceremony held at ADDA Alicante attended by around 250 guests, including authorities and representatives from the business, academic, and scientific communities
The Chairman of Banco Sabadell and its Foundation, Josep Oliu, handed out the Banco Sabadell Foundation Awards for Marine Sustainability today at ADDA (Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante). More specifically, the 4th edition of the award recognised the work of Claudio Sáez, Professor of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology at the University of Alicante, for his research career focused on the development of environmental biotechnology tools for the detection and monitoring of marine pollution.
During the ceremony, the 3rd edition of the award, granted in 2024, was also presented to Oscar Serrano, researcher at the Blanes Centre for Advanced Studies (CEAB-CSIC). The presentation had been postponed due to DANA. Serrano was recognised for his work on the conservation and recovery of blue carbon, a key component of climate change mitigation.
Luis Barcala, Mayor of Alicante, and Jerónimo Mora, Regional Secretary for Innovation at the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade, and Tourism of the Government of the Community of Valencia, spoke during the ceremony. The event was also attended by around 250 guests, including authorities and personalities from the worlds of business, academia, and science.
Isabel Cacho, panel chair of the award and lecturer at the University of Barcelona, also spoke during the ceremony. She highlighted the work of the two award winners and their international influence, noting that in both cases these are significant contributions to marine conservation, climate change mitigation, and the promotion of conservation policies.
Sáez explained that his work aims “to understand organisms’ tolerance thresholds and defence mechanisms in response to pollution and climate change. These biological responses enable early detection and monitoring of impacts, providing scientific evidence that supports sustainable marine development in ecosystems ranging from temperate zones to polar regions”.
Serrano, for his part, spoke about his research work, explaining: “We have been able to demonstrate for the first time that the records of sedimentary seagrass beds can be used to improve the ability of scientists and environmental managers to better understand, predict, and manage the ecological change of marine ecosystems”.
Josep Oliu, Chairman of Banco Sabadell and its Foundation, highlighted the importance of this award which “recognises the achievements of scientists working in sustainability and marine environment conservation” and he stressed the need to keep creating initiatives that promote and showcase “the brilliant work of scientists who develop tools to preserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change”.
This award, created in 2022, forms part of the commitment undertaken by the Banco Sabadell Foundation to recognise talent among researchers and to showcase how their lines of research can influence progress and people’s wellbeing, along with its other research awards, specifically those for Biomedical Research, Science and Engineering, and Economic Research.
Panel of judges of the 4th Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Marine Sustainability
The panel of judges is chaired by Dr Isabel Cacho and formed by Dr Angel Borja, Dr Conxita Ávila, Dr Emilio Fernández, Dr Emma Cebrián, Dr Jorge Miguel Terrados, Dr José Luis Sánchez Lizaso, Dr Rafael Sardá, and Dr Stefano Pogutz.
Biographies of the award winners
Claudio Sáez Avaria, winner of the 4th Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Marine Sustainability (2025)
Sáez Avaria studied Environmental Engineering at the University of Valparaíso (Chile) and at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and went on to obtain a PhD in Marine Sciences at the University of Plymouth (United Kingdom). He began his academic career in Chile, where he founded the Laboratory of Aquatic Environmental Research (LACER) at the University of Playa Ancha (UPLA). He also managed the creation of the UPLA ENVIRONMENTAL HUB, a national and international centre of excellence in environmental sciences. Since 2021, he has continued his work at the University of Alicante, where he is currently a tenured Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology. His research has been published in more than 60 articles in high-impact JCR-indexed journals and focuses on the development of biomarkers and functional indicators for the early detection and monitoring of marine pollution, as well as exploring and understanding climate change resilience processes. He has led competitive international projects with funding exceeding 5 million euros, including a European initiative under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Institute, and he has coordinated scientific expeditions to Antarctica. He currently forms part of the editorial committee of leading journals such as BMC Plant Biology and Frontiers in Marine Science, and he works collaboratively with institutions and companies involved in the field of marine sustainability.
Oscar Serrano Gras, winner of the 3rd Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Marine Sustainability (2024)
Serrano holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a PhD in Marine Ecology by the University of Barcelona. He has conducted most of his research career in the Edith Cowan University in Australia, where he specialised in the management of wetlands, mangroves, and seagrass beds for climate change mitigation and adaptation. His research works have contributed to bringing relevance to coastal ecosystems and to the implementation of conservation and restoration policies in coastal areas of many parts of the world. The work of Dr Serrano is driving the deployment of a pioneering commercial model that supports sustainable fishing through the restoration of marine ecosystems funded by carbon credits and biodiversity. His research works highlight the value of the marine natural capital and its regeneration through innovative and sustainable approaches based on cutting-edge science. When he was 24 years old, Dr Serrano cofounded BIOSFERA in Spain, a non-profit organisation engaged in environmental education, research and conservation that implemented several conservation actions in marine areas and contributes to the outreach of sustainable development.
