IBVF brings together experts in photosynthetic microorganisms in Seville for the II SEBP ALGAE Symposium

On June 1st–2nd 2026, the second edition of the ALGAE Symposium, organized by the “Algae Biology and Biotechnology” group of the Spanish Society of Plant Biology (SEBP), took place at the Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis (IBVF), a joint research center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Seville (US).

The II SEBP ALGAE Symposium was organized by IBVF researchers: Dr. José L. Crespo (IBVF-CSIC), Dr. M. Esther Pérez-Pérez (IBVF-CSIC) and Dr. M. del Águila Ruiz-Sola (IBVF-US). The event also benefited from the support of a scientific committee composed of experts in the field: Dr. Rosa León (University of Huelva), Dr. Luis López Maury (IBVF, University of Seville), Dr. Emanuel Sanz (University of Córdoba) and Dr. Sergio Seoane (University of the Basque Country).

The research activity carried out at IBVF is closely aligned with the symposium’s theme, focusing on the study of biological processes occurring in photosynthetic organisms, including cyanobacteria, microalgae and vascular plants, through biochemical and molecular approaches. Within this context, the symposium was conceived as a meeting point for national and international researchers interested in both the biological foundations and biotechnological applications of cyanobacteria, microalgae and macroalgae. Over the course of the two-day event, participants exchanged knowledge, fostered new collaborations and engaged in discussions on the challenges and opportunities associated with this research field.

Following the success of the first edition, this second symposium brought together more than 80 national and international researchers. One of the main novelties of this edition was its increased internationalization, reflected in the participation of researchers from Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Mexico, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. The symposium also featured distinguished internationally recognized scientists, including Dr. Claire Remacle (University of Liège, Belgium), Dr. Serena Flori (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany) and Dr. Enrique Flores (IBVF-CSIC, Seville, Spain).

Marta Bertolini (left) and Dr. María Carbó (right) during the awards ceremony

The conference also featured a large number of scientific contributions presented in both poster and oral formats. These communications addressed topics related to synthetic biology and biotechnology, including the development of new tools in these fields, industrial and biotechnological applications of algae, gene regulation, environmental acclimation and stress response mechanisms, as well as studies on the metabolism and cellular physiology of photosynthetic microorganisms.

The content of these presentations was evaluated by the members of the scientific committee. This panel of experts was also responsible for selecting the winners of the symposium awards for the best contributions by young researchers, a particularly challenging task given the high scientific quality of this year’s participants. Ultimately, Dr. María Carbó (EEZ-CSIC) and Marta Bertolini (Sorbonne University) received the awards for Best Poster and Best Oral Presentation, respectively.

Overall, the SEBP ALGAE Symposium further strengthens its role as a key forum for advancing knowledge and fostering future collaborations in the fields of macroalgae, microalgae and cyanobacterial biology.