12th World Sponge Conference

Time to get ready! 🥳

The local registration for WSC25 will take place at the Vila do Conde Municipal Theatre tomorrow, on September 9th, between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM!

We're looking forward to seeing you there! 😉

Don't know how to get to the conference?
We got you!

In Vila do Conde the main venue for the event is the Vila do Conde Municipal Theater, located just a short walk from the metro station (either Santa Clara or Vila do Conde).

And if you need help, contact us!

See you soon!

Don't know how to get to the conference?
We got you!

In Vila do Conde the main venue for the event is the Vila do Conde Municipal Theater, located just a short walk from the metro station (either Santa Clara or Vila do Conde).

And if you need help, contact us!

See you soon!

Want to get to know Vila do Conde and don’t know where to start? 🤔

This beautiful city blends rich history with strong maritime roots, offering a unique experience for every visitor.

Come explore our must-visit spots and must-try dishes! 👌

Want to get to know Vila do Conde and don’t know where to start? 🤔

This beautiful city blends rich history with strong maritime roots, offering a unique experience for every visitor.

Come explore our must-visit spots and must-try dishes! 👌

📢 Only 7 days left!

Don’t miss your chance to join the World Sponge Conference in Vila do Conde, Portugal 🇵🇹

🗓 September 9–13, 2025

The future of the ocean begins with our voice!

Join us for an inspiring public session with international researchers on a journey through tropical reefs to the deep sea and Antarctica. Discover their incredible biodiversity, the challenges they face, and the solutions to protect the ocean.

Excited to announce the final #WSC2025 keynote: Prof. Sven Zea (Universidad Nacional de Colombia)!

He will open the session “Taxonomy and Systematics” with his talk “Sponge taxonomy in the sea of the New World.”

Don’t miss it! 🌊

@oceancensus.bsky.social
@isme-microbes.bsky.social

We are deeply grateful to the three generous Travel Grant Sponsors of the 12th World Sponge Conference 2025.

With their generosity, 10 researchers received financial assistance to attend the conference!

Thank you for investing in the future of sponge science 🧽

What role do sponges play in a changing ocean? 🌊

Join our roundtable on 11 Sept at 16:00 for a dynamic session where leading researchers will dive into the impacts of climate change on sponges, discuss research priorities, and explore restoration strategies for the future!

Excited to announce another #WSC2025 keynote: Prof. Eleni Voultsiadou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)!
She will speak in the session “Sponges in Human History” with her talk “Sponges in Ancient Greece: value for humans and the roots of sponge science.”
Don’t miss it!

Excited to announce another #WSC2025 keynote: Prof. April Horton!

She will speak in the session “Organismal Biology” with her talk on the flexible symbiosis between Ephydatia muelleri and algal partners.

Don’t miss it!

Hi sponge community 👋, here it goes our general schedule.
We are almost there!!

Open to the Porifera phylum research community

Applications: 06/08/2025-20/08/2025 at 23h59 (Lisbon Time)

Applications must be submitted through the submission form:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeOm3F7TN_aUoQ0gRlWx_96wayPkZy4fJBje5X7w5ZL4uZYQ/viewform

Excited to announce another #WSC2025 keynote: Prof. Jasper de Goeij (University of Amsterdam)!

He will open the session “Ecosystem Function and Services” with his talk “The sponge holobiont brings life to shallow and deep marine ecosystems.”

Don’t miss it! 🌊

🧽 What do a deep-sea sponge and a skyscraper have in common?

Nature’s been building for 500 million years. We’re just taking notes.

Sources:
Martins et al. (2019): doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Harvard SEAS News (2020): seas.harvard.edu/news/2020/09...

We couldn’t do it without all of you!

A huge thank you to our incredible partners and sponsors.

We’re proud to have you with us on this journey!

@ciimar.bsky.social @cmiaviladoconde.bsky.social @ieo.es @euromarine.bsky.social @oceancensus.bsky.social

Excited to announce our first #WSC2025 keynote: Prof. Jörn Piel (ETH Zurich)!

He will open the session “Sponge Symbioses” with his talk “Insights into the chemistry of sponge microbiomes”.

Don’t miss it! 🌊

Meet the organizing Committee of the World Sponge Conference 2025! 🧽

For full details, visit:
🔗 worldspongecommunity.com/about/

🧽 Meet the Scientific Committee of the World Sponge Conference 2025!

We are proud to have 21 leading experts from around the globe dedicated to advancing sponge research.

For full details and session information, visit: worldspongecommunity.com/about/

WSC2025 Pre-Event | Round Table on Sponge Genomics & Metagenomics

👉 Pre-registration is required by July 31st: docs.google.com/forms/d/1ETO...

Sponges have long captured the curiosity of both scientists and artists.

Ernst Haeckel’s stunning illustrations show how beauty and biology come together.

What other sponge-inspired art have you come across?

#WSC2025 #spongethrusdays

📢 Only 7 days left!
Don’t miss your chance to join the World Sponge Conference in Vila do Conde, Portugal 🇵🇹

🗓 September 9–13, 2025
⏰ Registration closes on July 13th!
💳 Registration is only confirmed after payment.

🧽 #SpongeThursday
Did you know there’s a Greek island with centuries of sponge diving tradition?
On Kalymnos, diving for natural sea sponges is more than work, it’s culture.

They even celebrate Sponge Week one week after Orthodox Easter!

#WSC2025 #Sponge #Funfacts

Attending #WSC2025?
Get exclusive hotel discounts in Vila do Conde, limited-time only!
🧽 Details: worldspongecommunity.com/venue-travel

🔔 Registration Extension

Don’t miss your chance!

Register now for the World Sponge Conference!
Take advantage of the extended deadline and secure your spot today.

📅 New deadline: July 13th

Sources: schmidtocean.org/cruise-log-p...
canterburymuseums.co.uk/collections/...

#Spongethrusday

📢 Only 7 days left!

Don’t miss your chance to join the World Sponge Conference in Vila do Conde, Portugal 🇵🇹

🗓 September 9–13, 2025

⏰ Registration closes on June 30!

💳 Registration is only confirmed after payment.

Frontiers | Marine biodiversity discovery: the metrics of new species descriptions There are currently c. 242,000 known valid marine species living in the world’s oceans and marine biota continue to be discovered and named steadily at a cur...

#SpongeThrusday
🧽 Did you know...
Sponges (Porifera) take longer than any other animals to be officially described, an average of 25 years from collection to publication.

A reminder of how much life in our oceans is still waiting to be discovered.

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10....