12th World Sponge Conference

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....

Help us make #WSC2025 more inclusive! 🧽

We’re raising funds to support Travel Grants for students, early-career researchers & participants from underrepresented regions.

If you can, please consider a donation. 💙
🔗 events.ciimar.up.pt/index.php/ev...

In massive underwater mountain range, scientists find more than 100 new species Seamounts off the coast of Chile host a diverse, delicate ecosystem

🧽 Fun #SpongeThrusdays fact!

Did you know…
In 2024, a deep-sea expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute off the coast of Chile discovered over 100 new species and nearly 40 of them were sponges!

What other sponge secrets lie hidden in the deep? 👀

🔗 Source: www.science.org/content/arti...

🧽 Discover the key themes of the World Sponge Conference 2025.
The programme features nine core topics exploring ecosystem functioning, evolution, biotechnology, conservation, and more.
Each session will be led by leading experts in the field.

🌐 worldspongecommunity.com/program/

🧽 Fun #SpongeThursdays fact:

The first non-opioid analgesic for chronic pain might come from a marine sponge! A Portuguese project is taking this sea-based discovery to clinical trials. 💊🌊

🔗 Learn more: www.euronews.com/green/2021/0...

Need help getting to #WSC2025?

A limited number of travel grants are available, with priority for students, early-career researchers & participants from underrepresented regions 🌍

📅 Deadline: 10 June
🔗 Details: www.worldspongecommunity.com

Let’s make WSC2025 inclusive and accessible to all.

🎉 Registration is now OPEN for the 12th World Sponge Conference!
Join us in Portugal this September to connect with the global sponge community 🧽

📅 Register between 2–30 June to secure your place.
💻 Registration link: events.ciimar.up.pt/index.php/ev...

🔗 More info: www.worldspongecommunity.com

📣 We’re now on Instagram!
Follow us at @WSCommunity25 for weekly updates, behind-the-scenes content, and everything sponge-related as we prepare for #WSC2025 in Portugal.

🧽 From science highlights to community news, we’ll be posting regularly — don’t miss out!

🚨 Submit your abstract by 25 April to join us at #WSC2025 in Portugal and share your sponge research. From taxonomy to symbioses, biotech, conservation — all contributions welcome!
🌊 Submissions at www.worldspongecommunity.com
#MarineScience #Sponges #CallForAbstracts

🦠 Sponge Symbioses
🧪 Biotechnological Applications
⏳ Sponges in Human History
🌟 Conservation & Restoration
🎨 Art–Science Intersections — connecting creativity with sponge science across all themes.

#WSC2025 will feature 8 thematic sessions + a transversal Art-Science track, inviting diverse perspectives and creative dialogue:
🔬 Taxonomy & Systematics
🌍 Biodiversity & Biogeography
🧽 Organismal Biology
♻️ Ecosystem Function & Services

The #WorldSpongeConference will be held in the beautiful coastal city of Vila do Conde, in northern Portugal — a land of rich maritime heritage, known for its historic shipbuilding, traditional kelp collectors, and local fishing communities. 🌊⚓ #WSC2025 #MarineScience #Sponges

During one week, the global sponge community will come together to share discoveries, advance conservation, and explore the ecological and societal roles of sponges on our changing planet. Join us in Portugal for the 12th World Sponge Conference! 🙌