Goals and objectives

The excellence of the Graduate Program in Oceanology - PPGO is due to the performance and dedication of its faculty, who coordinates and/or participates in important research projects with national and international scope, which consolidated a stable infrastructure and significant collaborations that strengthen the training of the Program students.

The main goal of the Graduate Program in Oceanology is:

*Training qualified professionals for academic-scientific and applied work in Oceanology.

The specific objectives of the Program are:

*Expanding and disseminating knowledge on Oceanography in its physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes in marine and coastal environments and their interactions with global ocean;

*Promoting scientific and operational integration among Marine Science's professionals at FURG in Brazil and the international community, therefore inserting our country in international forums in the area;

*Contributing to regional, national and international development and integration between Educational Institutions for the Integration of Marine Science;

*Training professionals with high-level skills for the increasing market demand for Marine Science specialists;

*Preparing professionals graduated in the Program to contribute and/or lead in decision-making related to the development and management of the coastal and marine zone.

• Coordination 04/2023-03/2025

Program Coordination ("COMCUR")

Coordinator: Profa. Grasiela L. L. Pinho (AC2)

Assistant Coordinator: Profa. Elisa H. L. Fernandes (AC1)

Members of the Program Coordination: Mauricio M. Mata (AC1), Gilberto Fillmann (AC2), Elisa H. L. Fernandes (AC1), Jorge Arigony Neto (AC3), Rodrigo Kerr (AC1).

Student Representatives: MSc. Carolina De-Zotti (full member), MSc. Brendon Yuri Damini (alternate member)

Admission Committee ("COMSEL")

Director: Prof. José Henrique Muelbert

Full members: Profs. Jeferson P. Machado  (AC1), Mônica Wallner-Kersanach (AC2), Paula Dentzien Dias Francischini  (AC3)

Alternate members: Profs. Elisa Helena Fernandes (suplente AC1), Prof. Rodrigo Kerr (AC2), Carlos Francisco Andrade (suplente AC2)

 Assistant members: Postdoctoral researches with fellowships.

Dissemination Committee ("COMDIV")

Director: Prof. Rodrigo Kerr

Assistant members: Postdoctoral researches with fellowships.

Qualification Committee ("COMQUAL")

Director: Prof. José L. L. De Azevedo

Members:Profs. Eunice da C. Machado (AC2), Salette Figueiredo (AC3), Carlos Augusto Schettini (AC1)

History of the PPGO

The development of the Oceanography area at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) began in 1971 with the creation of the Undergraduate Course in Oceanology, recognized by the MEC in 1975, the first of its kind in Brazil. In parallel, the Atlantic Oceanographic Base was created with the creation of laboratory infrastructure and floating resources (the Oceanographic Ship Atlântico Sul and the Oceanographic Boat Larus, in addition to smaller vessels), with funding from FINEP. This structure enabled the main objective of this project to be fulfilled, which was to promote the development of Marine Sciences in the estuarine and coastal zone in the southern region of Brazil, at the time the region with the greatest fishing potential on the entire Brazilian coast. In 1979, FURG already had a faculty of renowned qualifications, justifying the creation of a Postgraduate Course (Master's level) in Biological Oceanography. FURG University Council Resolution no. 1487, dated 11/20/1987, determined FURG's vocation as “a university focused on coastal and oceanic ecosystems”, expressing its socio-environmental commitment and its alignment with local, regional, national development and global, and involving all areas of knowledge. In 1992, the PhD course in Biological Oceanography began.

Since then, countless researchers from different areas of Oceanography have complemented and enriched the Institution's human potential. Demand increased considerably at FURG. To meet the growing demand for Postgraduate Programs in Oceanography, the Master's course in Physical, Chemical and Geological Oceanography (PPGOFQG) was created in 1997, with CAPES concept 3. The PPGOFQG concept increased to 4 in 2001. The Program's growing indicators pointed to its clear evolution, which culminated in the CTC/CAPES recommendation for the creation of the Program at the Doctorate level with CAPES Concept 4 in December 2003. Doctorate in Physical, Chemical and Geological Oceanography was approved by the Research and Extension Teaching Council (COEPE) of FURG on January 23, 2004. In the three-year evaluation (2007 – 2009) CTC/CAPES recognized the excellence of the PPGOFQG, awarding the Concept Program 5. This concept was maintained in the triennial evaluation of 2010 – 2012. The actions implemented at PPGOFQG throughout the 2015 – 2016 biennium created a reinvigorated group spirit among the Program's teachers, motivating practically everyone to actively participate in meetings held with the entire Body Professor, the Committees that advise the Coordination (COMSEL, COMDIV, COMQUAL), as well as specific demands related to Seminar Disciplines, specific selection processes (Sandwich Doctorate Abroad, PNPD scholarship quotas, etc.), dissemination initiatives and internationalization of activities and collaborations, among others.

In the Quadrennial Assessment (2013 – 2016) carried out by CAPES we received Concept 6, concomitantly with the consolidation of the Program by strengthening the Oceanography area after (i) the creation of the Institute of Oceanography in 2008; (ii) the implementation of human resources training programs in the area of environmental studies applied to the oil industry; (iii) the consolidation of IO – FURG as a center of excellence in Antarctic and High Latitude Oceanography; (iv) the institution’s vocation for studying coastal and estuarine dynamics; (v) the growing demand for studies focused on the impact of climate change and extreme events; (vi) the growing concern about marine contamination and ecotoxicology; among others. Furthermore, the excellence of the Faculty is remarkable when it is seen that, through coordination and participation in important national and international research projects, it was possible to materialize a solid infrastructure and important collaborations and work networks that strengthen the training of students in the program. .

Based on CAPES recommendations in the quadrennial evaluation (2013-2016) and, due to the strong interdisciplinarity of the Program, the program was restructured from 2017 onwards. Among the main changes we highlight: (i) the change of the name of the PPG for Postgraduate Program in Oceanology (PPGO), approved at FURG in December 2018; (ii) changes to the PPGO's areas of concentration and lines of research, which allowed even more value to be given to all aspects of scientific research, considering both the integration of the sub-areas of Oceanography with each other and with other related areas, as well as the search for research of excellence and innovation in emerging subareas in Marine Sciences. The new areas of concentration (AC) of the PPGO are: AC1 – Ocean Physics and Climate, AC2 – Biogeochemistry, Pollution and Coastal Ecosystems and AC3 – Marine and Coastal Geology; (iii) the review of PPGO standards in response to Student and Teaching demands; and (iv) structural reform in the framework of disciplines offered, further benefiting the integrated training of students in the area of Oceanography, training them both for academic-scientific performance and for the execution of applied actions that indicate problem-solving directions, as well as to dialogue with society. The changes made resulted in Concept 7 in the Quadrennial Assessment (2017 – 2020) carried out by CAPES, reinforcing the role of the PPG in Oceanology in leading scientific research and excellent professional training, at an international standard.