POSTER IJUP 2021

The IJUP scientific meetings are annual events, which take place at the beginning of the second semester, where U.Porto students have the opportunity to present and discuss the results of the studies in which they participated in the context of research initiation projects.

The research initiation program aims to encourage the involvement of U.Porto students in R&D activities, as early as possible in their university education.

We participated with our experimental study that had the purpose to prove and qualify the influence of textured surface substrates morphology and chemical composition on the growth and propagation of transplanted corals. It was used Additive Manufacturing and silicone moulds for converting three-dimensional samples into limestone mortar with white Portland cement substrates for coral growth. Based on literature review, tiles samples were designed and printed with different geometries and textures inspired by soil erosion and nature marine environment. Commercial coral frag tiles were analysed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to identify the main chemical elements. Tropical coral species with fast growth rate in captivity were selected namely Montipora Danae; Montipora Confusa and Montipora Undata. The developed substrates were introduced into a closed-circuit aquarium to monitor the coral weekly evolution process and analyse the results obtained.

Link of the original project