AZTI Researcher Ángel Borja Receives Prestigious Odum Award for International Scientific Career

• The marine ecologist has received the highest international honor in the field of estuarine and coastal science, awarded by the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). This is the first time, since the award’s creation in 1997, that it has been granted to a non-US researcher

Pasaia (Spain), July 18, 2025 – Ángel Borja, Principal Investigator at AZTI, has been awarded the Odum Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest distinction granted by the U.S.-based Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). The award honors his outstanding scientific career and his contributions to the knowledge, management, and conservation of coastal and estuarine ecosystems on a global scale.

Since it was first established in 1997, the award—named after three members of the Odum family, pioneers of modern ecology—has only been given to U.S.-based researchers. Ángel Borja is the first international recipient, highlighting the global impact of his work and the strength of European leadership in marine science.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award, which carries the scientific legacy of the Odum family, whose work deeply influenced my vocation and career,” said Ángel Borja. “I see it as a collective recognition of all those in Europe who contribute to applied science for coastal ecosystem management, and as motivation to continue fostering international collaboration.”

With over 40 years of experience in marine research, Ángel Borja has carried out his entire career in the Basque Country, projecting his work to the international scene. At AZTI, he has led multidisciplinary teams of more than 25 researchers, secured major European and international funding, and mentored 30 master’s and PhD students from countries including Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. His efforts have helped establish AZTI as a leading European center in applied marine ecology.

His research has played a key role in advancing European leadership in critical areas for marine protection—such as combating pollution, assessing the ecological status of oceans, implementing EU environmental policies like the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, maritime spatial planning, sustainable resource management, ecosystem services, the use of genomics in environmental monitoring, and the assessment of climate change impacts.

Ángel Borja is also recognized for his work in training and science outreach. Since launching it in 2004, he has led an international summer course on marine research in Donostia/San Sebastián, which was honored by the European Commission in 2024 for its academic excellence and educational impact.

The award will be officially presented on November 9, 2025, during the 28th Biennial CERF Conference in Richmond, Virginia (USA), the world’s leading scientific forum on coastal and estuarine ecosystems.

Through this award, CERF not only recognizes an outstanding scientific career, but also a vision that bridges research with practical application and a strong commitment to ocean sustainability. In the words of the jury, “Ángel Borja’s work has crossed boundaries and disciplines, advancing science that is useful, rigorous, and accessible for environmental management.”

This recognition aligns with major global priorities for marine sustainability—particularly UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water)—and with AZTI’s strategic focus on knowledge transfer and international collaboration.