Minho welcomes students for the second edition of the Blended Intensive Programme on plant adaptations to climate changes

The School of Sciences of the University of Minho welcomed international students on 22-26 June for the 2026 edition of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Plant Adaptations to Climate Changes”, an initiative that brings together Master’s and PhD students from across Europe to address one of today’s most pressing global challenges: climate change and its impact on agriculture.

The programme is organised by the Department of Biology of the School of Sciences and the Research Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), in collaboration with the Centre for MicroElectroMechanical Systems (CMEMS), within the framework of the EU VINNY project, and with the support of Arqus partner universities.

The BIP combines online and face-to-face learning through an innovative blended format. The programme began with an online week from 15 to 19 June, during which participants attended lectures on environmental stress, pollution, and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Afternoon sessions featured invited talks by national and international experts covering topics including climate change, biochemical and omics approaches to plant–environment interactions, and nanotechnological strategies for applying biofertilisers and bionanopesticides in agriculture. The lectures were recorded to enable asynchronous participation while Portuguese students attended the sessions synchronously.

The on-site week, held in Braga from 22 to 26 June, enabled participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the virtual component through theoretical and practical laboratory sessions. Experimental activities focused on innovative biocontrol strategies against plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi, using microorganisms with antimicrobial activity and encapsulated nanobiopesticides. Participants investigated plant defence mechanisms by analysing the expression of key genes through Real-Time PCR and characterised bionanopesticides developed within the EU VINNY project using advanced analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy.

The scientific programme was further enriched by the participation of two invited Erasmus professors: Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach (University of Wrocław), a specialist in microbiology and leader of the Arqus Climate Change and Sustainable Development Cluster, and Ana Maldonado-Alconada (University of Córdoba), an expert in plant stress biology. Their contributions strengthened both the scientific and pedagogical dimensions of the programme.

A highlight of the week was the technical visit to the Douro Valley on 24 June, where students visited ADVID – CoLAB Vines & Wines to attend specialised talks on viticulture and climate adaptation before travelling to Quinta do Crasto for a technical visit to one of Portugal’s leading vineyards. The visit provided participants with first-hand insight into the challenges climate change poses to viticulture and the innovative strategies being developed to promote more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

Bringing together students from the University of Minho, the University of Wrocław, the University of Córdoba, and Vilnius University, the programme promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, international mobility, and challenge-based learning while strengthening European cooperation in higher education and research.

The course, worth 6 ECTS credits, concludes on 3 July with the online presentation and assessment of the projects developed by the participants, marking the final stage of a programme that combines scientific excellence, international collaboration, and innovative teaching methodologies.

Article by João Pedro Ferreira Gonçalves