The OurMED project was represented at the international conference of the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), held from 24 to 28 June 2025 in Palermo, Italy, under the theme “New challenges in understanding and managing water-related risks in a changing environment.”

Since the end of May 2025, Albufera Lagoon has been undergoing a brownification event, a phenomenon characterized by a noticeable darkening of surface waters. This change, clearly captured by recent Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, shows elevated NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) values, which are closely linked to increased chlorophyll concentrations in surface waters. The timing of this event aligns with a period of rising temperatures and prolonged lack of precipitation, raising concerns among environmental scientists and local stakeholders.

Within the framework of OurMED project, a specialized training workshop on “Classification of Insects as Bioindicators of Water System Health in the Mujib Basin” was held at the headquarters of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). The event brought together researchers and research assistants from the University of Jordan and the RSCN, with the aim of strengthening their practical skills and scientific knowledge in the field of aquatic biodiversity monitoring.

The two-day training focused on the use of freshwater insect species as biological indicators for assessing the ecological health of freshwater systems. 

Experts emphasized the growing importance of bioindicators in environmental research and conservation, especially in fragile ecosystems like the Mujib Basin, a key area for biodiversity and freshwater resources in Jordan.

This collaborative initiative reflects a shared commitment between academia and conservation institutions to promote evidence-based approaches to water management and to empower young researchers with the tools needed to support sustainable environmental practices.

The second Annual Meeting of the OurMED Project took place on May 13–14, 2025, in the historic city of Naples, Italy. Hosted at the prestigious Historical Library of the Faculty of Engineering (UNINA), the event brought together over 40 participants, including project partners and advisory board members.

Over the course of two days, participants shared the progress achieved across all eight Work Packages (WPs), addressing key scientific and operational challenges related to water management, nature-based solutions (NbS), governance, data integration, digital twin development, and stakeholder engagement.

On April 24, 2025, the second Living Lab workshop (M3.2) took place in the heart of Konya, bringing together 18 participants from a wide range of local and regional institutions. This workshop focused on a participatory scenario-building exercise aimed at supporting the ongoing modeling efforts within the OurMED project.

On April 25, 2025, the second Sebou Living Lab was held online as part of the OurMED project. The event brought together teams from Living Planet Morocco (LPM) and Tour du Valat (TdV), along with water managers and experts from the Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABHS).