Other Activities

Temporary exhibits of photographs, oil paintings, posters and press articles about ELA’s history, as well as of scientific posters and local craftsmanship considerably increased the participation of the public in the first years after opening.

Also book presentations created public interest. The topic choice of the books was based on ELA’s entry statistics which consisted of 60 % children, 20 % active adults, 10 % university students and 10 % others.

Up to 2019, more than twenty five books and more than 100 articles have been published in popular scientific and scientific journals (see Bibliography).

ELA´s facilities have been used for diverse official receptions by institutions such as the Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia, the municipal company Águas de Gaia, the Parish Council of Arcozelo, the ICBAS institute, and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

The Aquarium has already served for the celebration of a civil wedding and was the stage of a photo contest with the theme “Life in Aquariums”.

Over the years, ELA has been the host for several TV reports on Portuguese channels as well as documentaries for French and German television programs.

Between 2002 and 2013, ELA was involved in the installation and maintenance of aquariums and aqua-terrariums at the CEAR Creek Environmental Education Centre of Gaia, in Miramar, a few kilometres north of Aguda, ensuring the exposition of representative species of the creek fauna and flora in 26 exhibits.

Several bronze sculptures made by Mike Weber were installed outdoors. A “Glass Eel Fisherman, accompanied by his son”, can be seen at the CEAR.

In front of ELA, next to the Bateira, is the statue of a “Diving woman, out of the water”, made in collaboration with António Oliveira, a retired employee of ELA. According to the opinion of its author, this sculpture symbolizes the future of humanity that lies in the sea and in the hands of women.

A year later, in 2007, the sculpture of a «Fisherman coming from the sea, carrying a sea bass on his back» was placed next to the fish market, but stolen a few years later.

ELA has been present at national fairs, exhibiting its publications and posters, and distributing popular scientific leaflets.

In the course of time, two murals on the wall of the house in front of the ELA were designed and painted by Mike Weber and his family.