Wave Dynamics in Segundo Torrão

This case study focuses on a collaborative research project in the Segundo Torrão neighbourhood of Almada, Portugal, facilitated by L’Atelier des Jours à Venir alongside scientists from the University of Lisbon, CNRS – University of La Rochelle, and the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering. The aim was to understand and explain the recurring tidal waves that inundate this low-lying, informal settlement each winter.

Although the project was initiated by academic and cultural institutions, the approach taken was highly collaborative and reflexive. Researchers engaged directly with local residents, who shared detailed knowledge of past flooding events and helped identify the key issues to investigate. Residents also supported the deployment of sensors at the Tagus Estuary and provided critical contextual data that shaped the scientific models.

Reflexivity played a vital role in the success of this co-produced research. The scientific team did not enter the project with a fixed research agenda; instead, they deliberately created space to learn from the residents’ experiences and perspectives. This required researchers to pause, listen, and critically examine their assumptions, adapting their methods and timelines to follow the priorities of the community. It is a compelling example of how reflexivity can deepen scientific relevance and trust, especially in communities historically underserved by formal institutions.

Despite generating valuable insights into the causes of these waves, the project also underscores the limitations of research without policy action: no flood prevention measures were enacted, and part of the neighbourhood was later demolished by the local authority. Nonetheless, the project stands as a model for place-based, participatory environmental science.

Project description on the L’Atelie des Jour à Venir website

Press article, ‘Será que o mar vai comer o bairro?’ by Maíra Streit published in Mensagem de Lisboa