Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA) is one of the two public Universities located at Lisbon. Was ranked top 9 by the QS World University Rankings 2021 Edition for the European ranking for universities founded less 50 years ago. The university is composed by different Schools and Institutes including NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) that host ecoRoute. 

NOVA FCSH develops cutting-edge research in different scientific areas in its 14 R&D Units, including CHAM – Centre for Humanities, an inter-university research unit of NOVA FCSH and of the University of the Azores, which is accredited by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.

 NOVA FCSH, through CHAM has also an extensive experience in the protection and promotion of cultural and underwater heritage, having developed several initiatives to musealize underwater archaeological sites and an extensive know-how in the virtual documentation of objects and archaeological sites, the basis for the promotion of culture and historical heritage. 

NOVA FCSH also hosts the UNESCO Chair: The Ocean’s Cultural Heritage, an international reference in the Humanities, interconnecting different disciplines of the Humanities, focusing on the history of the ocean, its cultural heritage, especially in the modern era. It has established a network of entities across the Atlantic – Europe-Africa-America and includes researchers and students who also expand its action to the general public, allowing the sharing of experiences, teaching materials and knowledge through the development of research, education and of awareness activities. The Chair promotes and integrates these actions within the scope of the cultural heritage of the oceans, underwater cultural heritage and archeology, environment and history, in the establishment of good practices and cooperation. 

Besides academia and dissemination actions, the NOVA through the Chair is also involved and committed in educational and raising awareness actions towards the protection of underwater cultural heritage.