PLASTIMPACT
PLASTIMPACT: Fate and Impact of Plastics – from Macro to Nano – on Planetary Health. The acronym PLASTIMPACT refers to both the huge impact of plastic pollution on our planet and the impact this network aims to generate through joint scientific, educational and outreach activities. Aligned with this goal, the vision of the ETN consortium is to increase awareness and understanding of plastic pollution among different societal agents, thus contributing to the global efforts to advance towards a planet with significantly reduced plastic pollution.
Category: ENLIGHT Thematic Network
University:
University of the Basque Country, University of Bern, Comenius University Bratislava, University of Bordeaux, University of Galway, Ghent University, University of Groningen, University of Tartu, Uppsala University
Period:
2024-2027
Plastic pollution is recognized as a global environmental challenge, due to its presence across marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. The PLASTIMPACT proposal stems from the recognition that risks posed by plastic pollution to the environment and human health need to be tackled on a planetary scale, by involving scientists, citizens, societal agents and governments.
The PLASTIMPACT European Thematic Network (ETN) main goal is to build an interdisciplinary community across nine of the ten ENLIGHT universities: the University of the Basque Country, University of Bern, University of Bordeaux, Comenius University Bratislava, University of Galway, Ghent University, University of Groningen, University of Tartu, and Uppsala University. Plastimpact focuses on two main pillars: networking and community building, and outreach.
The networking and community building pillar includes the organization of an onsite symposium in Bordeaux and the design, implementation and evaluation of two summer schools; first, in Groningen, focusing on terrestrial environment and human health and second, in Galway, focusing on aquatic environment. These activities aim to strengthen interdisciplinary connections among participants from different scientific backgrounds and European countries, facilitating collaboration across the ENLIGHT university network.
The outreach pillar will involve citizens in macroplastic monitoring; social engagement will be boosted through educational digital content production and macroplastic sampling on soils and beaches. In addition, high school students will be trained on microplastic sampling and analysis, supported by the development of specific educational material.
These activities enable the generation of datasets on macro- and microplastic pollution and make it possible a holistic response to the problem of plastic pollution, including an integrated assessment of the fate and effects of plastics from source to temporal sinks (soils and sediments) to organisms. It also allows the sharing and dissemination of knowledge on different aspects of plastic pollution through a planetary One Health perspective.
Personal highlight:
The participants of this project have background expertise in Chemistry, Biology, Communication, Language and Education, Medicine and Psychology; all focused on tackling plastic pollution from diverse perspectives. The strength of the consortium lies on this holistic One Health approach, based on the idea that environmental and human health are interconnected. The project outcomes could not be achieved without all participants. The networking and community building pillar involves academics, early stage researchers and stakeholders at nine ENLIGHT regions/countries. The outreach pillar involves citizens and high schools at nine ENLIGHT regions/countries in monitoring macro and microplastics in marine, freshwater and soil samples.
Participants and Stakeholders
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- Coordinator: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU): Miren P. Cajaraville
- Other Partner Institutions:
- University of Bern
- University of Bordeaux
- Comenius University Bratislava
- University of Galway
- Ghent University
- University of Groningen
- University of Tartu
- Uppsala University
- Several stakeholders from different regions: Research and Technological Centres, NGOs and companies.
Team Compostion:
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- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Miren P. Cajaraville and Eider Bilbao, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Ariane Gorostiza, project officer of PLASTIMPACT.
- University of Bern, Katrina Kremer and Roman Lehner, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at University of Bern.
- University of Bordeaux, Olivier Sandre and Bénédicte Morin, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at the University of Bordeaux.
- Comenius University Bratislava, Martin Kopani, PLASTIMPACT coordinator at Comenius University Bratislava
- University of Galway, Liam Morrison and Ana Marques, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at University of Galway.
- Ghent University, Caroline De Tender and Stefaan De Neve, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at Ghent University.
- University of Groningen, Barbro Melgert and Irene Maltagliati, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at University of Groningen.
- University of Tartu, Tiia Möller-Raid and Kätlin Jeedas, PLASTIMPACT coordinators at University of Tartu.
- Uppsala University, Margareta Krabbe, PLASTIMPACT coordinator at Uppsala University
Stakeholders/External Partners:
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- NGO: Plastic Soup Foundation
In the region of the University of the Basque Country
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- Technological Centre: GAIKER
- Technological Centre: AIMPLAS
- NGO: MATER Ontzi Museo Ekoaktiboa
NGO: SURFRIDER Foundation Spain In the region of the University of Bern
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- NGO: Sail and Explore
- NGO: Oceaneye
In the region of the Universityof Bordeaux
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- NGO: 4PSCIENSEAS
- NGO: WINGS OF THE OCEAN
- NGO: OCEAN SUSTAINABILITY FOUNDATION
In the region of Ghent University
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Business: B4plastics
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- NGO: Plastic Soup Foundation
- In the region of the University of Groningen
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Research Consortium, MOMENTUM Microplastics & Health Consortium
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Objectives
The main objectives of the PLASTIMPACT ETN are the following:
- To build a community of scientists and citizens with a common interest in tackling plastic pollution.
- To raise awareness in society and to share knowledge with citizens and researchers.
- To establish a dialogue with stakeholders to define common strategies to reduce plastic pollution.
To reach these goals, the consortium will develop joint activities around the two main pillars of the project:
- Networking and community building (objectives 1, 2 and 3).
- Outreach (objective 2).
Contact
- Ariane Gorostiza, MSc in Biodiversity, Functioning and Management of Ecosystems, PLASTIMPACT Project officer
- Email Address:
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- Email Address:
- Miren P. Cajaraville, Full professor in Cell Biology, Principal researcher
- Email Address:
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- Email Address:
Project Website: www.ehu.es/enlight/plastimpact
Additional information
The acronym PLASTIMPACT refers to both the huge impact of plastic pollution on our planet and the impact this network aims to generate through joint scientific, educational and outreach activities.
Aligned with this goal, the vision of the ETN consortium is to increase awareness and understanding of plastic pollution among different societal agents, thus contributing to the global efforts to advance towards a planet with significantly reduced plastic pollution.
One unique feature of PLASTIMPACT is the involvement of citizens and high schools in monitoring macro and microplastics in marine, freshwater and soil samples across Europe. Furthermore, data gathered through citizen science will be shared with national and european administrations responsible for management of plastic litter.
You can find more information about PLASTIMPACT in the following Enlight Podcast episode: https://enlight-eu.org/university-about-us/podcast