As one of the six projects funded by JPI Oceans to address the pervasive issue of microplastic pollution in marine environments, the ANDROMEDA project was showcased at the VLIZ Marine Science Day 2024, held in Ostend on 6 March 2024. This three-year project brought together a diverse consortium of 15 international partners to quantify and comprehend the distribution and degradation of nanoplastics and microplastics. Its innovative methodologies, including a citizen science mobile app, drew considerable attention at the VLIZ Marine Science Day.
Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to delve into ANDROMEDA's achievements. Specifically, JPI Oceans presented the citizen science mobile app developed by the University of Malta within the project framework. The ANDROMEDA app engages the public in collecting plastic at the beach, photographing it, and then uploading the pictures to the app, which then counts and categorises the plastics fragments utilising artificial intelligence, contributing to a comprehensive dataset. At the VLIZ Marine Science Day, JPI Oceans showcased an interactive workshop simulating this process, complete with sand and microplastic samples to maximise engagement.
JPI Oceans also detailed ANDROMEDA’s significance in addressing plastic pollution by developing in-situ analysis tools to characterise nanoplastics and microplastics, even when in degraded shape. Such research was topical to the VLIZ Marine Science Day, which was framed within the Belgian EU Presidency and the UN Ocean Decade, also highlighting the EU Mission Ocean. Renowned keynote speakers such as Director “Healthy Planet”, DG RTD and Mission Ocean co-lead John Bell and diver-explorer Paul Rose delivered inspiring speeches, emphasising a global perspective on ocean conservation and sustainability.
ANDROMEDA's success at the VLIZ Marine Science Day 2024 exemplifies JPI Oceans' commitment to marine science and its advancement. By enabling hands-on citizen involvement in addressing plastic pollution, JPI Oceans contributes to the overarching goals of the EU Mission Ocean and the UN Ocean Decade, striving for ocean health and productivity for present and future generations.
Learn more about ANDROMEDA project here: https://www.andromedaproject.net/.