19 November, 2024

 

The final event of the ERA-Net Cofund AquaticPollutants took place from 22 to 23 October 2024. During the event, the 18 research projects and the transfer project AquaticPollutants TransNet presented their results from the last four years at DECHEMA in Frankfurt am Main. In addition, challenges and perspectives for the future were discussed in panel discussions.

The event started on 22nd October 2024 with a warm welcome by Dr Simon Frank (Projektträger Karlsruhe), Dr Miguel Ángel Gilarranz (WaterJPI) and Dr Giulio Pattanaro (European Research Executive Agency). Silvia Lorrio (AEI) then gave a brief overview of the management and follow-up of the funded projects. This was followed by Kaitlyn Carter's (DECHEMA e.V.) presentation of the AquaticPollutants TransNet results. In the transfer project, various tools and measures were developed to help with knowledge transfer both between the research projects and from the projects to end users.

The core of the final event was formed by the presentations of the 18 research projects, which presented their results on both days. A highlight of the programme was the presentation by Naomi Timmer, the winner of the AquaticPollutants Innovation Challenge on science communication. She presented her idea of combining a social media campaign with a school project for the EU project iMERMAID. The aim is to inform the local population in the Mediterranean region about chemical pollution in the sea and thus ensure that the use of these chemicals is reduced in the long term.

 

Exciting programme to take part in

In addition to the presentations, the participants were offered an exciting framework programme. For example, panel discussions were held on both days of the conference. On the first day, Naomi Timmer (H2O People), Prof. Francesco Regoli (PHARMASEA / Polytechnic University of Marche), Prof. Andreas Thiem (SARA / DVGW Water Technology Centre) and Prof. Adolf Eisenträger ( German Environment Agency) discussed the topic of ‘Current political context and future needs’. On the second day, all members of the audience were invited to discuss the topic of ‘Bridging Perspectives on Key Themes’. The discussion was led by Dr Thomas Track (DECHEMA e.V.).

During the breaks and after the presentations, there was the opportunity to evaluate posters by young scientists from the research projects. The prize of €500 was won by Dua Özsoylu (FH Aachen), who is part of the ARENA research project. With his poster, he presented a new concept for the rapid detection of bacteria in aquacultures: a biosensor with biomimetic surface MIPs.

 

There was also the opportunity to visit the Knowledge Transfer Booth, which was developed by the AquaticPollutants TransNet partners (DECHEMA e.V., ACTeon, BRGM, ISOE). There, visitors were able to try out various tools developed in the transfer project and the research projects to improve knowledge transfer. Among other things, the TransNet Viewer, games, posters, the AquaticPollutants podcast and a video were available.

 

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