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Baltic-Nordic scientists working together to reduce microplastic pollution 

Microplastic is a relatively new type of environmental pollutant, and available knowledge is ambiguous with an insufficient understanding of its distribution and fate in the environment. Microplastic contamination can be found everywhere – in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, in the atmosphere and living organisms. Multifaceted knowledge is required to gain qualitative and trustworthy information about this pollutant, which can only be obtained through interdisciplinary collaboration. To achieve this goal, Baltic and Nordic scientists have joined forces in the project “Strategic initiative to improve research performance and strengthen cooperation in microplastic pollution field”. The project consortium involved in the project is made up of specialists from various fields who complement each other’s expertise by sharing knowledge or existing infrastructure. 

The aim of the project is to strengthen international cooperation in the field of microplastic research in order to increase professional expertise, scientific quality and excellence. Simultaneously, through synergistic cooperation among participating countrie’s partners, the vertical flow of knowledge from experienced researchers and post-doctoral students to future specialists in the field – doctoral students – has been secured. The project’s kick-off meeting in Iceland marked the beginning of efforts toward achievement of the project’s aims. During it, the project partners introduced each other to the basic scope of the represented institution, available knowledge and infrastructure, as well as took the first steps towards achieving one of the project’s outcomes – a jointly prepared and submitted project application on the topic of microplastics – by leading discussions on the most appropriate project calls and topics, as well as agreeing on a further action plan. Practical experience exchange activities were also included in the meeting: Latvian partner demonstrated the method used for collecting lake surface water microplastic samples, while experts from Finland trained partners in the use of the sediment trap method in microplastic research. The project partners have already had two online meetings to ensure an effective development of a high-quality project application.  

Further project’s activities will be related to the preparation of a scientific research article on microplastic pollution in the environment. In order to fulfill the project’s primary objective, work on the project application will also continue. 

The Baltic Research Programme is implemented with the support of EEA grants within the framework of programme “Research and Education”, which is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Council of Science. The total funding of the programme is 8,676,084 euros, of which the state budget co-financing is 15% or 1,301,413 euros and the EEA co-financing is 85% or 7,374,671 euros. In the Baltic research programme, 9 research projects and 5 small cooperation projects are implemented in Latvia. 

The Baltic Research Programme’s project “Strategic initiative to improve research performance and strengthen cooperation in microplastic pollution field” is implemented by Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (Latvia), University of Iceland (Iceland), Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (Iceland), Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia), University of Turku (Finland).