The project

A big amount of the plastic we use every day ends up in the sea even if we apply the waste sorting approach. The same happens for the synthetic fibers in our clothes.
Since these materials are made by petroleum, once produced they are not safe for the ecosystem and regardless of how accurately we believe we recycle, plastic will always have a negative impact.
Since plastic has become an overwhelming issue, many efforts have been made by science to study its fate once released in the ecosystem. And with MicroMar, we want to do the same.
However, the approach we use is different from what is usually applied by research groups. MicroMar was in fact born outside the University but relies on the University for everything concerning protocols and methodologies. MicroMar also rely on citizens who are not scientists (divers, fishermen, volunteers, high school students…) and wants to keep them informed about the results and involved in understanding the outcome. All this is supported by small funds deriving from a local association (AIPU) to support the costs of laboratory equipment… And this led to the beginning of the fourth sampling campaign in the Mediterranean in 2023.