Workshop at the JRC-Geel

On the 25 October 2022, a combined training workshop and stakeholder meeting of the Erasmus Maris initiative was held at European Commission Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Geel (JRC-Geel). The workshop encompassed microplastics analysis in surface water samples using a simplified method suitable for secondary school settings.  

1- TRAINING WORKSHOP
The training workshop offered a first opportunity of hands-on training of secondary school science teachers. Twenty-four teachers and lab technicians from the European School of Mol and a selection of Flemish secondary schools participated to the workshop which was held in the JRC Geel Reference Material Processing facility. 

John Seghers (JRC) Silvia Garcia Ruiz (JRC) and and Emmy Pequeur (Blue growth research lab of the University of Ghent) planned, led and coordinated the workshop.

The participants analysed a reference material for microplastics with the simplified method. The material contained about 90 particles of Polyethylene and Polypropylene larger than 300 µm but smaller than 1 mm. This size range is typical of microplastics from surface sampling using Manta nets. The results were more than promising and confirmed the viability and accuracy of the developed method. In parallel with a new RM development, Thomas More Hogeschool in Geel with the support of Dr Piotr Robouch (JRC) are validating the common method to be used at the Erasmus Maris initiative EU-wide.

2- STAKEHOLDER MEETING
​The main focus of the stakeholder meeting was upscaling of the Erasmus Maris Citizen Science initiative EU-wide. The meeting was chaired by Dr Guy Van den Eede, Director of the JRC in Geel. The further steps for upscaling were discussed and the conclusion was to 

• engage the highest levels of management in the European Commission to further expand and consolidate the Erasmus Maris initiative. 
• Involve the network of European schools for the first upscaling phase.
  

PARTICIPANTS
European Commission (JRC Geel)
Dr. Guy Van den Eede (Director)
Dr Robert Koeber (head of Unit)
Mr Nikolay Denin (assistant of the director)
Dr Hakan Emteborg (Head of sector).
Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools
 Mr. Manuel Bordoy (Deputy Secretary General of the European School).
European School of Mol
Ms Maria Jose Perez Blanco (Director)
Ms Tinne Van Opstal (Deputy Director)
Citizen Science Vlaanderen (SCivil)
Mr Jef van Laer (Advisor) were part of the discussion with the chairman of ASE, Dr Kamel
Ayam Sailing Europe (ASE)
Dr Kamel Labibes (Chairman)