AQPLA Project Partners’ Meeting in Vienna

The Aquatic Plastic Project had a productive Project Partners’ Meeting at the BOKU River Lab in Vienna, bringing together representatives from participating organizations to review ongoing activities, assess project progress, and strategize for future activities aimed at mitigating plastic pollution across the Danube River Basin.

Significance of collaborative efforts was emphasized in tackling plastic pollution. A meeting provided detailed guidance on finances, workplan progress, and the use of the JEMS platform for Partner Reports. Participants were briefed on practical steps for report submission, financial oversight, and quality assurance, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of submitted reports.

 Participants received updates on communication activities, including recent events, social media engagement, and the distribution of official project materials. Future meetings are planned in Bratislava, Slovakia (November 2024), Novi Sad, Serbia (Spring 2025), and Budapest, Hungary (Autumn 2025 & Spring 2026), reflecting the project’s commitment to regional collaboration.

 Progress in all three Specific Objectives (SO) was reviewed, including efforts in remote sensing, microplastic monitoring, and the development of certification methods for upcycled plastic. Training for youth and NGOs, podcast production, and organizing national roundtable events were highlighted. Methodologies for microplastic sampling, data collection for riverine waste, and citizen science initiatives were also discussed, underscoring the comprehensive approach to addressing plastic pollution.

The meeting ended with a review of the project’s achievements and a plan for the next steps, showing the AQPLA Project’s strong commitment to tackling plastic pollution through research and teamwork.

 A big thank you to our colleagues at the BOKU for doing an amazing job hosting Project Partners’ Meeting! Great planning and warm hospitality made everything run smoothly and created a fantastic atmosphere for all of partners to come together. AQPLA team is so grateful for your hard work.