Researchers from the EOMAR research group attend the official launch of IMPLAMAC Capitalisation in the African country
The Université Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis hosted the public presentation of the project, alongside a day of sampling and scientific cooperation activities between the consortium partners
The IMPLAMAC Capitalisation project, co-funded by the Interreg MAC Programme 2021–2027, held its official launch this week at the Université Gaston Berger (UGB) in Saint-Louis (Senegal), marking a further step in its strategy for regional implementation and capacity-building for the monitoring of microplastics in Macaronesia. The session was attended by Dr Alicia Herrera Ulibarri and Josef Greenhalgh from the Ecophysiology and Physics of Marine Systems (EOMAR) group at the ECOAQUA University Institute of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The project aims to consolidate and transfer the scientific methodology developed within the IMPLAMAC project for the monitoring and assessment of microplastics, promoting cooperation between universities, research centres and public administrations in the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde and Senegal.
Dr Alicia Herrera Ulibarri and Josef Greenhalgh, on the right, alongside other participants at the event.
Institutional presentation at the Université Gaston Berger
The event took place at the CEA-MITIC (African Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, Computer Science and ICT) at the Université Gaston Berger and brought together institutional representatives, researchers, students and the local media.
During the event, the objectives of IMPLAMAC Capitalisation were presented, along with the results achieved and the importance of establishing common methodologies to enable data comparison across regions and strengthen scientific and technical capacity to tackle microplastic pollution.
A moment from the project presentation held at the Université Gaston Berger.
The event was also attended by Dr Dah Dieng, project lead at UGB; Prof. Djidiack Faye, director of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities; Dr Cintia Hernández Sánchez, representing the University of La Laguna; and Dr Adam Faye, head of international cooperation.
Furthermore, the Vice-Chancellor of the Université Gaston Berger, Prof. Magatte Ndiaye, welcomed the project delegation, highlighting the Senegalese university’s commitment to international scientific cooperation and the protection of the marine environment.
Dr Alicia Herrera Ulibarri, centre, alongside other participants at the presentation held in Senegal.
Sampling for the microplastics study
In addition to the institutional presentation, the team undertook a fieldwork session at various locations along the Senegalese coast, where sampling was carried out to assess the presence of microplastics.
These activities enable the application of the common methodology promoted by IMPLAMAC Capitalisation and the generation of comparable data across the different participating territories. The fieldwork also served to facilitate the exchange of technical knowledge between the scientific teams and to strengthen local capacities in the field of environmental monitoring.
Sampling to assess the presence of microplastics along the Senegalese coast.
The presence of plastic waste observed during the sampling highlights the importance of promoting coordinated strategies for research, prevention and management that help to protect marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Scientific cooperation between Europe and Africa
The mission to Senegal marks a further step forward in consolidating the scientific cooperation network established by IMPLAMAC Capitalización, promoting the exchange of knowledge between European and African institutions.
The project is coordinated by the University of La Laguna and involves the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the University of Madeira, ARDITI, the Government of the Azores, the University of Cape Verde and the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, as well as various partner organisations from the Canary Islands and Madeira.