Drivers of plastic pollution in the South Bay of Biscay (Spain)
Welcome!
Introduction
Hello! My name is Inês Pereira, from Lisbon, Portugal. I am 23 years old and graduated in Biology, at the Faculty of Science of University of Lisbon. From 26th of April to 4th of June, I was in the University of Oviedo, Spain, for my professional practice in citizen science and microplastic research. I worked along another IMBRSea student (Beatriz Benaduce), under the supervision of Eva Garcia-Vazquez.
If you would like to know more about my work, JOIN ME !
About my host organization
My professional practice took place in the University of Oviedo, the only university in the region of Asturias, Spain. With 7 campuses, I worked in a laboratory under the department of Functional Biology, in the Faculty of Medicine. Numerous interns worked in this laboratory, where genetics and environmental issues are the main research focus. There are also various studies in microplastic research, such as the assessment of physical and chemical characteristics of microplastics in different living organisms, from sandy beaches.
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Professional Practice Objective
My professional practice aimed at the assessment of a high-quality combined scientific and citizen science protocol, for posterior integration into scientific research.
Therefore I had to create and test a citizen science protocol to sample microplastics with cheaper and more accessible tools for citizens and compare with the scientific published protocols data to check on the reliability of those sampling methods.
List of activities
Field Work
Sand samples from five different beaches were collected for both citizen science and scientific protocol.
Lab Work
Samples from the scientific protocol went through some physical processes in the lab.
Computer Work
Data was statistically analysed and interpreted; Final consultant report writting.
Study Area
For the lasting 6 weeks of my professional practice, sand samples were collected from 5 open sea sandy beaches relatively close to commercial and fishing ports and consequently, exposed to anthropogenic pollution and ocean dynamics.
For any further information contact me: ines.pereira@imbrsea.eu