This comprehensive course brings together five sister initiatives funded under the Horizon Europe framework—Remedies, Mermaid, Remediation, Mobile, and Zero PM—to showcase advanced strategies for safeguarding our oceans and water basins.
The course covers cutting-edge developments in pollution prevention, detection, and remediation, featuring AI-powered marine drones, nature-based microalgae photobioreactors, bio-inspired electrochemical sensors for emerging contaminants, and circular economy solutions like biodegradable fishing nets. Additionally, it discusses the integration of environmental data into unified platforms, real-world pilot site challenges, and actionable policy recommendations designed to drive the green transition and support sustainable ecosystem restoration.
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Identify innovative nature-based and technological solutions for detecting, monitoring, and removing microplastics, heavy metals, and persistent toxic substances (PFAS) from marine environments and wastewater.
- Understand the mechanism of electrochemical aptasensors and biomarker toolboxes used in sentinel species to evaluate the health status of aquatic ecosystems.
- Recognize the impact of stakeholder engagement, policy brief implementations, and open-access databases in transitioning toward a zero-waste, plastic-conscious society.