The \u201cBabe\u0219-Bolyai\u201d University (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca, through the Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, will launch the European initiative ‘Plastic Pirates in Romania’, a participatory research project (Citizen Science) funded by the Horizon Europe program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis initiative marks the debut of Romania\u2019s participation in one of the most important European projects dedicated to monitoring plastic pollution in the continent\u2019s rivers and aims to actively involve citizens in scientific and environmental protection activities. On this occasion, students from the \u2018Ana Aslan\u2019 Technical College in Cluj-Napoca and the \u2018Dumitru T\u0103u\u021ban\u2019 Theoretical High School in Flore\u0219ti will carry out a practical action of taking macro- and microplastic samples from the Some\u0219ul Mic River based on the Plastic Pirates sampling methodology, thus contributing to the collection of relevant scientific data on plastic pollution of watercourses,\u201d reads a statement sent by UBB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The launch event will take place on Tuesday, May 6, in the Flore\u0219ti commune, downstream of the Flore\u0219ti II Hydropower Plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe event aims to be a model of collaboration between educational institutions, the community and researchers, in support of environmental protection and ecological education,\u201d the organizers say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local authorities, county and regional authorities in the field of environmental protection, the Cluj County School Inspectorate, as well as representatives of civil society – environmental NGOs, were invited to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n