Project: Study the Marine Litter dispersion: Citizen Science Application case (ML-CSA)

The Ocean’s role, considered as the engine of all life on this planet, is threatened by marine pollution. Pollution is dumped, pumped, spilled, leaked into the ocean and even washed out with our laundry. Healthy Oceanic ecosystems are those exhibiting normal forms and functions, Clean Oceans are oceans free from any types of pollution. The aim of the project is to contribute to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive’s (2008/56/EC, Galgani et al.,2010, 2013, 2014) request to increase monitoring studies and people's awareness about the Marine Litter (ML) problem. In detail, the purpose is to investigate the effects of marine currents, winds and river discharge on ML dispersion in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea. This objective will be pursued directly involving students in the Ocean Literacy activity, by using citizen science, as means to grow and spread knowledge and awareness. Marine Scientists from the national research marine institutes, with offices in the local territory, will help the students achieve comprehension on the hazards of plastic pollution on the marine ecosystem, involving them in the construction of a drifter made up of a selected marine litter and equipped with low cost electronic devices. In addition they will follow it by tracking its journey on the sea, after its launching and eventually catching it up in case of stranding. This catching activity may involve the whole Mediterranean citizens. This hands-on activity will challenge the students as a part of a big research project, by sharing and developing different skills, such as teamwork attitudes The output involves many subjects such as: Chemistry, Computer Technology, Electronics, Physics, Maths, English, Biology, History, fitting perfectly as a STEM approach project. The results of the projects and the data collected will be presented in a public event, along with their publication on the school website.