Exciting start of the new project ONE-BLUE funded by the European Commission under the HORIZON-Research and Innovation framework. The kick-off meeting was hosted by the coordinating institution, the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), in Barcelona from January 22nd to 23rd. Consortium teams from across Europe participated in the kick-off, and the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and dedication towards achieving the project’s goals.
The meeting was attended by Ana Bratoš Cetinić and Marina Brailo Šćepanović from the Department of Applied Ecology and from LARIAT’s Katica Butigan and Ivana Palunko, the head of LARIAT and the project’s lead at UNIDU where she introduced the UNIDU team consisting of researchers from LARIAT and the Department of Applied Ecology to the project consortium and UNIDU role in the project.
Project ONE-BLUE aims to revolutionize our understanding of concerning contaminants in marine ecosystems. Consortium efforts are focusing on the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, conducting case studies that will provide deeper insights into the concentrations, profiles, future, and effects of these contaminants. The project is funded by the European Commission under the HORIZON-Research and Innovation Action framework, within the call: HORIZON-CL6-2023-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 where 60 proposals were submitted, and ONE-BLUE is one out of two projects that are funded under this topic. The total project budget is 6.2 million EUR with 18 partners from leading research institution across Europe including UNIDU with the budget of 281.875,00 EUR.
Key initiatives in the project include:
New Monitoring Methods: Developing innovative methods for monitoring contaminants.
Interactions with Climate Change: Exploring interactions between contaminants and climate change.
Contaminant Database: Creating a database with an emphasis on the principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability.
Decision Support System: Based on machine learning and deep learning strategies to assess and forecast the combined effects of CC and CECs in marine ecosystems.
Role of LARIAT:
LARIAT team will add its input in developing the decision support system using machine learning and artificial intelligence. This will enable rapid and precise data analysis, crucial for achieving the project’s goals. Department of Applied Ecology will contribute by collecting valuable samples from the Adriatic Sea.
Results and Future Plans:
Project results will be transparently published, and the plan for utilizing developed technologies will align with relevant EU policies. This lays the foundation for further research and the preservation of marine ecosystems. Thanks to all participants for the energy and dedication at kick off meeting! With such a team, we are confident in achieving extraordinary results in researching and preserving our seas.
Check out project video!
