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Catharina Pieper is a dedicated Ocean Sciences PhD holder with over a decade of experience focusing on marine anthropogenic litter and plastic pollution. She spearheaded the implementation of a coastal marine litter program on Faial Island's beaches within the Azores Archipelago, meticulously studying the abundances of macro and mesodebris. Her expertise lies in analyzing temporal and spatial variability, identifying potential sources, and forecasting trends. Her passion extends to understanding the dynamics and connections of microplastics in the open ocean, particularly focusing on vertical and horizontal levels. Catharina has garnered extensive experience aboard national and international cruises, proficiently operating various instruments for physical and biological water column samplings, sediment analyses, and more. She is adept at utilizing data obtained from these cruises to analyze and interpret marine litter data in conjunction with physical and meteorological parameters. Catharina's research on microplastics includes internships, training, and participation in PhD courses at an international level, honing her skills in FTIR techniques, imaging, microscopy, and other essential instruments for plastic material identification and size determination.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Catharina Diogo Pieper

Citation names

  • Pieper, Catharina

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
D51E-8076-89BB
ORCID iD
0000-0003-3016-1692

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Earth and Environmental Sciences - Oceanography

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese
German Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Beginner (A1) Intermediate (B1)
English Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
Education
Degree Classification
2016 - 2021/07/13
Concluded
 Ciências do Mar (Doutoramento)
Major in Poluição Marinha, Lixo Marinho, Oceanografia
Universidade dos Açores - Campus da Horta, Portugal
"Measuring the Marine Debris Footprint of Azores waters (NE Atlantic): classification, variability and associated dynamics" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2021/07/13
Concluded
 Ciências do Mar (Doutoramento)
Major in Especialidade: Oceanografia
Universidade dos Açores Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Measuring the Marine Debris Footprint of Azores Waters (NE Atlantic): classification, variability and associated dynamics " (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Aprovado com Distinção e louvor por unanimidade
2019/11/19 - 2019/11/29
Attended
 PhD Course - Microplastic Analysis Applying \muFTIR Imaging, ATR-FTIR and other Techniques (Outros)
Aalborg Universitet, Denmark
2016/10/24 - 2016/11/28
Attended
 Monitoring the Oceans from Space (Outros)
EUMETSAT, Germany

Copernicus Gesellschaft mbH, Germany
2014/07/23 - 2014/08/07
Attended
 2014 ERAMUS Summer School: Formation of Multi-disciplinary Approaches to Training in Earth Observation (FORMAT-EO) (Outros)
University of Leicester, United Kingdom
2011/09 - 2014/02
Concluded
 Estudos Integrados dos Oceanos (Mestrado)
Major in Poluição Marinha
Universidade dos Açores - Campus da Horta, Portugal
"Monitoring marine debris in two sandy beaches of Faial Island – Azores" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17
2014/02
Concluded
 Estudos Integrados dos Oceanos (Mestrado)
Major in Lixo Marinho
Universidade dos Açores, Portugal
"Monitoring marine debris in two sandy beaches at Faial Island : Azores" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 19
2014
Concluded
 Mestrado de Estudos Integrados dos Oceanos (Mestrado)
Universidade dos Açores, Portugal
"Monitoring marine debris in two sandy beaches at Faial Island - Azores" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17 (in 20)
2007/10 - 2010/07
Concluded
 Biologia Marinha e Biotecnologia (Licenciatura)
Major in Aquacultura e Pescas
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar de Peniche, Portugal
"Macroalgae production project for Agar extraction" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 14
2010
Concluded
 Biologia Marinha e Biotecnologia (Licenciatura)
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
"Macroalgae production project for Agar extraction" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 14 (in 20)
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/03 - 2023/04 Researcher (Research) Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Portugal
Universidade dos Açores - Campus da Horta, Portugal
2021/11 - 2021/12 Researcher (Research) Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Portugal
2016/02/01 - 2021/07/13 Researcher (Research) Universidade dos Açores, Portugal
2021/04 - 2021/05 Researcher (Research) Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Portugal
2020/05 - 2021/05 Researcher (Research) Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, Portugal
2016/02 - 2020/01 Researcher (Research) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade dos Açores - Campus da Horta, Portugal
2015/08 - 2016/01 Researcher (Research) Instituto do Mar, Portugal
Universidade dos Açores Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2013/10 - 2014/08 Estagiário Universidade do Porto Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2015 - 2017 BIOMETORE - Biodiversity in Seamounts: The Madeira-Tore and Great Meteor
EEA-Grant
2014/10 - 2014/12 Monitoring Microplastics
CE-497
 Fundação Luso-Americana

Contract

Designation Funders
2022/04/01 - 2025/04/01 COAST - Conservation of marine ecossystems around Santo Antão, Cabo Verde: implications for policy and society
DivRestore/0005/2020
Researcher
Ongoing

Other

Designation Funders
2020/05 - Current iFADO
Interreg Espaço Atlântico EAPA_165/2016
Research Fellow
2017 - Current IDiverSE - Student's Science to Discover Island Diversity"
H2020
2016 - Current EO-Marine Downstrem Services for Public Authorities
H2020, WP2016-2017
2021/11/19 - 2021/12/17 MARINE-EO: “Bridging Innovative Downstream Earth Observation and Copernicus enabled Services for Integrated maritime environment, surveillance and security”
PROJECTO 0710 – PS – Assessoria MARINE-EO
Research Fellow
Concluded
2021/04 - 2021/05 MAGAL Constellation: definido o pilar de uma constelação futura para monitorização do oceano e das alterações climáticas
ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000129
Research Fellow
Ongoing
2015 - 2019 Wavebuoy - Wave-powered oceanographic buoy for long-term deployment
FCT
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Pieper, Catharina. "INTO THE MED: Searching for Microplastics from Space to Deep-Sea". 129-138. Springer International Publishing, 2020.
    10.1007/978-3-030-45909-3_21
Conference paper
  1. Guerra, A.G.C.; João, A.; Arantes, M.; Martin, M.; Figueiredo, P.; Costa, A.; Cecilio, C.M.; et al. Corresponding author: Guerra, A.G.C.. "MAGAL Constellation – using a small satellite altimeter constellation to monitor local and regional ocean and inland". Paper presented in The 4S Symposium 2022, Vilamoura, 2022.
    Published
  2. Pieper, Catharina. "Into the MED: searching for microplastics from space to deep-sea". Paper presented in International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, 2019.
  3. Pieper, Catharina. "Application of Scoring Techniques to determine beach debris sources on remote open Ocean areas". Paper presented in Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, 2018.
Conference poster
  1. Pieper, Catharina. "Application of Scoring Techniques to determine beach debris sources on remote open Ocean areas.". Paper presented in Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, 2018.
  2. Pieper, Catharina. "Space and Time Variability of MODIS/AQUA derived OC and SST parameters on two major complex seamount systems (Great Meteor and Madeira-Tore)". Paper presented in International Ocean Colour Science Meeting, 2017.
  3. Pieper, Catharina. "Marine Debris Time and Space Variability in a Remote Island: Faial (Azores, NE Atlantic)". Paper presented in IMMR - International Meeting on Marine Research, 2016.
  4. Pieper, Catharina. "Pieper, C.; Ventura, M.A.; Cunha, R.T. (2013) Monitorização de resíduos marinhos em duas praias da Ilha do Faial – Açores. 10ª Conferência Nacional do Ambiente, 6 to 8 November 2013, University of Aveiro, Portugal. Poster". 2013.
Journal article
  1. Pieper, Catharina. "Marine litter footprint in the Azores Islands: A climatological perspective". Science of The Total Environment (2020): 143310-143310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143310.
    10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143310
  2. Catharina Pieper; Linda Amaral-Zettler; Kara Lavender Law; Clara Magalhães Loureiro; Ana Martins. "Application of Matrix Scoring Techniques to evaluate marine debris sources in the remote islands of the Azores Archipelago". Environmental Pollution 249 (2019): 666-675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.084.
    10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.084
  3. Pieper, Catharina; Ventura, Maria A.; Martins, Ana; Cunha, Regina T.. "Beach debris in the Azores (NE Atlantic): Faial Island as a first case study". Marine Pollution Bulletin 101 2 (2015): 575-582. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.056.
    Published • 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.056
Manual
  1. Pieper, Catharina. Guide for Microplastics Identification. 2014.
Newspaper article
  1. Pieper, Catharina. "Toward the Integrated Marine Debris Observing System", 2019, 6
Report
  1. George, K.H.; Arndt, H.; Wehrmann, A.; Baptista, L.; Berning, B.; Bruhn, M.; Carvalho, F.; et al. Corresponding author: George, K.H.. 2018. Controls in benthic and pelagic BIODIversity of the AZores BIODIAZ.
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Pieper, Catharina. "Monitoring Marine Debris in two sandy beaches of Faial Island - Azores". Master, 2013.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2019/09 Into the MED: searching for microplastics from space to deep-sea. International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea
(Capri, Italy)
2018/08/06 The Plastic Age: Why are Azores Tidelines Polluted? Presentation held aboard the RV Pelagia PE442 cruise
2017/03 The Plastic Age: Why are Azores Tidelines Polluted?
(horta, Portugal)
2015/08/04 Marine Litter Research in the Azores: current status and future prospects. Towards a Solution for Marine Litter in the Azores: Technical and Scientific Forum (DOP, IUCN, MARE, IFREMER)
(Portugal)
2015/08 O Flagelo dos Plásticos nos Oceanos. Encontros com o Mar dos Açores EXPOMAR - Semana do Mar
(horta, Portugal)
2015/03/19 A problemática do Lixo Marinho: Monitorização de campanhas de recolha de lixo marinho na orla costeira e litoral submerso Grupo de trabalho Lixo Marinho Açores: Direcção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar, Governo dos Açores.
2015/01/29 A Era dos Plásticos e o Oceano UniSénior, Universidade Sénior dos Açores
2012 A Pesca do Arrasto Profundo Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas
2012 Antarctic Marine Biodiversity and Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas
2012 Obligate oil-degrading marine bacteria Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas
2012 Tecnologia pesqueira adaptada à redução da interacção e mortalidade de tartarugas marinhas Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2023/06/29 - Current Workshop attendee (online) This final webinar session will present MAGAL Constellation project‘s concept and its view of Radar Altimetry future, promoting two debates. The first involves altimetry data stakeholders and a second regarding funding opportunities for MAGAL follow-up to materialize MAGAL platforms development, assemblage and launching. EFACEC, Porto (Portugal)
Conference
 MAGAL final workshop
2023/03/22 - Current MAGAL project is redefining the Radar Altimetry, for global ocean monitoring, aligned with the European “New Space” agenda, using a new approach based on 6 small satellites working in constellations, and an innovative radar altimeter. MAGAL involves major Portuguese industry and science players, leveraging the Portuguese space industry, towards becoming a space nation from conceptual design to launch and data usability. MAGAL key improvement is its time resolution of 5 days while keeping identical spatial resolution and data accuracy. Satellites u
Conference
 Atlantic Innovation Week
2023/03/22 - Current Workshop attendee (online) MAGAL: Ocean Altimetry Constellation Regional Stakeholder Involvement: workshop held during Atlantic Innovation Week: where policy, science, technology and industry construct a healthier planet. The Atlantic Innovation Week focuses on promoting key initiatives, seeking to foster new ideas as solutions that will contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future. 20-23 March 2023, Praia da Vitória (Ilha da Terceira)
Conference
 MAGAL: Ocean Altimetry Constellation Regional Stakeholder Involvement: workshop held during Atlantic Innovation Week
2024/07/15 - 2024/07/24 FORMPARC_152407: Oceano: educar para uma Geração Azul Training Course Online training program hosted by the Oceano Azul Foundation Objectives: empower primary school teachers to integrate ocean literacy into curricular activities; raise students' ocean literacy, both in terms of knowledge and transversal skills; contribute to the formation of a Blue Generation. The training "Ocean - Educating for a Blue Generation" had a total duration of 15 hours, divided into 8.5 hours of synchronous sessions and 6.5 hours of asynchronous work,
Workshop
 FORMPARC_152407: Oceano: educar para uma Geração Azul Training Course
Fundação Oceano Azul, Portugal
2023/07/17 - 2023/07/21 ALSEAMAR SeaExplorer Training Course Theoretical and practical course that aimed to have a hands-on experience for the autonomous use of the SeaExplorer glider (e.g., setup, launch, recover, maintenance). Place: Escola do Mar dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
Workshop
 ALSEAMAR SeaExplorer Training Course
ALSEAMAR, France
2021/06/02 - 2021/06/04 The All-Atlantic2021 – All-Atlantic R&I for a Sustainable Ocean: Ministerial High-Level & Stakeholders Conference will take place under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in close cooperation with the European Commission, aiming to strengthen Research & Innovation cooperation across and along the Atlantic Ocean, from “pole to pole”. Online event
Conference
 The All-Atlantic2021 – All-Atlantic R&I for a Sustainable Ocean: Ministerial High-Level & Stakeholders Conference
2021/05/24 - 2021/05/25 Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution. The Governments of Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, and Vietnam are jointly organizing a Ministerial Conference to build momentum and political will to advance a coherent global strategy to end marine litter and plastic pollution with an aim to ensuring a future with clean seas. Online event
Conference
 Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution
2020/11/23 - 2020/11/27 MICRO2020 Fate and Impacts of Microplastics: Knowledge and Responsibilities. International online conference (due to COVID-19 pandemic). State-of-the-art research of macro to nanoplastics and establishment of baselines on research to come.
Conference
 MICRO2020
2019/09/15 - 2019/09/18 International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea The conference gathered experts from scientific and industrial communities, policy makers and environmental organizations. Main goals included: to update the state-of-the-art, to highlight progresses, and to identify new and effective solutions to mitigate the microplastic environmental issue. Involved organization identities: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, ISMAC and DICMaPI Event held in Hotel La Residenza, Capri, Italy.
Conference
 International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea
2019/06/06 - 2019/06/07 Copernicus Marine for Outermost and Maritime Regions This event was of interest to all maritime regions as the themes discussed were relevant to all maritime sectors/activities and focused on the following objectives: to allow for Public Authorities to share issues they are facing regarding their maritime activities (water quality monitoring, aquaculture and fisheries management, renewable energy farm implementation, EU Directive and UN Sustainable Development Goal monitoring, etc.)
Workshop
 Copernicus Marine for Outermost and Maritime Regions
2019/04/12 - 2019/04/12 2º Workshop de Envolvimento de Interessados no processo de Ordenamento do Espaço Marítimo dos Açores (2nd Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in the Azores Marine Spatial Planning Process) Workshop integrated in the MarSP project – Marine Spatial Planning in collaboration with the Regional Directorate for Maritime Affairs (DRAM) and the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT). Workshop held at casa Manuel de Arriaga (Horta, Faial Island).
Workshop
2018/03/12 - 2018/03/16 Sixth International Marine Debris Conference The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference brought together international marine debris researchers, natural resource managers, policy makers, industry representatives, and the nongovernmental community. The impetus for this international marine debris conference was the pressing need to address and reduce the impacts of marine debris to vital natural resources, human health and safety, and the economy
Conference
 Sixth International Marine Debris Conference
2017/05/15 - 2017/05/19 International Ocean Colour Science Meeting 2017 The third International Ocean Colour Science (IOCS) meeting took place from 15 to 18 May 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal, followed by two training events on 19 May 2017: a Copernicus marine data stream training event and a SeaDAS training event. The meeting was convened by the International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) in partnership with EUMETSAT, ESA, the European Commission, NASA, Thales Alenia Space and Airbus.
Conference
 International Ocean Colour Science Meeting 2017
2017/03/09 - 2017/03/09 Exploring Microfiber Pollution: Sources, Environmental Impacts, Potential Solutions and Next Steps” – online event. Discussing how experts are addressing the impacts of plastic nano- and microfibers in our environment. The webinar brought together interested parties for a roundtable discussion exploring the latest research and actions that scientists, companies, policy-makers and the public are contemplating as we all seek solutions to microfiber pollution.
Conference
 Exploring Microfiber Pollution: Sources, Environmental Impacts, Potential Solutions and Next Steps¿
2016/07/14 - 2016/07/15 International Meeting on Marine Research, ESTM - Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Peniche, Portugal Main objectives of the conference: international congress planned to communicate novel scientific knowledge on marine resources and research towards the sustainability of our planet.The scientific programme places under the spotlight innovative research in: Aquaculture; Biodiversity, Conservation and Coastal Management; Blue Biotech; Fisheries and Management; Oceanography and Maritime Technology; and Seafood
Conference
 IMMR - International Meeting on Marine Research
2015/11/23 - 2015/11/24 Microplastic in the Environment – Sources, Impacts & Solutions, Maternushaus, Cologne, Germany. Main objectives of the conference: identify sources of microplastics and quantify the amount ending up in nature; reveal impacts on marine ecosystems and human beings; Propose solutions for current problems, such as prevention, recycling and substitution with biodegradable plastics & other materials. Discussion between producers, consumers, scientists, environmental organisations, governmental agencies and other interested stakeholders
Conference
 Microplastic in the Environment ¿ Sources, Impacts & Solutions
2015/06/19 - 2015/06/20 "Towards a Solution for Marine Litter in the Azores", Fórum Técnico e Científico numa organização conjunta do Observatório do Mar dos Açores, do IMAR – Instituto do Mar e da Direcção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar do Governo dos Açores, que conta com o patrocínio da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) e parceria da Associação de Produtores de Espécies Demersais dos Açores (APEDA) e da Associação Portuguesa do Lixo Marinho (APLM).
Round table
2013/11/06 - 2013/11/08 Pieper, C.; Ventura, M.A.; Cunha, R.T. (2013) Monitorização de resíduos marinhos em duas praias da Ilha do Faial – Açores. 10ª Conferência Nacional do Ambiente, 6 to 8 November 2013, University of Aveiro, Portugal. Acta da 10ª Conferência Nacional do Ambiente, Vol. IV: 831-832. ISBN: 978-989-98673-0-7. Proceedings
Conference

Ad Hoc journal article review

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2024/06 - 2024/06 Nature Scientific Reports (2045-2322)
2024/06 - 2024/06 Ocean and Coastal Management (1873-524X)
2024/02 - 2024/02 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2023/07 - 2023/07 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2023/07 - 2023/07 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2023/06 - 2023/06 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2023/05 - 2023/05 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2022/03/28 - 2022/07/28 Frontiers in Marine Science Marine Pollution
2022/02/03 - 2022/02/24 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2021/12/06 - 2021/12/27 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)
2021/05/24 - 2021/07/15 Frontiers in Environmental Science Toxicology, Pollution and the Environemnt (2296-665X)
2018/03/29 - 2018/04/19 Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X)

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2020/08 - Current Associação Portuguesa do Lixo Marinho membro

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2014/12 MERI Researchers Study Microplastics in Blue Hill and Penobscot Bays (Dissemination of Research Results) Fishermen's Voice (http://www.fishermensvoice.com/201412MERIResearchersStudyMicroplasticsInBlueHillAndPenobscotBays.html) Country of publication: United States 2014-12 Fishermen's Voice

Scientific expedition

Activity description Institution / Organization
2018/08/27 - 2018/10/03 BIODIAZ – Biodiversity in the Azores. Research cruise taken aboard the RV Meteor from Cádiz (Spain) to Ponta Delgada with chief scientist Kai George (Senckenberg am Meer, Germany). Main focus of sampling was based on benthology, biodiversity, biogeography, ecology, genetics, taxonomy, planktology, oceanography, sedimentology, geomorphology and marine plastic pollution in the Azores Region. As a participant on board the Meteor, the main goal was to sample for Microplastics presence in the water column, in an open-ocean scenario all around the Azores
2018/07/26 - 2018/08/08 Research cruise taken aboard the RV Pelagia (PE442 Microplastics Transit Cruise) from Terceira to Catania (Sicily) with chief scientist Linda Amaral-Zettler (NIOZ, Netherlands). Main focus of sampling was based on plastic marine debris, phytoplankton and other particles to compare bet-collected versus instrument-measured concentrations. As a participant on board the Pelagia, the main goal was to sample for Microplastics presence in the water column, in an open-ocean scenario around the Azores Region into the Mediterranean Sea.
2016/09/11 - 2016/09/28 “BIOMETORE - Biodiversity in Seamounts: The Madeira-Tore and Great Meteor”. Major objective of the cruise: Biodiversity in Seamounts (Seine and Josephine – Madeira-Tore Complex), through sea surface samplings (using bongo nets), physical and biological water column samplings
2015/09/07 - 2015/09/21 “BIOMETORE - Biodiversity in Seamounts: The Madeira-Tore and Great Meteor”. Major objective of the cruise: Biodiversity in Seamounts (Atlantis, Irving and Tyro – Great Meteor Complex), through sea surface samplings (using bongo nets), water column samplings (Rosette-CTD system, bongo, microzoo and phytoplanktonic nets), benthonic samplings (multicore and sediment dredge). Water samples for Microplastic analysis were accessed through Bongo 60 nets at the sea surface and Niskin bottles along the water column.
Distinctions

Award

2014 Fundação Luso-Americana

Other distinction

2016 PhD Studentship (SFRH/BD/111757/2015) – “Measuring the Marine Debris Footprint of Azores waters (NE Atlantic): classification, variability and associated dynamics”
2014 First Price: Portillo, A.M.V.; Pieper, C.; Álvarez, L.; Olio, M. (2014) Importance of Mesoscale Eddies in the Ocean. FORMAT-EO, University of Leicester. 23-July to 7-August 2014, UK. Poster
2014 Grant for Monitoring Microplastics at the Marine Environmental Research Institute (proj. 186/2014)
Fundação Luso-Americana, Portugal