Title: ANDROMEDA - Analysis techniques for quantifying nano-and microplastic particles and their degradation in the marine environment
Start date: 20 May 2020
End date: 31 May 2023
Coordinator: Prof. Alan Deidun
The Andromeda project brings together an international research partnership that combines the expertise and competencies of 15 international research institutes. The main objectives of the three-year ANDROMEDA project include the delivery of cost-effective analysis of microplastics by optimised in situ sampling methods and low-cost laboratory analysis, including efficient sampling as well as the refinement of advanced techniques to measure and quantify small and challenging types of microplastic particles. The project also aims to investigate the degradation and fragmentation mechanisms of plastic into micro- and nano- particles (as happens constantly during the car tyre shredding process) and to study the release of additive chemicals during fragmentation and degradation processes. According to a recently-published study (available here), in fact, it is estimated that 28% of all sea-borne microplastics consist of cigar-shaped car tyre fragments.
The project is led by the University d’Aix-Marseille and the Consortium features a total of 15 partners, including the University of Malta, whose main task is the development and delivery of a citizen science smart phone app which automates the characterisation of photographed microplastics through an inbuilt algorithm, thus deploying Artificial Intelligence (Image Analysis) for environmental management purposes. The recorded microplastic images will in fact be stored in a repository based on University of Malta servers. The rationale behind the smart phone app development was elucidated in a previously-published paper involving the University of Malta staff engaged on the project and which had previously been featured in Newspoint.
University of Malta staff engaged on the ANDROMEDA project include Prof. Alan Deidun and Dr. Adam Gauci, both based within the Department of Geosciences at the Faculty of Science, although a part-time Research Support Officer (RSO) will be engaged on the same project in the coming months. Dr. Gauci and Prof. Deidun have already co-supervised a number of post-graduate student projects involving enhanced monitoring of microplastics in the natural environment, with hardware deployed including both aerial and underwater drones as well as underwater cameras.
The ANDROMEDA smartphone app was launched during an EMD in my country event held at ESPLORA Interactive Science Centre. Media coverage of the event can be found in the links below:
Hon. Alicia Bugeja Said Facebook page
