The INSPIRE project team participated in the 6th International Conference MICRO 2026, held in Cádiz, Spain, from 12 to 16 October, joining researchers and experts to exchange knowledge and discuss approaches to tackling plastic pollution. Through scientific presentations, interactive discussions and a dedicated project booth, the team shared insights on plastic pollution in aquatic environments and engaged with the international scientific community on methods for detecting, collecting and preventing plastic pollution.
Marking more than a decade of the international MICRO conference series, this year’s edition brought together a growing community of researchers working to address plastic pollution, from macroplastics to nanoplastics, with a particular focus on microplastics. The conference provided a platform for sharing emerging research, identifying knowledge gaps and discussing collaborative approaches to tackling the issue.
At the INSPIRE booth, visitors could learn about technologies and actions developed to address plastic pollution, particularly in European rivers. The team also contributed to the conference programme through oral presentations, poster sessions, interactive Walk and Talks, and panel discussions.
INSPIRE team members Ana Catarino and Daniel Gonzalez co-hosted sessions on assessing plastic pollution in drinking water and river environments, while Maria Kazour co-hosted sessions exploring plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
The INSPIRE team presented research addressing plastic pollution governance, ecological risk assessment and the harmonisation of litter data collection across European rivers.
Oral presentations:
- Daniel Gonzalez: “A Global Reporting Tool for Evidence-Based Plastic Governance from Local to Global Scales”
- Maria Kazour: “Site-specific Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics Using Sensitivity Distribution-Based Approach: Evaluating Pre- and Post-Mitigation”
Poster presentations:
- Ana Catarino: “Towards Harmonized and Open Litter Data in Inland and Transitional Waters”
- Mariana Miranda: “Harmonizing Microlitter Data Collection Across Six European Rivers for Baseline Pollution Levels and Interventions Assessment: Insights from the INSPIRE Project”
These contributions highlighted the importance of comparable, accessible data and evidence-based approaches to understanding pollution levels, assessing ecological risks and evaluating mitigation measures.
INSPIRE team members also took an active role in the conference’s interactive programme. Ana Catarino co-led Walk and Talk Group 15, while Daniel Gonzalez and Miguel Sanchez Guerrero led Group 16, encouraging participants to exchange knowledge and discuss current challenges in plastic pollution research. On the final day, Ana Catarino and Daniel Gonzalez joined the morning panel to present a summary of the key conclusions and takeaways from the first day’s discussions.
The team’s participation in MICRO 2026 strengthened opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration within the international research community, contributing to ongoing efforts to develop evidence-based solutions and reduce plastic pollution in European rivers.
INSPIRE thanks everyone who visited the project booth, attended its presentations and took part in the discussions. Continued collaboration across research and practice is essential to advancing our understanding of plastic pollution and supporting cleaner rivers across Europe.
