Malta National Aquarium Event

Microplastics demonstration at Malta National Aquarium (Image Credit: Johann Galdies)

Almost two hundred local Year 7 students could experience first-hand the new class of innovative digital tools which have come on stream in recent years during an invited visit to the Malta National Aquarium. The visit was organised by Prof. Alan Deidun, Malta’s Ocean Ambassador and the Oceanography Malta Research Group within the Department of Geosciences of the University of Malta, within the framework of the ANDROMEDA project, an EU-funded project coordinated by Université d'Aix-Marseille.

A most insidious pressure currently facing our waters – namely, microplastics – featured within the carousel of attractions. In fact, one of the highlights of the carousel of digital tools on show at the Aquarium was demonstration of the functioning of the NIR spectrometer.  The extraction of microplastics from beach sand was also on display. Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, who participated in this event, explained that children and young people are protagonists in the collective effort to safeguard our rich marine biodiversity. Through awareness initiatives such as Saving our Blue, the Ministry is regularly involving them in activities promoting important issues affecting marine life, especially to fight the problem of single-use plastics and littering. Through other regulatory developments and environmental investments, the Government is working to continue protecting the seas around Malta, with an increased commitment in marine protected areas. Prof. Deidun observed that the tools being developed within the ANDROMEDA project are consonant with the goals of other complementary EU initiatives, such as the Blue Schools one, which aims to inculcate a higher degree of ocean literacy within school curricula as well as with the goals of the Ocean/Starfish Mission, which seeks a higher degree of engagement with EU citizens and of which Prof. Deidun is Board member. Also in attendance were delegations from the Italian and French embassies and from the IOI (International Ocean Institute). In previous years, the ANDROMEDA project participated prominently within the Science in the City event held at Fort St. Elmo in Valletta.

From an international perspective, the project is consistent with the UN’s Decade for Ocean Sciences (2021-2030). From a European perspective, the project is consistent with the Green Deal and the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy, which was rolled out in May 2020.

ANDROMEDA is being managed in Malta by Prof. Alan Deidun from the Department of Geosciences, with the direct participation of Dr Adam Gauci, Mr Johann Galdies, Mr Marco Iannaccone, Ms Jessica Busuttil, Mr Alessio Marrone, Mr Henri Ringeard and Mr Rami Mahmoud Kalfouni as well.

~ Johann Galdies