Dissemination

Last 13 May, 5 June and 7 June, AIMPLAS received different visits from students of the master’s degree in chemistry from the Universitat Politècnica de València, students of the Chair AIMPLAS-Universitat de València, the School of Engineering (ETSE) of the Universitat de València, the Faculty of Chemistry of the Universitat de València and the Materials Technology and Sustainability (MATS) research group and students of the Link Formación training centre.

During these visits, the students were able to know firsthand how a collaboration European project works and, particularly, the goals and technologies and methodologies used in the BioICEP project. So, the four videos recently prepared by the consortium were displayed and explained to the students.

The four videos can be visited at the PROJECT > VIDEOS section of our website. 

IMGGE BioICEP crew presented a poster titled: “Degradation of polyamide/polyurethane textile blend by Streptomyces sp R1.” at XIII CONGRESS OF MICROBIOLOGISTS OF SERBIA - MIKROMED REGIO 5, which took palce in Belgrade, Serbia, from the 4th of April to the 6th of April.

More info on the congress: https://congress24.ums.rs

Dr. Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, head of the BioICEP IMGGE team gave a lecture on the 14th of March titled “Microplastics - a Macroscopic Problem” as a part of the cycle of lectures “ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION - FROM CONSCIOUS TO UNCONSCIOUS”, organized by the Faculty of Chemistry, the Environmental Chemistry Section of the Serbian Chemical Society and the PFAStwin project.

You can watch her presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-76kE0h_lE (Serbian language)

Between 7-9th December, we were at Microbiotec 23 in Covilhã, Portugal. Microbiotec happens biannually in a co-organization by the Portuguese Society of Microbiology and the Portuguese Society of Biotechnology.
Results of the project @bioicep were presented by Catia Gil and results of the project Bioeconomina PRR by Marisa Cardoso. André Freches presented the results from his PhD thesis.

Reflecting on the success of the recent PPS conference held from 29th November to 2nd December in Kerala, India, the event brought together experts, researchers, and enthusiasts from across the globe. The conference served as a nexus for sharing cutting-edge research, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of polymer processing. Embedded in its constitution, PPS is dedicated to fostering scientific understanding and technical innovation in polymer processing. The society provides a vital discussion forum for engineers and scientists worldwide, covering all aspects of formulation, conversion, and shaping operations applied to polymeric systems. From the transformation of monomeric forms to the creation of commercial products, PPS embraces a thematic range that spans the entire spectrum of polymer processing.

Join us in celebrating the recent keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Ramesh Babu from TCD, titled: "Circular Plastics: Upcycling the Mixed Plastic Waste to Biodegradable Plastics." Dr. Babu's insightful lecture explores innovative approaches to transforming mixed plastic waste into eco-friendly, biodegradable plastics, aligning with PPS's commitment to advancing sustainability in polymer processing.

More info: https://pps2023india.com/social-events/

We are thrilled to announce the success of the workshop, "Microbes as a Solution for Plastic Pollution," organized by BioICEP as a satellite event of the Mikrobiokosmos International Conference.

Event Highlights:

Projects Unveiled: The workshop featured three groundbreaking projects dedicated to tackling the global issue of plastic pollution—BioICEP (Dr. Margaret Brennan Fournet), MIX-UP (Dr. Hendrik Ballerstedt), and Plasteomics (Prof. Evangelos Topakas). Each project showcased their innovative approaches and strategies to combat plastic waste.

International Collaboration: Our Chinese partners shared valuable insights and expertise through engaging online presentations, contributing to a truly global perspective on the plastic pollution problem.

PhD Students' Contributions: BioICEP's passionate PhD students presented their latest research findings and progress in the ongoing battle against plastic pollution. Their dedication and commitment to finding sustainable solutions were truly inspiring.

Attendee Engagement: The workshop drew a diverse audience, with over 60 attendees actively participating in discussions, sharing ideas, and fostering collaboration to address one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants, presenters, and partners who contributed to the success of this workshop. Your enthusiasm and commitment to finding solutions for plastic pollution inspire us to continue our collective efforts towards a sustainable future.

Stay tuned for more updates on future events and initiatives. Together, we can make a significant impact on the global fight against plastic pollution!

We are delighted to share the success of BioICEP's participation at Mikrobiokosmos 2023, a prestigious event hosted by the Hellenic Scientific Society. Mikrobiokosmos, which translates to "microbial world" in Greek, was established in 2007 with a mission to research, explore, and exploit microbial national resources. The event serves as a national forum for cutting-edge research in various microbiological domains, including environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, biotechnology, synthetic biology, and more. Partners from BioICEP seized the opportunity for a productive "in-person" steering meeting during their visit to Larissa, Greece, from November 29th to December 2nd. This meeting allowed for strategic discussions and collaborative planning to further advance the objectives of BioICEP. BioICEP partners actively participated in the conference, showcasing their research through posters and lectures:

1. Dr. Jasmina Nikodinovic Runic (IMGGE) delivered a plenary lecture on "WASTE TO VALUE: FROM BUGS TO DRUGS."
2. Clémence Budin (MLS) presented a poster on "Combining culture-dependent and -independent approaches for identifying plastic-degrading bacteria and enzymes in soil samples."
3. Georgios Taxeidis (NTUA) shared insights with a poster on "The enzymatic machinery of the white-rot basidiomycete Abortiporus biennis and its impact on polystyrene structure."
4. Christina Ferousi (NTUA) contributed with the poster on “Exploring the fungal potential for natural and synthetic polymer degradation.”
5. Marija Nenadovic (IMGGE) presented a poster on "Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA) model compounds for the discovery of novel PHA depolymerases."
6. Dr. Marijana Ponjavic (IMGGE) showcased a poster on "Conversion of mixed plastic waste containing PET into biopolymer bacterial cellulose."
7. Patrícia Concórdio-Reis (iBET) contributed with a poster on "Bioconversion of unrecyclable PET waste into biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates by a newly isolated Delftia sp. strain."
8. Diana Alicia Garza Herrera (TUS) presented a poster on "Exploring the enzymatic ability of strains isolated from plastic-polluted environments for enhancing synthetic and natural biopolymers’ biodegradation."
9. Dr. Eduardo Lanzagorta Garcia (TUS) highlighted "Biocompatible eco-plastic blends with enhanced antimicrobial activity by the addition of essential oil."

Scholarship Recognition: Two BioICEP PhD students, Konstantinos Makryniotis (NTUA) and Patricia Reis (iBET), were honored with the prestigious "Kostas Drainas" scholarship, a travel grant that recognizes outstanding contributions in the field. Congratulations to both recipients!

We express our gratitude to Mikrobiokosmos for providing a platform that fosters collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange. BioICEP remains committed to advancing the frontiers of microbiological research and addressing global challenges, such as plastic pollution.

Michael Pil from AVECOM has presented BioICEP on webinar organized as a part of RUSTIKA Project titled: “Sustainable Alternatives for Proteins from Agro-Industrial Residues and ByProducts”. This event was organized on 22nd of November and has been attended by over 60 people over the world. Seminar highlighted need for the development of novel biotechnological platforms, specifically designed to produce valuable biofuels from organic waste residues is essential for Ireland and the EU to transform the economy from one heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to a more indigenous low carbon economy, centred on energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart networks.

More info at: https://rusticaproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Rustica-Project-Presentation_Avecom-dissimination.pdf

On 2nd of November, Dr. Jasmina Nikodinovic Runic held a lecture titled: “Green Conversion: From plastic waste to bioplastics” as a part of workshop Green Chemistry for Circular Economy and Sustainable Future. This event was organized by the Center for Cleaner Production of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade at the ENVOY Conference Center, Belgrade, Serbia. Workshop brought together experts from the fields of environmental protection, innovation, economics, business and science to discuss key issues related to the application of green chemistry and sustainable chemical processes in achieving a circular economy. The event is part of the activities of the UNIDO/GEF project "Global Program for Green Chemistry and Innovation" led by Yale University (USA).

More info at: https://cpc-serbia.org/zelena-hemija-za-cirkularnu-ekonomiju-i-odrzivu-buducnost/

On 10 and 11 May, our colleagues from AIMPLAS Eva Verdejo, Santiago Llopis, Mar Porcar and Sonia Albein visited Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2023, held in Amsterdam. PRS is the dedicated exhibition, conference and awards for plastics recycling in mainland Europe. The biggest names in recycled materials, recycling machinery and services were on display, showing the latest innovation in the industry. The free conference with key industry figures addressed the latest opportunities and challenges that face the plastic recycling industry in Europe. The event covered the supply chain from design for raw materials, design for recycling, collection, sorting and recycling of industrial, commercial, agricultural, post-consumer and ocean plastic through to the recycled polymer being designed and incorporated into new products and applications.

Yesterday, our colleague Pablo Ferrero, principal investigator of the BioICEP project at AIMPLAS, gave a presentation at the World Bio Markets event, held in The Hague on 10-11 May. Pablo, who is a researcher at AIMPLAS Chemical Recycling department, talked about the goals and development of the project and the role of AIMPLAS in it. He also presented the centre's bioassays laboratory, which focuses on ensuring the safety of food contact materials through cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays.

On Thursday 20th of April, a range of sessions were hosted onsite in Athlone with pop-up stands in the canteen area as well as a showcase of over 140 posters from TUS Postgraduate Students. From Wednesday 19 – Friday 21, a select number of posters were displayed in the main canteen area, with students being invited to present their research in quick-fire sessions. Awards were presented for categories including ‘Best Impact’ ‘Best Presentation’ and ‘Best Overall Poster’. PhD students involved in BioICEP project have presented their research: Diana Garza ("Streptomyces sp. DG19: A promising strain with polymer degrading enzymatic ability "), Henrique Pereira ("Enhanced Bacterial Cellulose Production via Post-consumer Terephthalic Acid Addition"), Jeovan Araujo ("Upcycling of PET/TPS Plastic into Bacterial Nanocellulose") and Dr Eduardo Garcia Lanzagorta ("Development of biocompatible polymer system with enhanced antimicrobial properties via triangular silver particles and curcumin synergy"). Diana Garza won the best mid-stage research award while Jeovan Araujo won the best art and design poster category.

The core ethos of TUS Research Week is to create an engaging platform, where the huge range of innovative projects and initiatives from areas such as Technology, Engineering, Business and Science will be showcased to the wider student body, industry and beyond. Fostering a culture of collaboration, in addition to stimulating creativity, creating real-world impacts and fostering economic development in a regional, national and international capacity.

More info: https://ait.libguides.com/TUSResearchWeek

Yesterday, the BIOICEP project held the online webinar Europe Towards a Circular Society: Circular Plastic Challenge. The event was a complete success and more than 65 people attended it. We counted on the participation of different guest European projects, who talked about their goals, technologies and results up to date and their relation with the circular economy towards a greener Europe.

The guest projects were MIX-UP, BUDDIE-PACK, UPLIFT, BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE, ECOPLASTIC and PRESERVE. 

Dr. Marijana Ponjavic from IMGGE has presented her work in the scope of the BioICEP project at the "Biotechnology for a circular bioeconomy: carbon capture, waste recycling and mitigation of global warming " Virtual Conference organised by the European Federation of Biotechnology and Asian Federation of Biotechnology on 28th and 19th of March, 2023. Some of the speakers at the events were top European and Asian scientists, including Michael Köpke from LanzaTech, USA. 

Dr Ponjavic has shared her research through a flash presentation with the title: "Revalorization of biodegradable polymers to valuable bacterial nanocellulose". This work has been achieved thanks to the collaboration between TCD and IMGGE partners. 

Know PERPETUAL project. 

Click here to download the article.

BioICEP at PressReader.com

https://www.pressreader.com/portugal/jornal-de-negocios/20200805/281870120780259

Link for the magazine