END PLASTIC SOUP
A group of scientists founded the association Sail & Explore in 2017 with the goal of conducting expeditions using sailing ships to measure, analyze, and scientifically report on the amount of plastic in the world's oceans at regular intervals. The insights gained from these expeditions are extremely valuable for informing future approaches to plastic management.
Mare Nostrum entered into a partnership with the Sail & Explore association.
Since 2022, we finance two to four scholarships per year for participation in a sailing expedition. The commitment is initially set for 5 years. We eagerly look forward to the reports from the scholarship recipients and encourage all members to inform young, interested researchers among their families and acquaintances about this exciting project.
More information about Sail & Explore:
Latest news: The expedition reports of this year's scholars
Lena Schaffeld from Detmold (Germany), Master's student in Marine Biological Resources:: Report of the Liguria Expedition
Mila Moreno from Bern, Master's student in Biology: Liguria Expedition Report
Amelie Quenzer from Wängi and Laura Schmutz from Basel: Report of the Azores Expedition
The two young women focused on the impact of human behavior on various ecosystems in their final high school projects. On one hand, they examined how slurry affects wetlands such as the Grütried (Amelie Quenzer); on the other hand, the focus was on climate warming and its impact on the melting of the Antarctic ice shield (Laura Schmutz).
Read here the experience reports from the two research expeditions to the Azores this year...
Tamara Haas from Untersiggenthal: Experience report (German)
Her work on the toxic effects of a chemical sunscreen agent was awarded the "excellent" distinction by Swiss Youth in Science, and she was honored with the "Sail&Explore" special prize sponsored by Mare Nostrum.
Nicolas Hatt from Wetzikon: Experience report (German)
The high school student conducted research on stream ecology and the habitat of the white-throated dipper in the Zurich Oberland region for his graduation project. His work was also rated as "excellent" by Swiss Youth in Science and rewarded with a Sail&Explore scholarship from Mare Nostrum.
... and to the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea
Giorgia Ravaglioli from Milan: Experience report (English)
As a student at the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences at the University of Milan, her interest since 2020 has been focused on marine conservation and microplastic pollution, which is a particular research focus at the university.
Ramon Lüdi from Zurich: Experience report (English)
As a student of Environmental Science, Ramon is generally interested in aquatic habitats and was able to expand his previous focus on Central European freshwater bodies through participation in the expedition. His research particularly focuses on the impact of pollution on the diversity of plants and animals.