12.00 – 13.00 Coming aboard & first ration

Registration & Lunch

13.00 – 13.30 Lifting the anchor: Welcome remarks

Introductory video 

Marc Lemaître (tbc)

Director-General, European Commission – Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 

Kęstutis Sadauskas

Deputy Director-General European Commission – Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 

Armin Reinartz 

Head of Directorate-General “European and International Cooperation in Education and Research” German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Paloma Aba Garrote 

Director, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

13.30 – 13.45 30 Months at Sea – An overview of the Plastic Pirates

A citizen science initiative spreading across Europe: What are its achievements; what has been learned?

The Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! team shares insights of the main activities, results, and learnings of the initiative. Short pitches provide background to the following sessions and set the scene for the summit.

• Pitch by Philip Ackermann, Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! Coordinator, DLR Project Management Agency 

13.45 – 14.45 Young Pirates on Deck: Sharing first-hand insights

What were the experiences of young adults in the Plastic Pirates citizen science initiative across Europe? What can we learn from their feedback? Was there an impact?

Young adults from across Europe share their first-hand experiences, insights, and their lessons learned from taking part in the Plastic Pirates – Go Europe citizen science initiative. Based on their presentation, the panel will be discussing the importance, pathways, and impact of citizen engagement via citizen science.

• Evelyn Coral Paredes, Policy Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

• Two Plastic Pirates Ambassadors, Young Europeans from one or more participating countries

• Teacher, From one participating country 

• Margaret Gold, Coordinator of the Citizen Science Lab at Leiden University

14.45 – 15:30 Lowering the anchor: Coffee Break and Exhibition    

Young Plastic Pirates Ambassadors, National Contact Points and other Mission Ocean projects present their achievements and activities in the foyer during the coffee break.

15.30 – 16.30 Pirating for Plastics: The Scientific Treasure

What are the scientific findings of the Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! citizen initiative on plastic pollution in European rivers and oceans? Are there plastic pollution hotspots? What can we learn from the results?

Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! showcases the role of Citizen Science in advancing scientific knowledge. The team presents consolidated data and findings on macro- and micro-plastic litter in Europe. Subsequently, an expert panel evaluates the significance of these findings in relation to scientific excellence and the objectives of the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters, as well as the potential for future research.

• Pitch by Ana Catarino, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)

• Pitch by Gudrun Obersteiner, Institute of Waste Management and Circularity (ABF-BOKU) 

Panel discussion: 

• Georg Hanke (tbc), Scientific Officer - European Commission – Joint Research Centre

• Gudrun Obersteiner, Institute of Waste Management and Circularity (ABF-BOKU)

• John Hanus, Policy Officer - European Commission – Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 

16.30 – 16.40 Sailing the Seven Seas: A Global Battle Against Plastic Pollution

Let’s look beyond Europe! What are the worldwide efforts in the fight against plastic pollution? And do the Plastic Pirates contribute to a global cause? 

• Presentation by Janyl Moldalieva, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Brussels Office

16.40 – 17.40 Plastic Pirates setting a new course? The future of the citizen science initiative

What comes next for the Plastic Pirates initiative? How to further upscale the initiative? What should be done to secure its achievements and further advance the approach?

The Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! citizen science initiative is certainly a success story. But has the story already been fully told? The Plastic Pirates could become a permanent part of citizen science being done in Europe. They could work more closely with the Blue Economy sector or even expand to all of Europe and beyond. 

• Pitch by Fedra Francocci, National Research Council (CNR)

• Pitch by Janto Schönberg, Kiel Science Factory

Panel discussion: 

• Elisabetta Balzi, Head of Unit Ocean, Seas and Waters, European Commission – Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 

• Ágota Dávid, Science and Technology Attaché – Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU ERA Forum, Hungary

• Petra Siegele, Head of Public Science, OeAD Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation

• Sandra Soares, Plastic Pirates Coordinator, Ciência Viva, Portugal  

17.40 – 17.45 Sailing into harbour: Closing remarks

Short pitch by each moderator for their workshop

10.30 – 12.00 Workshops – parallel sessions

• Workshop 1: What is needed to become a blue citizen? 

  Workshop lead: EU4Ocean Coalition

  During the workshop the participants will jointly elaborate on the concept ‘blue citizen’ and the key words: Ocean, citizenship and democracy. This includes establishing a link between active citizens who acquire or enhance their ocean literacy and who take responsibility for securing the ocean with the democratic process, which creates the policy and regulatory framework necessary for maintaining a healthy, resilient, and sustainable ocean.

• Workshop 2: Riverine data on (plastic) pollution – How to streamline data collection and management? 

  Workshop lead: Erasmus Maris

  The Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! delve deeper into data collection in citizen science and share their experiences in streamlining these processes. Workshop participants contribute their insights and collaboratively discuss recommendations for the future.

• Workshop 3: How to upscale, maintain and coordinate Citizen Science in the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters’ objectives? 

  Workshop lead: OTTERS

  Workshop participants, including those involved in participative projects under Mission Ocean, share their experiences with citizen science. Together, the group outlines recommendations for Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters. 

• Workshop 4: Inclusive Approaches to Citizen Science – How to build trust in Science through Participation?  

  Workshop lead: Ciência Viva 

  Citizen Science thrives on the voluntary engagement of individuals. This workshop explores strategies to effectively involve diverse groups, including youth typically less engaged in such activities. Participants will delve into co-creation methods for Citizen Science projects aimed at fostering deeper understanding, appreciation, and trust in science.