Living Biofilms and Plastic Degradation in Freshwaters: Final UNITA Starting Grant Workshop
On Thursday, 15 October 2026, the University of Turin will host the final workshop of the UNITA Starting Grant research project “The Role of Living Biofilms in Plastic Degradation in Freshwaters.”
The event will explore how living biofilms interact with and contribute to the degradation of plastics in freshwater environments. The programme will bring together environmental chemistry, biofilm ecology, ecophysiology and microbiology, with a particular focus on diatoms and bacteria.
Researchers from the University of Turin, Le Mans Université and the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour will present the project’s activities and initial findings. Topics will include the experimental design of the Alpstream mesocosms, the role of benthic communities in river biofilms, methods for identifying and quantifying polymers in plastic materials, prokaryotic biofilm diversity in aquatic environments, and the use of fluorescence and photosynthetic activity as indicators of microalgal health.
The workshop will conclude with a discussion on the project’s results and future research perspectives. The event offers an opportunity to learn more about an interdisciplinary Italy-France collaboration supported by a UNITA Starting Grant for Research.
Practical information
Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026
Time: 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Venue: Aula A “Lenti”, Via Michelangelo 27, Turin
Participation: Free of charge, with mandatory registration