AquaticPollutantsTransNet – 1 year of knowledge transfer, scientific networking and public engagement

The AquaticPollutantsTransNet project started in June 2021 with the goal to provide support for the 18 research projects of the ERA-Net Cofund by enhancing knowledge transfer and exchange, strengthening collaboration, and implementing multiple dissemination and exploitation routes. A lot has been done in the last year to achieve these goals.

In order to support knowledge transfer from the research projects, TransNet identified active national stakeholders in Germany, France and Sweden, developing a stakeholder identification guideline along the way. We interviewed several of these stakeholders to determine what knowledge they need – what information is useful for their work, what information is hard to come by, or what information is missing. To begin aligning these needs with knowledge transfer activities, TransNet outlined the expected outputs of the 18 research projects and is currently reviewing existing legislation and publications.

But how can the projects’ expected results be successfully transferred to these stakeholders? What work are the 18 research projects doing and how can their effectiveness and impact be maximised? To help address these questions, TransNet set up four working groups on different topics selected by the AquaticPollutants Core Synergy Forum (CSF), a group comprised of the project coordinators from the 18 funded projects, members of AquaticPollutantsTransNet, and ERA-Net Cofund Management Representatives. The working groups address the following four cross-cutting issues (CCIs):

1. Communication & dissemination (including policy needs & regulatory context)
2. Harmonization of methods, sampling procedures
3. Mitigation technologies for Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) & Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR)
4. Persistence, prioritization & impact of AMR/ARGs (Anti-microbial Resistant Genes)

Within these working groups, the research projects, supported by TransNet, will collaborate with each other to determine needed knowledge or actions pertaining to each CCI. This collaboration could result in developing best practice documents or joint procedures, workshops, trainings, or publications, for example. These activities are not only helpful for the projects themselves but can also produce needed knowledge for the identified stakeholders.

To help disseminate these outcomes and the resulting knowledge from the projects to stakeholders, TransNet set up LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, as well as a website about the ERA-Net Cofund. The first project e-newsletter informed stakeholders about progress from the first 6 months of the research projects and about upcoming events where the Cofund will be represented. This includes the 12^th Micropol & Ecohazard Conference (6-10 June 2022), which is organised by Prof. Dr. Francisco Omil, the project coordinator of the AquaticPollutants funded project PRESAGE. Visit the AquaticPollutants booth at Micropol in Spain or check out our website to stay up to date with TransNet and Cofund activities.