About the School
Plastic pollution is a critical scientific topic. This course addresses current gaps in the analysis of small plastic particles. You will have a comprehensive overview about the limits of current technologies and the challenges for developing novel extraction and quantification protocols; you will also explore ecological risks, the effects of plastic accumulation in marine organisms, and novel efforts devoted to their proper management.
Who can apply
PhD students, post-docs, and young researchers
What you will do:
Field Work
Visit a wastewater treatment plant.
Lab Work
Collect samples and run advanced analysis by Raman and spectroscopy.
Tissue Studies
Investigate micro-and nanoplastic accumulation in live tissues.
Special Topics
Learn about their chemical interactions with substances such as PFAS and the new applications for water reuse.
Organizers
-
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Scientists from BEOM and Biotech Departments.
-
University Federico II Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA).
Sponsors & Partners
Preliminary Program
Plenary lectures on:
- From macro to nano plastic: Fate and diffusion of these pollutants in aquatic environments: a critical and not fully understood problem
- Effects of micro- nano-plastics on aquatic environments and human health
- Micro- nano-plastics and PFAS multiple interactions: the non-biodegradable eternal contaminants.
- Innovative approaches in micro and nanoplastic characterization and management
- AIDARA, The Italian Desalination and Water Reuse Association, the serious problem of non biodegradable pollutants
Practical Sessions
- Investigate the effects of microplastics pollution on embryonic development of marine organisms and the alterations induced by their accumulation.
- Field Activity: Visit to the Regi Lagni wastewater treatment plant and collection of samples.
- Laboratory analysis: analyses of the collected samples: extraction, quantification and analysis of plastic residues contained in the collected samples.
Short talks by Selected Students
Poster Sessions
Guided tour of Aquarium and DaDoM
Social Happy Hour
The Scientific Committee
Prof. Massimiliano Fabbricino
Full professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy)
Component of the PhD Committee of the Department of
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. He holds the courses on Energy from
Waste and Circular Economy, and on Contaminated Site Remediation.
Since February 2026 has
been nominated as Global Joint Appointed Faculty at Kyungpook National University of Daegu
(South Korea). Prof. Fabbricino has been hosted in many Universities, worldwide, to give
classes at graduated and PhD students. He is author of more than 100 scientific
publications.
Dr. Maria Costantini
Degree and Ph.D. in Molecular
Biology
Senior Scientist at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn of Naples
Her research focuses on marine biology, genomics, and ecology, with extensive experience in the study of genome organization and evolution. Her research has progressively focused on marine organisms and their responses to environmental stressors, integrating genomic, transcriptomic, metagenomic, and metabolomic approaches. Her work has addressed the effects of contaminants, microplastics, ocean acidification, and global change on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. She has also investigated benthic organisms, microbial communities, and diatoms associated with Posidonia oceanica. Her current research interests focus on integrated approaches to understanding the resilience of marine ecosystems and their responses to climate change.
Prof. Marina Prisciandaro
Degree and Ph.D. in Chemical
Engineering
Full Professor of Chemical Plants at the Dept. DIIIE, University of L'Aquila
Leads the Laboratory of Chemical Plants.
Her
research focuses on chemical and environmental engineering, particularly the removal and
degradation of pollutants, recovery of by-products, and water conservation and reuse within
a circular economy framework. Her expertise includes membrane processes (UF, RO), advanced
oxidation processes, crystallization, and adsorption. She also uses process simulation
tools, including Aspen Plus, Aspen Hysys, ChemCad, and SuperPro Designer, for technical,
economic, water, and energy optimization.
Dr. Annamaria Locascio PhD
Senior Scientist at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms
Her research interests focus on the effect of stressors, such as polystyrene MPs and Bisphenol-A, on the reproductive systems of marine organisms. She studies from a molecular, physiological and histological point of view the bioaccumulation and the alterations induced by microplastics pollution in aquatic environments. Evaluates the genetic bases that determine differential responses to microplastic toxicity in marine organisms and that, in particular, are responsible for the resilience of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to microplastic pollution.
Angela Sardo PhD
Senior Technologist, Marine Biotechnology Department of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples).
Her research activity is mainly focused on using of marine microalgae for biotechnological applications. She investigates the exploitation of microalgae as source of high-valuable compounds, and she also studies possible strategies for the bioremediation of water bodies by employing the capability of microalgae to adsorb and/or to incorporate persistent pollutants. Her expertise includes algal growth in enclosed systems on pre-industrial and industrial scales.
Dr. Cristina Pedà PhD
Researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN), Sicily Marine Centre, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM).
Her research focuses on marine litter and plastic pollution, with particular emphasis on the occurrence, impacts and effects of microplastic on marine ecosystems and biota, including their potential implication for marine trophic webs. She has expertise in microplastic extraction from environmental and biological matrices and polymer identification using FT-IR spectroscopy. Her research also includes trophic ecology, sustainable use of marine resources and small-scale fisheries management.
Invited Speakers
Prof. Dana Kominkova
Department of Applied Ecology, Life Science University of Praga, Czech Republic
Talk title TBA
Prof. Patrick Fink
Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Germany
Talk title TBA
CSO Tommaso Dragani
ASPIDIA Biotech Startup, Italy
Talk title TBA
Managing Director Leonardo Manzari
Italy WestMED Initiative - European Union, AIDARA Secretary and Treasurer
Talk title TBA
Prof. Massimiliano Fabbricino
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Talk title TBA
Dr Ludovico Pontoni
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Alessandra Cesaro
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Marco Trifuoggi
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Maria Benedetta Mattei
Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Marina Prisciandaro
Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L'Aquila, Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Luigi Rosati
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Antonietta Santoro
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Italy
Talk Title:
Dal rischio all'evidenza: modelli sperimentali per lo studio
degli effetti delle micro e nanoplastiche sulla salute umana
Prof. Giovanni Libralato
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Talk Title:
Microplastics from the aquatic environment to human health:
issues and perspectives
Prof. Giovanna Della Porta
Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Italy
Talk Title:
Nanoplastic production technologies and their
morpho-functional characterization
Dr. Isabella Buttino
Italian Institute for environmental protection and research (ISPRA), Italy
Talk Title:
The potential of plankton-associated microbiome to degrade
bioplastics
Prof. Mariacristina Cocca
National Research Council-Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (CNR-IPCB), Italy
Talk Title:
Analytical and Technological Strategies for the detection,
quantification and mitigation of textile-derived microfibers and microplastics in aquatic
systems
Loredana Manfra
Italian Institute for environmental protection and research (ISPRA), Italy
Talk title TBA
Prof. Pasquale Chiaiese
Agraria UNINA
Talk Title:
Microalgae bioremediation for micro nanoplastic pollution
Prof. Erwin Pavel Lamparelli
Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Italy
Talk title TBA
Registration Info
Application Deadline
December 10th 2026
In-person Participation
Maximum participants: 25
Fees: 300 € / participant
Includes coffee breaks, lunches, social happy hour, stationery material, practical and field
activities.
Hotel accommodation is NOT included.
A list of possible hotels and B&B will be
given to all participants.
- Send a request via email along with a brief CV and motivation letter (one page max) to minapoll2027@szn.it
- Subject line: Request for in-person attendance to MiNaPOLL 2027
- Wait for confirmation of participation.
- Fill-in the "In-person Registration form", proceed with payment of fees and send both via email.
Remote Participation
Maximum participants: 10
Fees: 100 € / participant
Includes remote participation to all lectures and student short talks.
- Send a request via email along with a brief CV and motivation letter (one page max) to minapoll2027@szn.it
- Subject line: Request for remote participation to MiNaPOLL 2027
- Wait for confirmation of remote participation.
- Proceed with payment.
Location Venue
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
February 23–26, 2027 — Naples, Italy
The Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn is located in the city center, in the Chiaia district, specifically within the Villa Comunale of Naples, between Via Francesco Caracciolo and the Riviera di Chiaia.
