Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)

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NIVA coordinates the EUROqCHARM project and leads Work Package 6 and Work Package 7.

The Norwegian Institute for Water Research is a national non-profit research organization and is the leading competence centre for aquatic and marine environmental and resource issues in Norway. Our institute is certified in accordance with ISO9001 and NIVA’s laboratory activities are accredited in accordance with ISO17025. NIVA is specializing in environmental monitoring of plastics, including methods for microplastics, and associated chemicals and is leading several national and Nordic monitoring studies, toxicity tests for nano and micro particles as well as several plastic litter related EU projects. NIVA has specialized analytical facilities for the analysis of microplastics and a large-scale facility at the Oslo Fjord simulating environmental conditions for effect studies and risk assessment. Over the years, NIVA has contributed to projects in over 70 countries worldwide. NIVA has participated in projects under all the EU Framework Programmes and is so far partner in 20 projects under Horizon 2020.

Work Package 1:

NIVA are involved in the screening and analysis of methods used for the assessment of plastics in the environment. Specifically, the Project Manager will support the WP leader in conducting and facilitating the systematic literature review. NIVA’s staff will participate in the literature review, specifically in the tasks related to water samples and biota samples. This work will involve the assessment of existing methods and procedures and the compilation of Reproducible Analytical Pipelines which will be analyzed for strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The outputs from WP1 will be used to inform WP2, WP3 and WP4. NIVA’s researchers have a long history in the development of methodologies for assessing plastics and microplastics in environmental samples. The researchers are also involved in several of the international expert groups already working towards recommendations under OSPAR, GESAMP, AMAP and G20. NIVA are responsible for the national monitoring of microplastics in Norway.

Work Package 2:

The Project Coordinator is involved along with other researcher staff from NIVA. NIVA will participate in several tasks within WP2 which aims to validate methods for the monitoring and assessment of plastics in environmental samples and the production of reference materials. NIVA will lead the feasibility study of the methods related to analytical uncertainty, applicability and costs and contribute to (1) summarizing the possibilities and needs for reference materials in environmental sample analysis; (2) the production of reference materials; (3) organization of intercalibration (ILC) studies using the reference materials; (4) statistical validation of the ILC; (5) certification of reference materials.

Work Package 3:

The outputs from this WP will include the recommendation of appropriate protocols and methods for monitoring programs therefore the Project Manager and NIVA researchers will participate across several tasks within WP3. Specifically, NIVA researchers will contribute towards (1) the recommendations of appropriate protocols and methods for monitoring programs; (2) the identification of appropriate monitoring strategies; and (3) the recommendations of standard measuring procedures for policy and legislation.

NIVA’s researchers have a long history in the development of methodologies for assessing plastics and microplastics in environmental samples. The researchers are also involved in several of the international expert groups already working towards recommendations under OSPAR, GESAMP, AMAP and G20. NIVA are responsible for the national monitoring of microplastics in Norway. NIVA participates in harmonization studies around the world where their expertise is used to inform developments in national and international recommendations.

Work Package 4:

NIVA is involved in WP4 through its researchers, including the Project Coordinator. WP4 will focus on capacity building outside of the EUROqCHARM project where partners facilitate the acceleration and adoption of standards and guidelines in EU member states.

NIVA’s researchers contribute to several of the international expert groups already working towards recommendations under OSPAR, GESAMP, AMAP and G20 and will support the establishment of an operational network for plastic pollution monitoring and regional workshops. NIVA’s experience from several monitoring projects of microplastics, method validation and harmonization will be used to strengthen transnational joint actions. This will facilitate the transfer of knowledge, capacity building and the development of an operational network for plastic monitoring.

Work Package 5:

NIVA is supporting WP5 through the involvement of the Project Manager in the Coordination and Communication Committee to link the WP tasks and outputs to efficient dissemination activities. NIVA is responsible for updating the social media channels within the project (i.e., Twitter, LinkedIn, Research Gate).

Work Package 6 and Work Package 7:

NIVA leads these Work Packages, which focus on the overall management of the project and the ethical requirements. NIVA’s strength in project management of large projects will be used for all administrative, financial and legal aspects of the project’s management. In addition, the NIVA Management Team (incl. EUROqCHARMS’s Project Coordinator or Project Manager) lead the Steering Committee, and interactions with the Scientific Advisory Board, and the Standardization and Stakeholders Advisory Board. Furthermore, NIVA is also responsible for ensuring that all ethics requirements for the project are complied with and followed.

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