Attention! Don’t crush me! is a UPV/EHU project whose intention is to bring science closer to society, to show its true attraction, and to arouse the curiosity of the participants, as well as to raise awareness of the environmental importance of beaches.

Students from the 1st year of the Chemistry and Environmental Health higher education cycle are taking part in this STEAM citizen science project that aims to broaden knowledge about the Basque coastline, focusing on biodiversity on a microscopic scale (meiofauna and microalgae) and on the risks that endanger it (such as plastics).

Thus, our QSA3-1st boys and girls, after carrying out the corresponding sampling on the Muskiz Arena beach, have completed the analysis of microalgae and microplastics to determine the level of contamination of our coastline.

The initiative aims to contribute to improving scientific knowledge of the Basque coast, focusing on biodiversity on a microscopic scale (meiofauna and microalgae) and on the risks that endanger this biodiversity (microplastics, in this case). All this to achieve the main objective: to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the environment, and especially the marine environment and beaches.