April, 2015

Newsletter Issue 6

Welcome to the What is MOSSCLONE? sixth newsletter of the MOSSCLONE project which is financed by the EU Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme. The aim of this project was to develop and implement a method to control the air quality by using a devitalized moss clone as passive contaminant sensor. The project encompassed the hard work of more than 30 experts from 11 organisations representing 5 EU countries (Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and Germany). This newsletter summarizes the development of the last 6 months of MOSSCLONE project. This newsletter MOSSCLONE has meant the solution to avoid the is the last of a series of 6 newsletters problems associated with the traditional moss-bag that were published twice a year and technique to measure air pollution. were edited by the Project Manager These problems were: ([email protected]). We can say that Europe has • The absence of well-suited moss species living in urban, funded the development of an important extra-urban, and even indoor reference environments and essential tool for measuring any • The availability of natural and clean moss kind of air pollution and anywhere. Currently, we just need to extend • The natural variability on moss elemental composition the environmental awareness and • The absence of a verified and standardized method knowledge of this new application. Thus, the certified mossphere will be Two key studies helped to overcome those problems: used to measure air pollution in places that was previuosly impossible or • Cultivation in the laboratory of a selected moss clone unthinkable. to always have clean and homogeneous material • High degree of standardization of the method.

Edited by Carlos Carballeira 1 talked about the future of Mossclone results several Mossclone videos were projected RECENT MOSSCLONE EVENTS and the possibilities of collaboration on other as a summary of project activities. projects. T he eve n i ng of t he s e c ond d ay Mo s s clone The second day was focused on showing members enjoyed a pleasant and tasty Decision-making meeting (A Coruña , Spain) to the general public how Mossclone has been social dinner at Ze Teresa restaurant which developed, the results that were obtained is located in front of the meeting point. The Mossclone DoW included several meetings during project development. in every activity and the advantages or The last day most of the partners went However, there was a period of one year without any meeting, between the midterm disadvantages of the Mossclone method. on an excursion to the Amalfitan coast; meeting (month 18) and the 3rd WP leaders meeting (month 30), so partners related This event was disseminated by the host Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Scala… The with the last Mossclone tasks decided to met themseleves at A Coruña (Spain). This university (UNINA) and Italian press and day was sunny and all partners enjoyed meeting was held the 13th of January (2015) at UDC facilities. The event was planned radio. a beautiful and informative journey The meeting attendants received a set of accompanied by a tour guide. for the correct development of WP4 (Detectors) because partners encountered some merchandising products of mossclone for The meeting ended as a friendly event sampling problems. USC, UDC, AMRA and BIOVIA attended the meeting. the project dissemination; a mousepad (see where the f inished activities were discussed picture below), a pen, a triptych, a notebook and the expectations of all attendees were and a USB memory. All this products were fulfilled. carefully designed and were selected for the The schedule of the agenda was almost best dissemination procedure. Moreover, adjusted to perfection (see page 4).

Final meeting at Naples (Italy)

This work was carried out as part of (UNINA) welcomed all the attendants WP5 (Dissemination and exploitation) of and explained their interest on the which the main objectives were: exchange Mossclone project. of final results from finished activities, The meeting was opened by Mrs. to discuss the ways to disseminate the D. Simonetta Giordano, Professor of mossclone method, to discuss patent environmental and applied botanic, and applications and to help partners with the Mr. D. José Ángel Fernández Escribano, closure of the project. All WP leaders, as Scientific Coordinator, who welcomed one member of the advisory board and, the participants to the meeting. The at least, one representative of every Rector of the host institution/partner, partner attended the meeting. The Project Universita’ degli Studi di Napoli Federico Officer and several stakeholders were II, also welcomed and thanked people also invited to attend the meeting. attendance. Other eminences of the This meeting took place on the 9th, host university appreciated the people 10th and 11th of March (2015) at the Aula assistance and described their interest in Magna from the Congress Center Unina the Mossclone project. Federico II, located in Via Partenope of During the first day, the final results Naples (Italy). AMRA was the partner of almost all activities of the project were in charge of this meeting. The rector presented and discussed, the patenting and several eminences of this university conditions were dealt and partners also 2 3 Meeting Agenda EUNETAIR Workshop at Riga The final meeting lasted three days; one day of private meeting, one day of EUNETAIR is a COST ACTION on New Trends and Challenges for Air public and dissemination meeting and one day of fieldtrip. which means European network on new Quality Control, was held the 26th and sensing technologies for air-pollution 27th of March (2015) in Riga, the capital Monday 9th March control and environmental sustainability. and the largest city of Latvia. Workshop 9:30-09:45 Welcome addresses and General presentation of the meeting (AMRA) On the other hand, COST is the longest- attendants enjoyed a two days event 09:45-10:15 WP4: Tasks, Aims and procedures (ORION) running European framework supporting where partners and other stakeholders 10:15-10:45 Results from Tasks 4.1 and 4.2 - Metals (AMRA) trans-national cooperation among presented their studies and opinions 10:45-11:00 TelLab activities researchers, engineers and scholars through oral and poster presentations, Coffee break across Europe. In this case, the main discussions, social dinners and breaks... 11:30-12:00 Results from Tasks 4.1 and 4.2 - PAHs (UDC) objective of EUNETAIR is to create They also live contacted Hans Hartmann a cooperative network to explore new Pedersen, EC DG R&I Policy Officer. 12:30-13:00 Results from Task 4.3 (UDC) sensing technologies for low-cost air- MOSSCLONE Coordinators were 13:00-13:30 Results from Task 4.4 (USC) pollution control through field studies invited to attend this interesting Lunch a nd labor ator y exper i ment s to t r a n sfer t he EUNETAIR workshop. José Ángel 15:00-15:15 Skype meeting with Aridane González (CNRS) results into preventive real-time control Fernández (MOSSCLONE Scientific 15:15-15:30 Monitoring Hg Experiments (Roberto Bargagli) practises and global sustainability for Coordinator, University of Santiago 15:30-16:00 General discussion and final conclusions WP4 (All) monitoring climate changes and outdoor/ de Compostela) explained how the 16:00-16:30 WP1 Project Management (USC) indoor energy efficiency. EUNETAIR MOSSCLONE project has developed and Coffee break involves the coordinated work of 63 obtained a tool for monitoring air quality 17:00-17:30 WP5 Exploitation and dissemination - Patenting (ALU-FR) partners from different European using moss as passive sensor. 17:30-18:00 Future perspectives for the Mossclone Consortium and Conclusions (All) countries. For more information please visit The 3rd EUNETAIR Workshop, based www.eunetair.it. Tuesday 10th March 09:00-09:30 Welcome addresses (AMRA) 9:40-10:00 General presentation of Mossclone Project (USC) 10:00-10:20 What is MOSSCLONE? (USC video) 10:20-10:40 Moss clone cultivation (ALU-FR) 10:40-11:00 Moss clone characterization (AMRA, CNRS) Coffee break 11:30-11:50 Tool development: Standardization of the method (AMRA) 11:50-12:10 Tool development: Moss bag preparation and scaling up (BIOVIA) 12:10-12:30 Detectors: Comparison with traditional methods (ORION) Lunch 15:00-15:30 Welcome addresses (AMRA, UNINA Federico II, Stakeholders) 15:30-15:50 What is MOSSCLONE? (USC video) 15:50-16:10 Exploitation and dissemination (ALU-FR) 16:10-16:30 Advisory Board Notes 16:30-17:00 Future perspectives and Conclusions

Wednesday 11th March One day excursion to the Amalfitan coast; Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Scala.

4 5 Mossclone Workshop pictures

Mossclone Workshop at Santiago de Compostela (Spain): The Mossphere Mossphere was publicly presented the promotion, trade, markets, municipal last day of the project (31st of march, 2015) slaughterhouse, employment and tourism during a Workshop at Edificio Cersia, (Santiago de Compostela city Council). Santiago de Compostela (Spain). The place -Isabel Rodríguez Moldes, Vice where the workshop was held belongs to Chancellor for Research at University of Santiago de Compostela City Council who Santiago de Compostela. ceded the building for the Mossclone event. -Sonia Pazos, A re a D i re ct or of A xe ncia The workshop was broadcasted online Galega da Innovación centers. and several media reported about the -Prof. Dr. Miguel Ángel Ríos workshop: national and regional tv news, Fernández, Chairman of Real Academia spanish national radio and regional press. Galegas das Ciencias (RAGDC). Mossphere devices, posters and boxes were distributed around the room for the widest A couple of Mossclone partners and possible dissemination. Furthermore, the Scientific Coordinator described Mossphere USB memories were given to the development and the results of the project invited people. and they explained the advantages of using the mossphere instead of conventional Different stakeholders and authorities methods. presented and attended the presentation of mossphere: A snack was served after the presentations to enhance the collaboration -Ethel Vázquez, Counselour for the and exchange of information between Environment, Land and Infrastructure meeting attendants. (Xunta de Galicia). The agenda of the workshop is shown -Reyes Leis, Councilor for Economic, below: with responsibilities in the areas of economic MOSSCLONE Workshop at Santiago de Compostela Tuesday 31st of March (2015)

18:15 Authorities and Stakeholders Welcome 18:40 Dr. Angel Fernandez Escribano - Scientific Mossclone Coordinator and Professor at University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) 19:00 Dr. María Piñeiro Iglesias - Superior Technician in Analytical Instrumentation at IUMA (University of La Coruña, UDC). Mossclone Partner. 19:20 Mrs. Ana Isabel Rey Asensio - CEO at BIOVIA. Mossclone Partner. 19:45 Snack 6 7 WP4 Detectors FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND TASKS There are no more planned events and tasks because the project has recently finished Tasks from WP4 (Detectors) finished on the last month of the project, some of them (31st of March, 2015). However, further mossclone news will be published both on the took 3 months more than planned. Samples from cloned Sphagnum palustre were exposed website and social media (Facebook and Twitter Mossclone accounts). together with traditional techniques; standard bulk deposition collectors, particle and gaseous samplers. Moss samples exposure was adapted to the conditions needed for the comparison with the results from traditional techniques. Moss samples were be covered, sheltered or used as passive diffusers. The development of WP4 tasks involved several Project Achievements problems so experiments were repeated in order to have a full set of data. The MOSSCLONE project has definitively achieved all the objectives: The results obtained in this working package are very promising because they support the use of the Mossphere and the Mossclone method as useful air monitoring √ Selection of moss species tools. For this reason, the application for patenting the moss clone, the method and the √ Creating a pilot bioreactor exposure device has been recently presented. √ Characterization of the selected moss clone √ Scaling up moss clone cultivation √ Design and methodological standardization √ Moss-bags validation versus current state-of-the-art √ Initial validation for the detection of pollution focus

MOSSCLONE Dissemination

In the last 6 months the Mossclone project has been deeply disseminated:

TV The MOSSCLONE project has been recently mentioned in the News of two Spanish regional TV channels (V and RTVG).

More than 9 articles have been published in different Spanish and Newspapers Italian newspapers; national, regional and online.

Radio The Final Meeting and the Mossclone Workshop were mentioned in several radio channels from Spain and Italy. During these events some partners were interviewed.

Find out more on our website www.mossclone.eu

Find Me on Follow US on Facebook Twitter 8 facebook.com/MOSSCLONE 9 @MOSSCLONE Thanks for your interest on our Project!

We would also like to thank Advisory Board members (Dr. Javier Abaigar and Dr. Harald Zechmeister), authorities and governments who made possible the development of this project, especially the European Commision and the 7th Framework program (FP7).

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