As part of the EU mission to « Restore our oceans and waters by 2030, » the EU-funded BlueMissionMed project, in collaboration with the European Commission (EC), is proud to announce the winners of the « Society4Med » award. This award recognizes exceptional initiatives that engage citizens in transformative actions, contributing to the objectives of the mission to protect the Mediterranean Sea and promote sustainable practices.
The « Society4Med » award, launched in collaboration with the European Commission, CNR, FVA, La Saison Bleue, and WWF, provides an opportunity to celebrate the social commitments of Mediterranean initiatives that encourage active public engagement in environmental preservation, focusing on two key categories:
Category 1: Awareness and Communication Campaigns/Activities
Category 2: Citizen Science
The evaluation criteria for both categories were based on each initiative’s contribution to the mission’s objectives, the number of citizens involved, the innovative nature of the formats used, the potential for replication, and the overall impact on protecting the Mediterranean Sea from pollution.
The jury of experts for this award included partners from the BlueMissionMed project, namely FVA, WWF, and La Saison Bleue for Category 1, and MedWaves and CNR for Category 2. Additionally, the jury included an external expert, Claudia Pecoraro, ensuring a diverse and balanced evaluation process.
For the Awareness and Communication Campaigns/Activities category, the winning initiative is #adopteunpad: The Superpower of Commitment to Our Seas and Oceans by Herocean.
This project effectively integrated pollution prevention with awareness-raising, employing an exceptionally effective approach. Herocean not only installed anti-waste devices in high schools and commercial areas, preventing thousands of cigarette butts and plastic debris from reaching the Mediterranean each year but also amplified its message by showcasing the collected waste. By placing transparent waste columns in these areas, Herocean transformed the intercepted waste into a powerful visual tool, reinforcing the tangible impact of individual actions. This striking presentation of pollution prevented from entering the seas served as an effective reminder of the issue, raising public awareness and encouraging more citizens to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors. The combination of direct environmental intervention and this compelling visual communication strategy significantly enhanced public engagement, making Herocean’s initiative a key player in both pollution prevention and environmental education.
Several other initiatives received special mentions for their outstanding contributions:
- Save Your Hood by The Extra Mile was recognized for its exceptional community engagement, involving thousands of citizens worldwide in collective efforts to clean beaches and public spaces.
- The #Potavristou project by the AKTI Research and Project Center was praised for its broad social media engagement, successfully encouraging citizens globally to participate in waste collection and report incidents through the simple hashtag #Potavristou.
- If Nature Could Speak by Ecoembes was lauded for its disruptive and viral social media campaign, which utilized sarcastic and humorous videos focused on biodiversity and conservation.
- Martina Stella di Mare by Marevivo FVG and Increasing Marine Environmental Awareness Through the Creative Arts by Enalis Physis Environmental Centre (Cyprus) were both recognized for their creative educational activities engaging children.
- Island Guardians – For a Plastic-Free Med by the Esplora Interactive Science Centre (Malta) was acknowledged for its holistic approach, combining beach clean-ups with well-structured educational programs, including toolkits, books, and an art exhibition.
For the Citizen Science category, the winning initiative is Surfing for Science by the University of Barcelona and Surfrider Foundation Europe.
This project stands out for its inclusive nature, encouraging participation from all members of society, regardless of their social status, age, abilities, or gender. Through collaboration with various associations, over 400 citizens have been trained to collect data on microplastics using Manta trawls, actively contributing to scientific research. Coordinated by Surfrider Europe and the University of Barcelona, the project revealed that microplastic pollution in coastal areas is higher than in subtropical gyres, and that plastic decomposition occurs near the coasts. This paradigm shift in research highlights the power of citizen science, providing scientifically significant results while raising awareness and fostering public engagement. Its impact is evident through scientific publications, media coverage, and public awareness. The project has brought about a significant change in studies on coastal microplastics, empowering citizens while raising awareness about pollution. Its influence extends through scientific publications, media coverage, and public awareness, potentially shaping consumer behavior and environmental policies.
In this category, other initiatives also received special mentions for their exceptional contributions, including:
- The Marine Watchers Network by Oceánidas impressed the jury with its innovative and inclusive approach that supports the craftsmanship of Spanish women « rederas » by asking them to create recycled net bags, used by volunteer divers during clean-ups, thus preserving a traditional craft while generating jobs for unemployed women.
- The Custodians Plastic Race by the BioDesign Foundation was recognized for involving communities in coastal clean-ups using digital tools to track pollution, helping to identify heavily polluted areas and supporting future environmental policies.
- The Mission Locale Etang de Berre by the Wings of the Ocean Association was mentioned for its significant impact on engaging local citizens and local authorities, fostering impactful collaborations between associations, institutions, and communities to preserve the environment.
- Manorba by the Asociación Vertidos Cero was ultimately awarded for its use of open data to support decision-making and implement marine waste reduction measures based on scientific knowledge.
The winners of both categories will be officially honored at Ecomondo, the leading event in Europe for technological and industrial innovation in the circular economy, during the workshop « Stimulating Technology, Business Models, and Societal Engagement for the Implementation of the EU Mission to Restore Our Oceans and Waters in the Mediterranean. » During the event, the winners of the Society4Med award will be presented to the entire stakeholder community to inspire similar activities throughout the Mediterranean basin and beyond.
All the initiatives mentioned above, as well as other shortlisted applications, will be included in the BlueMissionMed project brochure of Society4Med and widely disseminated through the project’s channels.
Source: bluemissionmed
