On March 30, 2026, the representatives of the state institution "South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky" joined the first day of the inaugural meeting of the international project BSB01214-MicroDanger, dedicated to the issue of microplastics and the protection of the Black Sea ecosystem. The program of the first day included the official opening, presentation of general information about the project, discussion of the team structure, work packages, reporting and dissemination of results, as well as national presentations of partners on scientific research and the legal framework in the field of microplastics research.
During the opening, the representatives of partner institutions and authorities addressed the participants with welcoming words, in particular, the rector of Ushynsky University, Prof. Andriy Krasnozhon, who introduced the Ukrainian higher education institution among the international partners of the project. This was an important confirmation of the active participation of our university in the development of international scientific cooperation and environmentally oriented initiatives in the Black Sea region.
In the afternoon, Associate Professor Volodymyr Chernykh, coordinator of the Ukrainian team, presented a report on scientific research, reports and publications related to the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, and also separately highlighted the legal framework in Ukraine relevant to the implementation of the project. The participation of the Ukrainian side in these thematic blocks testified to the significant contribution of Ushynsky University to the scientific and analytical components of the international partnership.
The project initiative is implemented within the framework of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin program, and aims not only to study the problem of microplastics in the Black Sea, but also to strengthen international and intersectoral cooperation, disseminate the obtained data via an electronic platform and present the final results at an international symposium.
During the meeting, the participants also discussed the composition of the project teams, the structure of work by packages, voting on logo options, the functioning of the website and electronic platform of the project, the formation of committees, as well as the features of reporting and work in the JEMS system. Such organizational discussions laid the foundation for further coordinated cooperation between partners from Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia and Romania.
The participation of Ushinsky University in the BSB01214-MicroDanger project is an important step in strengthening international inter-institutional cooperation, developing environmental research and enhancing the contribution of Ukrainian scientists to solving urgent problems of the Black Sea region. The additional attention paid to the launch of the initiative by the Turkish media can be seen as a positive signal for the further visibility of the project at the international level.
