13 aug ’25
News
CERN technology showcased in context of UN Plastic Treaty discussions
AI data analysis techniques developed at CERN were showcased during a side event of
INC-5.2 — the United Nations intergovernmental negotiating committee currently meeting in
Geneva to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
An event at CERN’s IdeaSquare held on 8 August demonstrated how citizen science and novel AI techniques developed at the Large Hadron Collider can contribute to combating plastic pollution. The IdeaSquare event was part of a programme of side events aimed at attendees of INC-5.2 — the second part of the fifth session of an intergovernmental negotiating committee established by the United Nations in 2022 to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, which is meeting in Geneva from 5-14 August.
In 2024 a European Union project called Edge SpAIce was established to use CERN’s expertise in data management to combat marine plastic litter. The aim of the project is to develop an on-board system for satellites that will make it possible to acquire and process high-resolution pictures using a deep neural network. The system will process data in near real-time directly on the satellite, mirroring the efficient filtering of data in particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider.
The IdeaSquare event “Citizen Science and AI to combat plastic pollution”, which was organised by the Polarquest Association in partnership with Edge spAIce, included presentations and workshops by experts in citizen science, AI, marine biology, and geography. More than 70 delegates from the UN Plastic Treaty INC-5.2 session attended the event and also toured CERN’s facilities.
The unique combination of AI and citizen science promises to make monitoring and implementation of Plastic Treaty rules more efficient and accessible: AI can process thousands of satellite and drone images to map pollution in real time, while citizens can perform ground-truthing and can help AI systems learn and improve. “Together, they enable faster responses, smarter policies, and stronger community engagement in reducing plastic waste,” said speaker Rosy Mondardini, Director of Research at Citizen Science Zurich (UZH and ETH Zurich).
Marine biologist Stefano Aliani (CNR -ISMAR), who is a member of the International Science Council delegation at INC 5, drew attention to a petition signed by 450 independent experts from 65 countries expressing concern that a misrepresentation of the science behind plastic pollution could result in a treaty that is unable to protect future generations. For this “once-in-a-planet” opportunity to succeed, he said, “we have to ensure that science plays a pivotal role”.
More Polarquest News
UN Plastic Treaty INC-5.2 – Side Event
The Polarquest Association, in partnership with CERN’s project Edge spAIce, organises a side event of the UN Plastic Treaty INC-5.2 at CERN’s Ideasquare and online to show how citizen science, supported by novel AI techniques, can help combat global plastic pollution.
The fight against plastic bags in Africa
Andrea Micozzi, a master’s student in theoretical physics at Sapienza University and contributor to Treccani, writes from Tanzania about the continent’s leading role in the fight against plastic waste—and what it reveals about our own habits.
BioBlitz activity report
On May 23, 2025, three vessels of the newly formed Fleet4Science teamed up with the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences of the University of Milano-Bicocca to take part in the Spot-The-Monk campaign—an effort to monitor the elusive Mediterranean monk seal through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. This collaborative operation brought together marine biologists, sailboat owners, young students, and passionate science communicators in a unique blend of research, adventure, and public engagement.
How Citizen Science can change wildlife conservation through eDNA monitoring
The Mediterranean monk seal, once widespread, is now critically endangered and mostly found in remote caves. A new study highlights how citizen science and eDNA monitoring—using the BioBlitz method—are helping conservationists track and protect this elusive species.
Polarquest joins the BioBlitz campaign to Spot the Mediterranean Monk Seal
Polarquest and its newly created Fleet4Science partners with the Environmental Science Department of Milano-Bicocca University to collect data for the BioBlitz campaign, created to monitor endangered monk seal populations through eDNA collection in the Mediterranean.
The Big Plastic Count: Join Polarquest to Monitor Plastic Pollution!
From March 31 to April 6, 2025, track your plastic use and help collect crucial data to combat pollution. Plastic waste is a global crisis—let’s take action together! Polarquest is participating to raise awareness about plastic’s impact, especially in polar regions.