The LTC AquEus holds its 5th meeting in Biarritz with 27 participants
On 24th February 2026, the city of Biarritz hosted the LTC Sarea Encounter 2026, bringing together researchers from both sides of the border to strengthen collaboration within the Laboratories for Transborder Cooperation Network.
During the morning session, the programme consisted of two round table discussions. The first one focused on the role of the LTCs as drivers of excellent research, advanced training and attraction of talent. Miren Cajaraville, co-PI of LTC AquEus, participated in the round table where she shared her experience and highlighted the value of cross-border cooperation in building strong scientific communities, with high potential international projection. The second round table addressed knowledge transfer, territorial development, and social impact, offering a broader perspective on how LTCs contribute to regional innovation dynamics.
A poster session was also held to foster discussion and collaboration among researchers of the different LTCs . Four posters were presented by LTC AquEus partners, covering topics related to the design and development of biobased polymers; the synthesis, fate and impact of novel fluorescent biobased micro- and nanoplastics; biobased and biodegradable fishing nets; and the impact of partially bio-based methacrylate nanoplastics on the reproduction and DNA methylation in larval zebrafish.
In the afternoon, the 5th LTC AquEus meeting took place with the participation of several research groups from the University of the Basque Country and the University of Bordeaux, including many involved in the ENLIGHT PLASTIMPACT network. In total, 27 researchers attended the meeting. Miren Cajaraville opened the meeting and presented the main achievements of the LTC AquEus during its second year (2024/2025), followed by a summary of the progress of activities supported under the LTC Sarea 2025/2026 programme. Then, some of these ongoing activities were presented by the early stage researchers Charlotte Lefebvre (ecotoxicity of PET microfibers), Gaybrielle A. Smith (effects of methacrylate nanoplastics on reproduction and DNA methylation in larval zebrafish), Afrin L. Parvin (long-term impact of methacrylate nanoplastics on mussels), Carlota Alfaro (marine plastic waste recycling), Rémy Boisserie-Gimenez (degradation and ecotoxicity of plastic antifouling coatings) and Edgar Dusacre (effects of leachates of artificially aged fishing nets on copepod reproduction).
The afternoon continued with a discussion of potential activities to be developed in the period 2026/2027 on emerging research lines, through presentations given by Vania Itzel Ruiz González (coastal fronts), Oihana Gordobil (lignin‑based cosmetic technologies) and Eva Rodríguez and Maider Iturrondobeitia (biobased and biodegradable polymer biodesintegration).
The session concluded with the introduction of the new partners of the LTC AquEus: Alberto Katsumiti (GAIKER technological centre) and Emmanuelle Augeraud (Bordeaux School of Economics – BSE), who contributed valuable insights and further strengthened the network’s interdisciplinary dimension, as they cover human health and economic aspects, respectively.
