Filipa Bessa

Filipa Bessa is a biologist (PhD in Biosciences) and currently a researcher at Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet (CFE) from the University of Coimbra (Portugal),(https://doi.org/10.54499/DL57/2016/CP1370/CT0106). Her research focus is related to the assessment of the effects of urbanization and (micro)plastic pollution on marine and coastal ecosystems. Particularly, for her pioneer contributions in the identification of microplastic pollution in penguins in Antarctica, with the publication Microplastics in gentoo penguins from the Antarctic region listed in the Top 100 Scientific Reports Earth Science papers in 2019. In addition, she participated in the first regional assessment of plastic pollution in European rivers published in Nature Sustainability, in 2020; and is the Portuguese member of the International Working Group Micro and Nano Plastics in support of the European Commission Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM). She coordinates national projects aiming to develop innovative tools for the detection and mitigation of marine litter (UAS4litter), and promote citizen participation and engagement with environmental issues via digital tools (www-lixomarinho.app and Portugal Pellets Watch). Currently, Filipa Bessa is involved in several national and international research projects not only related to Marine and Coastal Science but also citizen science and outreach. In fact, she is remarkably engaged in promoting science communication activities with more than two hundred outreach activities and science communication initiatives (exhibitions, seminars and workshops) related to ocean literacy and plastic pollution. Furthermore, she won the Clean Seas Photo Challenge with the Category "Macro -SeaPlasticSalt- awarded by the United Nations Environment Program in 2018 and, more recently, a science and art prize from JPIOceans with the piece entitled New Shades of Blue (2023).

April 2024