A Practical Introduction to Environmental Microplastics

Master the complete workflow in microplastics research: from environmental sampling in the field to accessible laboratory analysis.

*Limited to 15 participants

In collaboration with

Dates Wed, December 9 to  Tue, December 15, 2026 
Modality and venue In person Universidad EAFIT Medellín, Colombia. 
Workshop fee $2,388,750 COP
Application deadline 30 October 2026

Introduction 

This intensive five-day course offers a practical introduction to sampling microplastics in the environment, extracting microplastics from environmental samples, identifying them visually, and analysing the associated data.

The course also covers essential quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures, with an emphasis on methodologies that are accessible and applicable across different environmental research contexts.

This is an international workshop, limited to 15 participants, and all instruction will be in English. 

From Wednesday to Wednesday so participants can enjoy the city during the weekend.

Participant profile 

Aimed at postgraduate, undergraduate students  ay higher levels, and professionals in: 
 

Aimed at postgraduate and undergraduate students at higher levels in:

Participants should ideally have a background in science or related disciplines and hold a bachelor's degree (or be in their final year of a bachelor's degree programme). Ideally, participants should also be familiar with general field sampling and laboratory techniques.

To participate in the workshop, please complete the application form. The workshop fee is $2,388,750 COP. Once we receive your application, you will be sent confirmation of your participation. The next workshop is scheduled for June 2027; please let us know if you would prefer to attend on that date instead. "Contact us" jpaniag@eafit.edu.co  jaherne@trentu.ca

 

Application deadline: 15 October 2026 

Methodology 

The practical workshop will include: 

Lectures, seminars, group discussions, fieldwork, laboratory practices, and collaborative activities and projects.

Participants will gain practical experience both in the field, through microplastic sampling, and in the laboratory, where they will learn techniques for extracting and identifying microplastics in environmental samples.

They will then apply this knowledge in an independent group project.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the principles of QA/QC in microplastics research
  • Collect representative environmental samples of air, water, and sediment for microplastics analysis
  • Apply microplastics extraction methods to environmental samples
  • Identify microplastics using different analytical techniques
  • And analyse and interpret microplastics data.

    Curriculum Overview

    Programme

    The workshop is organised into six sessions:

    Day 01. Introduction to microplastic pollution and sampling

    Introduction to microplastic pollution


    Introductions and course objectives 

    What are microplastics and macroplastics? 

    Microplastics in the environment: the environmental cycle of microplastics 

    Workflow: from environmental sampling to data analysis 

    Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) 

    Environmental sampling: fundamentals of representative sampling 
     

    Environmental sampling on the EAFIT campus


    QA/QC applied to fieldwork 

    Water sampling methods 

    EAFIT Creek (integrated sample, high volume, size selection) 

    Air sampling methods 

    Biomonitoring using plants 

    Sediment sampling methods 
     

    Day 02. Extraction and identification of microplastics


    Fundamentals of laboratory analysis 

    QA/QC applied to laboratory work 

    Experimental practices: 

    Elimination of organic matter (digestion) 

    Extraction from water samples (filtration) 

    Extraction from sediments (density separation) 

    Microscopic analysis 

    Hot needle test (polymer identification) 
     

    Day 03. Microplastic data analysis and independent projects


    Units of measurement for microplastics 

    Image analysis using ImageJ 

    Conversion of counts to mass concentrations 

    Formation of project working groups 

    Development of independent group projects 

    Design of your project QA/QC plan 
     

    Day 04. Independent projects


    Field sampling on the EAFIT campus 

    Laboratory analysis of microplastics 

    Guest lectures on microplastic case studies 
     

    Day 05. Presentation of independent projects


    Final analysis of group projects 

    Presentation of results 

    Course review and wrap-up 
     

    A Practical Introduction to Environmental Microplastics | Nodo — EAFIT University 

    Five-day international workshop in Medellín, Colombia: field sampling, laboratory extraction, and data analysis of environmental microplastics, with accessible QA/QC methods. Applications close 15 October 2026. 
     

     

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