On Sunday, April 27, 2025, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free (VLPF) took part as a key partner in the Day of Creativity and Innovation, held at the Home of The Human Safety Net in St. Mark’s Square, Venice.
The event, organized in collaboration with Kid Pass, was dedicated to families, children, and young people, with the aim of promoting creativity, teamwork, and inclusion through workshops, hands-on labs, and interactive experiences.
The day featured a rich program of storytelling, science activities, creative workshops, and podcast creation. Among these, VLPF hosted the workshop “Explore the Sea Like a Real Scientist!” — a journey through science, technology, and environmental commitment for young explorers aged 10 and up, accompanied by adults.
Through practical activities and scientific tools, participants in the VLPF workshop learned about the challenges facing marine ecosystems and gained firsthand insight into the impact of plastic pollution.
One of the highlights was the screening of Ghost Boats, VLPF’s original documentary exposing the issue of abandoned boats in the Venice lagoon and the severe environmental consequences of these sunken wrecks — along with the potential for their recovery.
Visitors also discovered the SeaCat, an innovative autonomous robotic boat developed within the Horizon Europe SeaClear2.0 project, part of the EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters. VLPF is the only Italian partner in the project, which aims to monitor and remove marine litter using cutting-edge, sustainable technology.
The experience continued with a virtual reality dive: using 3D headsets, participants “immersed” themselves in plastic-polluted seabeds in an interactive simulation created by VLPF as part of the INNOPLASTIC project (Horizon 2020), raising awareness about the scale and urgency of plastic pollution in our oceans.
Rounding out the day was a scientific activity focused on identifying the polymers that make up plastic waste. Using a portable NIR spectrometer and an educational totem, participants could instantly identify the polymer types in various marine litter samples. This citizen science activity, part of the REMEDIES project under the Horizon Europe Mission Ocean program, also included informative materials on recyclability and environmental impact.
It was an intense and inspiring day, giving young participants a creative and hands-on approach to environmental awareness.
With its participation, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free reaffirmed that innovation, education, and participatory science are essential tools in building a culture of sustainability—starting with the next generation.