Catharina is a dedicated Ocean Sciences PhD holder with over a decade of experience focusing on marine anthropogenic litter and plastic pollution. She spearheaded the implementation of a coastal marine litter program on Faial Island's beaches within the Azores Archipelago, meticulously studying the abundances of macro and mesodebris. Her expertise lies in analyzing temporal and spatial variability, identifying potential sources, and forecasting trends.
Her passion extends to understanding the dynamics and connections of microplastics in the open ocean, particularly focusing on vertical and horizontal levels. Catharina has garnered extensive experience aboard national and international cruises, proficiently operating various instruments for physical and biological water column samplings, sediment analyses, and more.
She is adept at utilizing data obtained from these cruises to analyze and interpret marine litter data in conjunction with physical and meteorological parameters. Catharina's research on microplastics includes internships, training, and participation in PhD courses at an international level, honing her skills in FTIR techniques, imaging, microscopy, and other essential instruments for plastic material identification and size determination.