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João Pequeno is a Science Manager and a Researcher at MARE from NOVA School of Science and Technology. His main work revolves around science management and communication and he has collaborated in several national and international marine litter and waste management projects, mostly tackling plastics and microplastics pollution impacts and effects, as well as the implementation of solutions and management strategies. His main research interests are water pollution, micro and nanoplastics, waste and water management and treatment solutions and circular economy. Recently, he has started a new line of research in cold plasma applications for wastewater treatment and disinfection, with a focus on microplastics biofilms, other emergent pollutants and antimicrobial resistance control.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
João Pequeno

Citation names

  • Pequeno, João

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
3819-5CAA-3A54
ORCID iD
0000-0001-8972-0853
Google Scholar ID
8N-4V7oAAAAJ
Researcher Id
AAK-8421-2021
Scopus Author Id
57222362231

Email addresses

  • j.pequeno@fct.unl.pt (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Engineering and Technology - Environmental Engineering

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Spanish; Castilian Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Elementary (A2)
Education
Degree Classification
2025/03 - 2025/07
Ongoing
 Post-Graduation in Data Science for Business Strategy (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2023
Concluded
 Post-Graduation in Marine Science Technology and Society (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
 17
2018
Concluded
 MSc in Environmental Engineering (Mestrado integrado)
Major in Environmental Systems
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Microplastics in Bivalves (Mytilus gallo-provincialis and Scrobicularia plana) and Polychaetes (Marphysa sanguinea)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 16
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2019/04/23 - Current Science and Technology Management Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023/09/01 - Current Agri-Plast - Organization of Production and Innovation for the Reduction of Agricultural Plastics
PRR-C05-i03-I-000167
Researcher
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
 Governo da República Portuguesa
Ongoing
2021 - 2023 i-plastic - From the land to the sea, the fate of micro and nanoplastics
MICROPLAST/0003/2018
Researcher
Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal
Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans)
Concluded
2020 - 2023 PLASTISPHERE - Understanding microplastic biota composition and dynamics along the coasts of Israel and Portugal<br>
PT-IL/0001/2019
Researcher
Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2018 - 2022 Land-based sources of marine litter and microplastics. Evaluation and modelling of the input from rivers and estuaries and implementation of prevention and reduction strategies at the source
PTDC/EAM-AMB/30726/2017
Researcher
Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2019/02 - 2021/06 CleanAtlantic
EAPA_46/2016
Researcher
Interreg Europe
Concluded
2016 - 2017 BASEMAN - Defining the baselines and standards for microplastics analyses in European waters
FCT-JPIOCEANS/0002/2015
Master Student Fellow
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Portugal
Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans)
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2022/10 - 2023/01 IUCNs Monitoring and Evaluation Policy, the Final Evaluation of the Plastic Waste Free Islands (PWFI) project
PWFI
Researcher
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Sá, Bárbara Andreia; Pais, Joana; Pequeno, João; Ana Filipa Bessa; Sobral, Paula. "From the source to the ocean: Seasonal abundance of microplastics in the Mondego River, Portugal". Paper presented in 16th International Conference Littoral 22, Caparica, 2022.
  2. Sá, Bárbara Andreia; Pais, Joana; Sobral, Paula; Ana Pires; Pequeno, João. Corresponding author: Pequeno, João. "Microplastics in the Lis River, Portugal: abundance and distribution in relation to sources". Paper presented in 16th International Conference Littoral 22, Caparica, 2022.
  3. Rodrigues, Diana; Pequeno, João; Antunes, Joana; Sobral, Paula; Maria Helena Costa. Corresponding author: Rodrigues, Diana. "Are microplastics detected in the bogue Boops boops (L.) reflecting those available in its coastal feeding grounds?". Paper presented in ECSA 58 – EMECS 13 International Conference: Estuaries and coastal seas in the Anthropocene – Structure, functions, services and management, 2021.
  4. Bárbara Sá; Sobral, Paula; Ana Pires; Pequeno, João; Pais, Joana. Corresponding author: Bárbara Sá. "Land-based sources of microplastics in the Lis River, Portugal.". Paper presented in ECSA 58 – EMECS 13 International Conference: Estuaries and coastal seas in the Anthropocene – Structure, functions, services and management, 2021.
  5. Antunes, Joana; Sobral, Paula; Dhimmer, Viren; Pequeno, João; Bessa, F. "Fish, bivalves and polychaeta: microplastics ingestion in Portuguese Coastal waters". Paper presented in MICRO 2018. Fate and Impact of Microplastics: Knowledge, Actions and Solutions, Lanzarote, 2018.
    Published
Conference poster
  1. Pequeno, João; Antunes, Joana; Tom Koritnik; Davor Krzisnik; Jure Zigon; Andrej Steyer; José Gonçalves; Silva, C. O.. Corresponding author: José Gonçalves. "Cold Plasma Water Treatment Targeting Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria and Microplastic Associated Pathogens". Paper presented in NOVA Health Conference: Tackling Pandemics: Strategies for Prevention, Preparedness and Response, 2024.
  2. Carla Silva; Pequeno, João; Susana Celestino; Cristina Espírito Santo; Teresa Silva; André Costa; Marta Mamede; João Castro; Paula Sobral. Corresponding author: Carla Silva. "Microplastics contamination of mussels and water from the Port of Sines, Portugal". Paper presented in International Conference MICRO 2024 – Plastic Pollution from Macro to Nano, 2024.
  3. Pequeno, João; Carla Silva; Juliano Pavan; Sobral, Paula. Corresponding author: Pequeno, João. "Microplastic pollution in the Tagus River, Portugal: Distribution and abundance from the Portuguese border to the river mouth". Paper presented in MICRO 2024 International Conference: Plastic pollution from macro to nano, 2024.
  4. Ana Alves; Graça Martinho; Marta Martins; Pedro Santos; Pequeno, João; Graça Brito; Paulo Caetano. Corresponding author: Ana Alves. "Impacts of Agricultural Plastic Waste in Portugal - Contribution to the Agri-Plast Project". Paper presented in Seminario Ibérico de Química Marina (SIQUIMAR), 2024.
  5. Carla Silva; Pequeno, João; Susana Celestino; Diogo Jacinto; João Castro; Paula Sobral. Corresponding author: Carla Silva. "Microplastics contamination of mussels and water from the Port of Sines, Portugal". 2023.
  6. Bárbara Sá; Joana Pais; Joana Antunes; Pequeno, João; Tomás Dias; Filipa Bessa; Paula Sobral. Corresponding author: Bárbara Sá. "Sources and transport of microplastic polymers along the Mondego River, Portugal. Scientific poster". 2022.
  7. Silva, C. O.; Pequeno, João; Celestino, Susana; Espírito Santo, Cristina; Silva, Teresa; Costa André; Mamede, Marta; et al. Corresponding author: Silva, C. O.. "Mussels as bioindicators of microplastic pollution in the Port of Sines". Paper presented in 16th International Conference Littoral 22, 2022.
  8. Joana Pais; Bárbara Sá; Tomás Dias; Pequeno, João; Filipa Bessa; Paula Sobral. Corresponding author: Joana Pais. "Understanding microplastic routes from the source to the ocean by exploring their transport by the Mondego River, Portugal". Paper presented in ECSA 58 – EMECS 13 International Conference: Estuaries and coastal seas in the Anthropocene – Structure, functions, services and management, 2021.
Journal article
  1. José Gonçalves; João Pequeno; Israel Diaz; Davor Kržišnik; Jure Žigon; Tom Koritnik. "Killing Two Crises with One Spark: Cold Plasma for Antimicrobial Resistance Mitigation and Wastewater Reuse". Water (2025): https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081218.
    10.3390/w17081218
  2. Rodrigues, Diana; Pequeno, João; Pais, Joana; Antunes, Joana; Sobral, Paula; Costa, Maria Helena. "Comparing microplastics ingested by the bogue Boops boops (Teleostei: Sparidae) to those available in its feeding areas: A case study on the Portuguese west coast". Regional Studies in Marine Science 65 (2023): 103093. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103093.
    10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103093
  3. Rodrigues, Diana; Antunes, Joana; Pais, Joana; Pequeno, João; Caetano, Paulo Sá; Rocha, Fernando; Sobral, Paula; Costa, Maria Helena. "Distribution patterns of microplastics in subtidal sediments from the Sado river estuary and the Arrábida marine park, Portugal". Frontiers in Environmental Science 10 (2022): https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.998513.
    10.3389/fenvs.2022.998513
  4. Bárbara Sá; Joana Pais; Joana Antunes; João Pequeno; Ana Pires; Paula Sobral. "Seasonal Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Microplastics in the Lis River, Portugal". Sustainability 14 4 (2022): 2255-2255. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042255.
    10.3390/su14042255
  5. Pequeno, João; Antunes, Joana; Dhimmer, Viren; Bessa, Filipa; Sobral, Paula. Corresponding author: Pequeno, João. "Microplastics in Marine and Estuarine Species From the Coast of Portugal". Frontiers in Environmental Science 9 (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.579127.
    Open access • Published • 10.3389/fenvs.2021.579127
Activities

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2024/08/15 Mar. Por fundos nunca antes explorados. [Interview in national newspaper] Semanário SOL
2023/07/17 Mais plástico no mar do que peixes? É urgente salvar o Oceano. [Interview in national newspaper] Observador
2022/06 Escutar o MAR(E). [Dissemination article in national newspaper] Semanário SOL
2021/06/17 Em vez de um grão de areia, pode encontrar um pedaço de plástico no carapau que vai comer. [Interview in national newspaper] Expresso

Interview (tv / radio show)

Program Topic
2022/08 - Current Antena 2 - Ciência A existência de microplásticos nos peixes que comemos. [Interview in national radio show]

Scientific expedition

Activity description Institution / Organization
2024/08/05 - 2024/08/12 1st Oceanographic Campaign dedicated to Oceanic Marine Protected Areas, onboard NI Mário Ruivo, Portugal EEZ, Atlantic Ocean. [Participation in Scientific Expedition] Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Portugal
Distinctions

Award

2021 Blue Bio Value Ideation 2021 - Winning Team.
Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal

Other distinction

2023 Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Training Grant - Mila University, Algeria.
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
2022 Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Training Grant - Tirana University, Albania.
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal