Developed by Year 12 Science and Technology students Afonso Moura, Afonso Ribeiro, Gabriel Mantonavi, Ricardo Ribeiro and Sara Silva, under the guidance of teacher Júlia Abelha, MusselUP combines marine biology, technology and environmental sustainability.

The project uses mussels as natural bioindicators, monitoring changes in their shell movements through magnetic field measurements. Students tested their responses in purified seawater and samples contaminated with microplastics and lead. Exposure to lead produced a faster, more pronounced reaction, while microplastics triggered similar but slower changes.

After developing and testing a functional prototype in aquariums at CJD, the team installed their sensors aboard a vessel and conducted an initial trial of the concept at sea.

The idea emerged from a classroom project inspired by a wastewater treatment monitoring method used in Poland. Research by Professor Maria Bordalo Sá, from the University of Aveiro, provided further scientific inspiration, while the students introduced an innovative magnetic measurement approach and maintained contact with the researcher throughout the project.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Dukes Education ;

"We started this project knowing nothing about how mussels live and behave, or even what an Arduino was. Today, we can programme, assemble and calibrate sensors, interpret data and understand these organisms," the students explained.

Their achievement was recognised at a national final in Lisbon, where MusselUP competed against other innovative projects focused on protecting the Atlantic Ocean. The event was attended by the presidents of Ciência Viva and FLAD, as well as Portugal's Secretary of State for Education, highlighting the importance of encouraging scientific innovation among young people.

But the journey does not end with the competition. The students now plan to develop a scientific paper with the support of researcher José Ricardo Paula, from the University of Lisbon, and explore replacing the vessel with monitoring buoys positioned along the coastline.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Dukes Education ;

More than a national award, MusselUP demonstrates how classroom learning can evolve into meaningful scientific research, encouraging young people to apply creativity, collaboration and technology to real environmental challenges.

Want to learn more about this exciting project, and all the great things students are doing at CJD? Contact us for more information or to schedule a visit today.

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