Faster answers when water turns green

In summer, lakes and canals can suddenly turn green due to explosive growth of microorganisms. Such blooms can damage ecosystems, harm wildlife, and sometimes make water unsafe for people and animals. For water authorities, the challenge is not only detecting a bloom but deciding quickly what to do next.

Jalaal’s proposal, under the acronym BloomSCAN, aims to make that decision-making easier by turning a small water sample into an immediate, easy-to-interpret on-site readout. The long-term vision is a single, user-friendly field tool that supports rapid action when risks rise.

From fundamental research to practical impact

BloomSCAN builds on research that Jalaal carried out with an ERC Starting Grant obtained earlier, on the physics and biology of cyanobacterial blooms. The new project will focus on bringing promising lab insights closer to real-world use, through early prototypes and field validation with water-sector partners.

Proof of Concept

To be eligible for the Proof of Concept grant scheme, researchers must have previously received an ERC frontier research grant. The Proof of Concept funding is then used to develop findings they have made during former or current research projects. The main goal is to explore the commercial and social innovation potential of the research.