During the first 18 months of the TULIP project (the 1st reporting period, RP1), we carried out the preparatory work needed to launch field activities for environmental sampling, animal sampling, socio-behavioral data collection, and citizen science. We gathered data necessary for the modeling work and started two reviews, including a policy document review and a systematic literature review. We collaboratively developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and field manuals, ensuring consistency across case study sites in Italy and the Philippines. Environmental sampling began in Italy in November 2024, with sample analysis currently in progress. Preparations for the Philippine fieldwork advanced, with pilot sampling and testing of DNA extraction protocols conducted in July 2025. Institutional review board (IRB) approval for environmental data collection was obtained at RITM. Meanwhile, the ethics application for social science research was submitted during RP1 and is under review as of this report. We formed a modeling group spanning WP2, WP4, and WP5, fostering a collaborative approach to modeling efforts across the project. This group is developing integrated tools that combine hydrological modeling, machine learning, and other methods to trace and predict pathways of AMR and plastics, along with their interactions. A capacity-building activity at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB in FBV) in Stechlin, Germany, supported methodological alignment among partners and helped build shared understanding between European and Filipino teams. To facilitate communication and knowledge exchange, the consortium organized a public scientific event during the project’s three-day kick-off meeting in Heidelberg in early June 2024. The event focused on the intersections of AMR, plastics, and climate change, providing a platform to present the project’s goals, share early plans, and engage with external experts, stakeholders, and the wider research community. We launched the TULIP website and social media campaigns on different platforms, held various interviews, and presented TULIP at different conferences and engagement events. We also established a structure for the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and its implementation timeline. These activities have established a solid foundation for the next phase of the project, emphasizing full-scale data collection, participatory work with local communities, and the development of interventions.
