The research vessel REXDAN, the largest European vessel dedicated to inland water research and part of the research infrastructure of the “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati (UDJG), embarked on its second international mission on the Danube, running between 4 and 29 June within the European SUNDANSE project.

According to the “Dunarea de Jos” University, the scientific expedition will take place along the Danube sector between Romania and Austria, before returning to Romania, and will bring together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Romania, France, Austria, Israel, Serbia and Belgium.

“The mission will bring together a multidisciplinary international team of researchers and will take place along the Danube sector between Romania and Austria, before returning to Romania. Alongside the UDJG, partners from France, Austria, Israel, Serbia and Belgium will take part in the mission to assess and validate advanced equipment designed for microplastics analysis and toxicity testing. Conducted under the European SUNDANSE project, the mission aims to investigate one of the river’s major challenges: the disruption of the Danube’s natural sediment balance. Over recent decades, human intervention and the increasingly visible effects of climate change have significantly altered the Danube’s natural dynamics, increasing flood risks and contributing to the degradation of aquatic and riverside habitats. In this context, understanding and managing sediment processes are becoming essential for preserving and restoring the ecological integrity of the Danube-Black Sea system,” the “Dunarea de Jos” University said.

The mission’s main objectives are to carry out integrated in situ monitoring and research through the collection and analysis of environmental data on water, air and sediment quality, complemented by advanced bathymetric measurements to characterise the Danube’s hydromorphological and sedimentary processes.

The project also aims to strengthen scientific and institutional cooperation along the river by facilitating direct dialogue with authorities, organisations and regional partners, as well as transferring research findings to the academic community and international organisations involved in shaping environmental policies.

As the REXDAN traverses the river, it will transform into a mobile campus, hosting visiting days for stakeholders, local authorities, and academic communities in key cities: Novi Sad, Serbia (11-12 June), Budapest, Hungary (15-16 June), Bratislava, Slovakia (18 June) and Vienna, Austria (19-20 June).

According to university representatives, the expedition goes beyond the scope of a simple research mission and demonstrates how science, international cooperation and modern research infrastructures can contribute to understanding, protecting and restoring one of Europe’s most important river systems.