Researchers at the University of Bayreuth answer questions on the topic of "river health" 

In addition to numerous campaigns, events and exhibitions, the Main FlussFilmFest took place again at franz&gloria in Bayreuth, in which the SFB 1357 Microplastics and the AquaKlif research project from the Bayreuth Centre for Ecology and Environmental Research at the University of Bayreuth took part.

In addition to several short films, two films were shown that were produced with significant participation from these two institutions: "Microplastics on the trail" and "Bavaria's streams are running out of air"

The film "Mikroplastik auf der Spur - Die Jäger der unsichtbaren Teilchen" is about microplastics in the air, soil and water. Where do microplastics come from and, more importantly, how dangerous are they for us and our environment? What solutions are there? Directors Karsten Schwanke and Peter Prestel accompany the team from the University of Bayreuth's Collaborative Research Centre Microplastics with Prof. Christian Laforsch and Prof. Seema Agarwal in their work.

The film "Bavaria's streams are running out of air" shows the current state of many streams and forest springs. How are heat and lack of rain on the one hand and heavy rainfall on the other changing water habitats - and what can we do to protect them? Director Jan Kerckhoff visits the team of scientists from the Universities of Bayreuth and Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Technical University of Munich over several months as they conduct their research.

During the subsequent discussions and Q&A sessions with the audience in the two cinemas, the current situation and current problems faced by researchers were discussed, as well as the long road to the renaturation of streams and the removal of non-functional transverse structures. It became clear that it is not easy to reverse changes that are considered negative from today's perspective - be it the introduction of microplastics or the damming of watercourses. However, it also became clear that there are opportunities for everyone to play their part: by avoiding plastic waste, as with the clean-up campaigns, or by keeping a close eye on the continuity of streams in their own neighbourhood.

The discussion with Prof Christian Laforsch, SFB Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth, was moderated by Dr Anne Schmitt (Flussparadies Franken). Director Jan Kerckhoff, Prof. Stefan Peiffer and Dr Birgit Thies (both University of Bayreuth) discussed "Bavaria's streams are running out of air" with the cinema guests. Other guests included Pegnitz city councillor Susanne Bauer and Sigrun Lange from the WWF's "Living Rivers" project. Michael Bender from the Living Rivers Foundation acted as moderator.