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Plastic pollution solutions will be the focus of a two-day conference being held at the Revolution Plastics Institute (RPI), С����Ƶ, next week (10-11 March).  

The Revolution Plastics PhD conference will bring together over 40 PhD students from around the world. These emerging researchers are working on innovative solutions to the global plastics crisis, aiming to address the detrimental impact plastics have on the environment, human health, and climate change.

The conference, a first-of-its-kind transdisciplinary event, will provide a space for these students to network, present their research, and collaborate on pressing issues related to plastic pollution. 

With more than 400 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year and a growing crisis in plastic waste, action is urgently needed to reduce plastic pollution and its far-reaching effects.

"Plastics are a global issue that touches every aspect of our lives, from the food we eat to the air we breathe," says Dr Cressida Bowyer, Deputy Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute. "At this conference, we’re fostering an environment where the brightest minds from different disciplines can collaborate, share insights, and brainstorm creative solutions to this multifaceted problem."

Topics at the conference will come from all disciplines. They will range from investigating how plastics affect human health, with a focus on micro- and nano-plastics’ impact on liver and gastrointestinal systems, exploring the global plastics treaty and how chemicals policy can be shaped, to reducing plastic waste at crime scenes. One key session, “Why Transdisciplinarity Matters”, will encourage students to develop collaborations across diverse fields to amplify their research’s societal impact.

RPI is at the forefront of integrating science, policy, and the arts to find real-world solutions to plastic pollution. As part of its broader efforts, RPI has partnered with UK-based material technologies company Aquapak to form a PhD cluster dedicated to investigating alternative materials to single-use plastics. Together, they’re examining solutions across the plastics lifecycle, from testing biodegradable materials to tackling supply chain issues and ensuring long-term plastic waste management.

Professor Fay Couceiro, Professor of Environmental Pollution and High Impact Area Lead at the Revolution Plastics Institute, says: "We believe that collaboration across disciplines is the key to finding scalable, sustainable solutions to plastic pollution. This conference is a vital part of that mission. These young researchers are tomorrow's leaders, and their work will help shape the future of our planet."

The RPI's unique interdisciplinary approach is already making strides in the fight against plastic pollution. Their research spans multiple domains, from microplastics' effect on the air we breath to co-developing pollution solutions with communities in the global south. As a leading institute, RPI is also helping to shape a global agreement to end plastic pollution and guiding national governments to implement effective policies.

As the world grapples with the escalating plastics crisis, RPI is ensuring that the next generation of researchers and innovators is empowered to drive lasting change. This conference aims to unite the global talent of the future to address one of the planet's most urgent environmental challenges.