Bayreuth, Germany — November 13, 2024
The University of Bayreuth recently wrapped up a three-day workshop, “Navigating Towards Microplastic Regulations”, jointly organized and funded by the PlasticsFatE project and CRC 1357 Microplastics.
The event, held from November 11-13 at the SWO Conference Center on campus, attracted 50 enthusiastic participants, including 24 female researchers and 20 international attendees and 16 non-UBT participants, creating a closely balanced and highly engaged group, and successfully connected Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from the CRC 1357 Microplastics with counterparts from the CUSP projects.
The workshop provided a platform for early career researchers to explore and deeply engage with topics around microplastic regulations. Attendees included contributors from EU sister projects, including Polyrisk and PlasticHeal, demonstrating a robust network of collaboration.
Over three days, participants took part in a series of insightful presentations from experts, including Prof Dr Christian Laforsch, (University of Bayreuth), Dr. Giorgia Carratta from the University of Münster, Dr Rudolf Reuther (ENAS) hold by Dr. Ramsperger, and experts from the Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency, Dr. Ulrike Braun and Dr. Marcus Lukas, skilfully led and moderated by Dr Anja Ramsperger (University of Bayreuth). Topics ranged from news and challenges in microplastics research, and the challenges for microplastic standardization to the legal perspectives in International and EU law
Prof. Dr. Laforsch, Dr. Carratta, Dr. Ramsperger (l. to r.)
Prof. Dr. Laforsch, Dr. Braun, Dr. Lukas (l. to r.)
Interactive sessions fostered active networking among ECRs through workshops, lightning talks, and poster presentations. Day two also offered a festive evening at Bayreuth’s Winterdorf, where attendees enjoyed local specialties. The final day wrapped up with lab tours, giving participants hands-on insights into research methodologies.
“The 'Early Career Researcher Workshop' provided an excellent opportunity for early-career scientists to present their research on microplastics, while also gaining valuable insights into the standardization and regulatory frameworks surrounding this topic.” says Dr. Ramsperger. “Particularly the interactive exchange, whether through lightning talks or networking in a relaxed atmosphere, demonstrated how valuable the dialogue between young researchers and established experts is for the advancement of this important field. During the lab tours on the final day, participants also had the chance to discuss current topics with microplastic research experts and further expand their networks.”
Special thanks go to the UBT team for their smooth and efficient organization. The event’s success highlights the critical role of collaboration in advancing microplastic research and the importance of fostering connections among early career researchers in this vital field.
Stay connected on LinkedIn to follow up on collaborative opportunities! The organizing team is also encouraging participants to share their poster presentations for inclusion in the upcoming CUSP newsletter and the Zenodo repository.
Text: Lesley Tobin (Consultant, Optimat Ltd; PlasticsFatE.eu; CUSP-research.eu)
Fotos: A. Dietl (CRC microplastics)
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