On the 11 December Manchester Environmental Research Institute will be hosting the inaugural 'Plastics in the Natural Environment' workshop.
The aim of the group is to:
1) Connect individuals and groups working in the area.
2) Encourage cross-discipline collaboration.
3) Identify potential new avenues for research and funding.
4) Enable a rapid response to funding calls.
5) Present a unified front and establish The University of Manchester as a ‘go-to’ place for environmental plastics research.
The aim of the first workshop is to investigate the scope of the group and discuss ideas for the group's development.
Agenda:
09:45 – 10:00 – Registration
10:00 – 10:15 - Ian Kane (Reader in Sedimentology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences) – Introduction and scope
10:15 – 10:20 - Hugh Coe (Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Director of Manchester Environmental Research Institute) - Integration with MERI
10:20 – 10:30 - Mike Shaver (Professor of Polymer Science, Henry Royce Institute) - Sustainable plastics
10:30 – 10:40 - Jamie Woodward (Professor of Physical Geography, Department of Geography) - Microplastics in freshwater systems
10:40 – 11:30 - 2 minute introductions from participants
11:30 – 12:00 - Research mapping – what research are we doing and what are the opportunities and gaps?
12:00 – 12:30 - Developing research themes and ideas
12:30 – 13:00 – Lunch
Alongside we will also be discussing the following upcoming research opportunities:
- 6th round NERC Highlight topics – Biodegradable plastics as emerging environmental pollutants. NERC has allocated £16 million to this call and plastics will be addressed by two projects, each £2M over 4 years.
- Reducing the Impacts of Plastic Waste in Developing Countries. The call aims to support up to five international, interdisciplinary, collaborative research projects with a value of up to £3.5M.
The workshop is open to anyone who has an interest in plastics in the environment so please forward this onto colleagues who you think would be interested.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to be kept up to date and involved with the group as it develops please email MERI (meri@manchester.ac.uk).
