ResponSEAble at Micro 2016 in Lanzarote
The ResponSEAble journey stopped over in Lanzarote (Spain, Canary Islands) to learn from, and contribute to, Micro 2016 – a scientific conference that discussed the fate and impacts of microplastics in marine ecosystems. The contribution of ResponSEAble took the form of a side event organized by ACTeon (more information, to contact:Florence Krowicki) that addressed the following issues:
- How important are microplastics for each of us – and around us?
- Who is connected – directly and indirectly – to microplastics, and to the search for solutions that can reduce microplastics to the sea?
- How can I adapt my own activities and professional practices so as to reduce the release of microplastics to the sea?
- Addressing the “microplastics & sea” challenges: can we define priority(ies) (who, where, what, how)?
Contributions from participants (be it during the side event or via a questionnaire distributed during the conference) stressed the interest in these issues, and the range of practical and operational answers that do already exist. How best to combine bottom-up and top-down approaches for ensuring a collective “change of practice”, and preconditions for making changes possible and effectives, are questions to be further investigated.
Thanks to the Micro 2016 organisers for supporting ResponSEAble in the organization of this side event!