image: PlasticsFuture 2023 Conference view more
Credit: James Wakibia
Plastic pollution is a global crisis. Since the 1950s more than 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been thrown away. 80% of this has been discarded into the environment via landfills and dumping. Plastic pollution has multiple adverse impacts and threatens human health and wellbeing, animal health and the health of complex ecosystems. Furthermore, the plastics life cycle significantly contributes to climate change. Immediate action is imperative.
In light of the UNEP resolution to negotiate a global treaty to end plastic pollution, Revolution Plastics will bring together a wide range of stakeholders including researchers, community organisations, NGOs, industry, policymakers and practitioners from around the world to explore how we can catalyse sustainable transitions to halt the negative impacts of plastics. We will collaborate, discuss and share knowledge to build an evidence base to stimulate change. To truly create impact we need to carry on beyond the conference so we aim to grow PlasticsFuture into a thriving community of practice.
The conference will be split into five sessions, delivered over three days. We encourage everyone to attend all sessions, to gain a broad understanding of the plastics problem and possible mitigations. Sessions will consist of invited short talks, posters, roundtable discussions and workshops. The conference programme will also include installations, film screenings, exhibitions and performances.
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Tuesday 20th June
Introduction and welcome - Professor Steve Fletcher, Director, and Dr Cressida Bowyer, Deputy Director, Revolution Plastics, University of Portsmouth, UK
Session 1: Microplastics - detection, transport and impacts for environmental and human health
Chair: Dr Fay Couceiro, Reader in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Pollution, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, UK
Invited Speaker: Dr Ben Williams, Senior Research Fellow, Air Quality Management Resource Centre, University of the West of England, UK
For more information on this session, click here
Session 2: Exploring the current issues of plastic use within the context of fashion and textiles and the role of plastics in the future
Chairs: Noorin Khamisani, Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles and co-lead of the Fashion, Textiles and Material Futures Research and Innovation Group, Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Portsmouth, UK
Mrs Karen Ryan, Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles, Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Portsmouth, UK
Invited Speaker: TBC
For more information on this session, click here
Evening 18.30 - 20:30: Drinks reception on the HMS Warrior
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Wednesday 21st June
Session 3: The Plastics That Made Us
Chair: Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan, Professor of Design History and Theory, Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Portsmouth, UK
Guest speaker: Dr Louise Dennis, Curator, Museum of Design in Plastics, Arts University Bournemouth, UK
For more information on this session, click here
Session 4: Participatory arts-based research methods - exploring lived experience and perceptions from the ground up
Chair: Dr Cressida Bowyer, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director of Revolution Plastics, University of Portsmouth, UK
Guest speaker: Nelmo Munyiri, Founder and Executive Director, Mukuru Youth Initiative, Nairobi, Kenya
For more information on this session, click here
Evening from 18.00: Conference dinner
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Thursday 22nd June
Session 5: The global treaty to end plastics pollution - opportunities for change
Chair: Professor Steve Fletcher, Director of the Global Plastics Policy Centre, University of Portsmouth, UK
Guest speaker: Von Hernandez, Global Coordinator, Break Free From Plastic Movement, The Philippines
Guest speaker: Professor Lesley Henderson, Professor Of Communications, University of Strathclyde, UK
Guest speaker: Esrat Karim, Director, AMAL Foundation, Bangladesh
For more information on this session, click here
Workshops
There will be opportunities to join workshops on microplastics, participatory theatre, policy analysis, re-fashioning plastics, and more.
To view the programme outline and find out more information on each session, click here