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ALLEA general assembly

ALLEA general assembly

Event details

Start time

15 May 2019 09:30

End time

15 May 2019 18:30

Time zone

CEST

Related advice

A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society
Microplastics key image
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In-person event with streaming
SAPEA hosted a lively discussion on microplastics pollution between scientists, policymakers and environmental campaigners in Switzerland.

The starting-point for the debate was the evidence-based conclusions of the SAPEA report into microplastics published in January this year, which informs the scientific opinion of the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors. Discussions ranged from the concrete evidence for the presence of microplastics in different environments, to how policymakers should respond when such evidence is limited and how science advice can help to frame broader public conversations.

The SAPEA debate was chaired by BBC presenter and science journalist Vivienne Parry, who commented:

“The entire microplastics conversation is fascinating because while it’s a conversation about science, it’s being propelled by the public – they are driving the agenda. So it is instructional. We can study what’s happening here to understand how science can engage better with the public in all kinds of areas.”

The debate took place on 9 May in Bern, Switzerland, as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of ALLEA, one of SAPEA’s five academy networks. Other topics covered at the event – which focused on the role of science in society – included how to recapture the spirit of the moon landings for future scientific projects, and how to make use of technology entrepreneurship in music.

Giulia Carlini

Giulia Carlini

Speaker
Centre for International Environmental Law
Portrait of Nicole Grobert

Nicole Grobert

Speaker
Chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors
Professor of Nanomaterials, University of Oxford
Dilyana Mihayalova

Dilyana Mihayalova

Speaker
Fauna & Flora International
Sabine Pahl

Sabine Pahl

Speaker
Professor, University of Vienna
Vivienne Parry

Vivienne Parry

Moderator
Journalist