KINGSTON, R.I.— Oct. 12, 2023 – Plastics—ranging from tiny, decades-old molecules to large piles of waste—have infiltrated every aspect of human and environmental systems worldwide. Despite current scientific understanding, several challenges remain for researchers and policymakers alike to implement effective strategies for reducing the consequences of plastic pollution in our communities.
This fall and spring, the URI Plastics: Land to Sea initiative is hosting “Empowering Plastics Solutions,” a series of discussions aimed at sharing information and novel approaches, as well as identifying potential collaborations among faculty, students, and community and industry partners.
During these talks, experts and URI community members will explore how insights from the past can lead to equitable solutions to tackling plastic pollution; discuss ways to create fair and effective responses to plastic pollution in various communities; gain an understanding of the life cycle of plastics in different ecosystems and how we can reduce their impact; and learn about new approaches to plastic production and management that are environmentally friendly.
These conversations are a prelude to a larger workshop scheduled for May. Through these efforts, URI’s Plastics initiative seeks to inspire fresh avenues for research and secure funding from federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Institutes of Health, as well as from private funding sources.
Rebecca Altman, a writer and sociologist, will start with the series on Thursday, Oct. 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Higgins Welcome Center. Altman, whose father is a former plastics maker and URI chemical engineering alumnus, holds a Ph.D. in environmental sociology from Brown University and writes about plastics (as well as PFAS) history for the public.
For a full schedule and more information about the seminar series, visit www.plastics.uri.edu.
About URI Plastics: Land to Sea
The URI Plastics initiative is coordinating research efforts with several faculty and students to investigate the impacts of plastic pollution and find alternative solutions to this global challenge.
Dr. Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, director of the initiative and professor of civil and environmental engineering, describes the initiative as “an effort to coordinate the vast knowledge and research expertise at URI with local, national and international stakeholders to build research capacity to address this global challenge.”
In May, URI hosted its inaugural Global Plastics Forum, bringing together over 100 local, national and international experts from organizations tackling the impact of plastics. URI’s Plastics: Land to Sea initiative has provided more than $200,000 to seven interdisciplinary faculty teams collaborating with local stakeholders to conduct research to help to address plastic pollution challenges.
“We can’t solve the plastic problem by ourselves, and we have seen the commitment at the University of Rhode Island to advancing our thinking on this topic, regionally and across the United States,” said Bethany Jenkins, interim vice president of research and economic development at URI. “I am excited that we can foster these conversations and ideas.”
As an outcome of the forum, the initiative is launching the seminar series with key national stakeholders.