| October 4th, 2024 | News

Research Associate Linda Del Savio from the Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) attended The International Conference for YOUNG Marine Researchers (ICYMARE) to represent the SOS-ZEROPOL2030 project. The conference took place from 16-20 September 2024 in Bremen, Germany, and brought together Early Career Researchers from different disciplines.

Written by: Linda Del Savio

The purpose of this conference was to present to an international audience of marine researchers and exchange on different research topics and questions concerning the marine environment in an open and familial atmosphere. The event was an excellent opportunity to gain conference experience, enhance expertise and foster growth in personal and professional networks. Discussions and interactions took place during roundtables, workshops, parallel sessions, networking events and a dedicated poster session.

Poster presentation

I had the privilege to contribute with a poster presentation on “Developing a holistic framework to guide the EU towards zero pollution” on the case of Tyre Wear Particles. The poster was presented as part of session 3.1 Tackling Plastic in the Seas: Uniting Diverse Research for Insights and Action during the dedicated poster session of the conference.

The poster presentation provided insights on the objectives, Source to Sea approach and relevant preliminary results, including regulation and policy developments around Tyre Wear Particles, all of which contribute to the holistic zero pollution framework, which will be co-developed together with researchers and stakeholders throughout the project. In particular, the poster presentation highlighted the importance of applying a source-to-sea lens to marine pollution to facilitate rebalancing of power dynamics and the incorporation of a broader range of stakeholders in the formulation of comprehensive policy responses.

Transdisciplinary research

Many conference participants expressed interest in the transdisciplinary research approach applied within the SOS-ZEROPOL2030 project, bringing together scientific researchers from different disciplines (natural science, social science, human behaviour) with practitioners, expanding the natural science perspectives, which were mostly represented at the conference.

It was a privilege to participate in this event. A huge thanks to the conference organising team for brining together so many fantastic marine enthusiasts and providing a platform for Early Career Researchers.

Stay updated on the SOS-ZEROPOL2030 project by signing up to our newsletter below: