A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supported center
New York State
Microplastics Summit
A close-up image shows fibers containing microplastics. © Dick Vethaak
The Microplastics Summit, hosted by the New York State Center for Plastics Recycling Research and Innovation, is designed to:
- Provide an opportunity to connect and collaborate on microplastics issues in New York State
- Discuss current microplastics research (Measurements, Health Impacts, Policies)
- Determine research and policy gaps (Next Steps and Priorities)
- Better understand the needs in NYS to move towards solutions (Collaboration Opportunities)
The summit will be the basis for a publicly available report on the state of microplastics work in NY and solutions for moving forward. Funding from the NYS Center for Plastics Recycling Research and Innovation is provided through the Environmental Protection Fund administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Addressing the plastics pollution problem
Plastic pollution is a growing concern for the environment, human health, wildlife conservation, and environmental justice, with microplastics an emerging contaminant of concern in NYS, the US, and the globe. Microplastics enter the environment from the breakdown of macroplastics, direct use in cosmetics, synthetic fiber shedding from clothing, tire wear, industrial processes, packaging, runoff from urban and agricultural areas, abandoned fishing gear, cigarette filters, and more. Microplastics are pervasive – in all water bodies, soils, and the air, as well as the bodies of animals and humans. Research is clear about the inevitability of microplastics in the environment, but details about sources, measurement, impacts, and solutions are uncertain.
The Summit will provide an opportunity for these issues to be discussed, bringing together diverse stakeholders including experts in all facets of microplastics research and innovation including, regulators, academics, community leaders, and more to collaboratively discuss impacts, current knowledge and identify areas for future work.
Wednesday, June 5 | Center for Tomorrow | North Campus
Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 4:00 p.m. | Registration |
| 4:45 p.m. | Popcorn and Soda |
| 5:00 p.m. | Film Screening: "Ripples of Plastic" |
| 6:00 p.m. | Discussion with Chris Langer, Director of "Ripples of Plastic" (Moderator: John Atkinson) |
| 6:30 p.m. | Dinner on Own |
Thursday, June 6 | Center for Tomorrow | North Campus
Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Registration and Light Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Welcome/Objectives - UB Team & Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
|
| 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Keynote Address with Rachael Miller (Moderator: Dr. John Atkinson) |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Why Do We Care (Moderator: Gary Feinland)
|
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Panel Discussion |
| 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Sizing Up the Problem (Moderator: Dr. Thomas Thundat)
|
| 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Panel Discussion |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | ---------Break--------- |
| 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | What are Others Doing (Moderator: Dr. John Atkinson)
|
| 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Panel Discussion |
| 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. | Curated Roundtable Discussions |
| 5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Evening Mixer (Posters and Refreshments) |
| 7:00 p.m. | Dinner on Own |
Friday, June 7 | Center for Tomorrow | North Campus
Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. | Where to Go From Here (Moderator: Amit Goyal)
|
| 10:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | Panel Discussion |
| 10:50 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | ----------Break---------- |
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Curated Roundtable Discussions |
| 12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Lunch Boxes & Citizen Science Microplastics Sampling Opportunity, Maija Niemisto, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program |
| 2:00 p.m. | Conference Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks |
Room blocks have been reserved at a special group rate (June 5-8, 2024) at the following nearby hotels:
Comfort Inn University ($117 + tax)
Fairfield Inn & Suites Buffalo Amherst/University
- Microplastics Summit Attendees ($139 + tax)
- State Employees ($117 + tax)
Staybridge Suites Buffalo-Amherst
- Microplastics Summit Attendees ($144 + tax)
- State Employees ($117 + tax)
Buffalo-Niagara Marriott ($117 to 149 + tax)
The 2024 Microplastics Summit will be held at the Center for Tomorrow on the University at Buffalo North Campus. If you are using GPS, enter the address: 101 Service Center Rd., Amherst (Buffalo), NY.
Entering via the Flint Road entrance (off Maple Road), make the first left (onto Service Center Road). The Center for Tomorrow is on the corner to your left, and a parking lot for guests is on the right.
The Center for Tomorrow on the University at Buffalo's North Campus.
Questions?
Please direct inquires related to the 2024 New York State Microplastics Summit to: mpsummit@buffalo.edu.