close up of a hand holding microplastics.

New York State
Microplastics Summit

A close-up image shows fibers containing microplastics. © Dick Vethaak

About the Summit

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. 

Agenda At-a-Glance

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)

 

 

  • Dr. Amit Goyal - Welcome & Center Overview
  • Dr. John Atkinson - Objectives/timeline/report writing
  • Amy Bloomfield - Why does DEC care?

 

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)

 

  • Dr. Christy Tyler, RIT, "Health Implications; What We Do/Do Not Know"
  • Liz Cute, Buffalo Niagara Water Keeper, "Where/How Microplastics Impact Environments"
  • Dr. Beizhan Yan, Columbia, "Adsorption to MPs and Other Measurements"
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)
 

  • Dr. Matthew Hoffman, RIT, "Measurements in Experimental Lakes"
  • Dr. Wayne Knox, University of Rochester, "Innovations in Optical Measurement Methods"
  • Yidian Liu & Nathaniel Banks, PolyGone, Inc., "Long Term Measurements and Control Methods"
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)
 

  • Dr. Leah Thornton Hampton, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, “Science-Based Microplastics Targets in CA”
  • Dr. Sushantra Mitra, University of Waterloo, “Microplastic Research in Canada”
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)
 

  • Dr. Sam Mason, Penn State Behrend, “From Papers to Policies”
  • Dr. Casey Lardner, Genspace & SUNY FIT, "Innovations in Textile Alternatives"
  • Dr. Laura Markley, Center for Sustainable Community Solutions, “Can Education and Outreach Help Fix the Microplastic Problem”
  • Dr. John D. Atkinson, UBuffalo, “Tying it All Together”
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

Accommodations

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

Staybridge Suites Buffalo-Amherst

Buffalo-Niagara Marriott ($117 to 149 + tax)

Directions and Parking Information

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.

Center for Tomorrow on UB's North Campus.

The Center for Tomorrow on the University at Buffalo's North Campus.

   

Contact Info

Questions?

Please direct inquires related to the 2024 New York State Microplastics Summit to: mpsummit@buffalo.edu.