Ocean plastics lab returns to Brussels to tackle ocean pollution

Source: European Commission (EC) i, published on Thursday, September 19 2019.

The Ocean Plastics Lab is back in Brussels from 19 to 30 September 2019, in the framework of the Research and Innovation (R&I) Days organised by the European Commission i, following a world tour which led it to Turin, Paris, Brussels, Washington D.C., Ottawa, Berlin and Lisbon.

Open to everyone, the Ocean Plastics Lab encourages visitors to reflect on the plastic pollution in our oceans and the impact this has on humans, animals and nature.

Visitors to the exhibition will gain an insight into current international research on marine pollution by exploring four thematic containers positioned in front of KANAL — Centre Pompidou on the occasion of the European Research and Innovation Days. The public will have the opportunity to find out what science is doing to understand and reduce plastic waste in our seas and discover how each citizen can contribute to solving this problem.

The Ocean Plastics Lab is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, with the support of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission and the German Marine Research Consortium to raise awareness about plastic pollution.

The exhibition collects exhibits from research projects including EU funded projects that are on display in four different containers.

Each of the four shipping containers is dedicated to one specific theme.

Container 1: Ocean plastics lab

On display plastic waste collected from remote place underline the gravity of the problem. An interactive installation gives visitors a glimpse into the situation in our planet’s oceans.

Container 2: SEE the waste

Methods used by scientists, as well as the results of their studies, are presented in an interactive manner.

Container 3: DETECT the impact

Designed like a laboratory, it gives visitors the opportunity to discover the scale of the plastic threat to marine life, through interactive exhibitions.

Container 4: BUILD co-solutions

This container provides information about the combat against marine pollution and how to take part. It also explains how to reduce our own personal plastic consumption.

In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to discover how to give new life to used plastics with a visit to the recycling workshop. In just 15 minutes they will be able to create an entirely new object from plastic waste which would make a lovely sustainable gift.

More information

Oceans plastic lab

Free entry school visits