Science Cafe: Microplastics: from sink to source

More and more microplastics are ending up in nature. It is estimated that 51 trillion microplastic particles – 500 times more than stars in our galaxy – litter the seas. But are these dangerous? What effect do they have on marine flora and fauna, and on human health? And is there a solution to this? These questions (and more) will be addressed in this Science cafe. Our two speakers, Prof. Bart Koelemans and Dr. Stefan Kools, will discuss where microplastics come from, how we measure their impact and the risks they pose. Speakers: -Prof. Bart Koelmans is Professor Water and Sediment Quality at Wageningen University and Research. He is specialized in Microplastics in the marine and freshwater environment and will talk about the sources and impacts of microplastics. -Dr. Stefan Kools is a manager and scientific researcher at KWR Watercycle Research Institute. He works on general water quality issues and more specifically on microplastic measurement techniques and toxicity assays.