From September 22 to 24, 2025, the international scientific workshop "Young Researchers for a Plastic-free Baltic Sea Region" took place in Hamburg, Germany. The event aimed to discuss contemporary environmental challenges related to plastic pollution in the Baltic Sea, as well as to present innovative technological and socio-economic solutions for their mitigation.
Tetiana Ishchuk, Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, participated in the workshop. Over the course of three days, scholars, researchers, and representatives from educational and industrial organizations across the Baltic Sea region addressed issues connected to: The global plastic crisis and environmental threats; Microplastics and industrial sources of pollution; Solutions within the framework of the BALTIPLAST project; The circular economy and bio-based materials; International scientific cooperation.
During the final stage, participants discussed the prospects for forming inter-university and inter-sectoral research networks, such as the Bio4Circularity Network, which are aimed at the long-term reduction of plastic pollution in the Baltic Sea region.
Participation in the event allowed Tetiana Ishchuk to engage in the modern scientific discourse in the fields of sustainable development, the circular economy, and eco-technologies, as well as to establish contacts for future scientific and educational cooperation with colleagues from the Baltic Sea countries.
Special thanks are extended to Hamburg University of Applied Sciences for organising the workshop and to the Baltic University Programme for their support, which made participation in this international scientific discussion possible.
Detailed information https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme