Events

Maritime Challenges of the 21st Century

Date:   9th November 2017

Location:   Oulu, Finland

Circular Ocean will join forces with fellow NPA project APP4SEA in an innovative seminar putting marine pollution under the spotlight.  APP4SEA works to contribute to marine oil spill response preparedness and awareness in the four partner countries of Finland, Norway, Iceland and Scotland. This joint event will take place at the University of Oulu, Finland on Thursday, November 9th, covering topics such as oil spills, micro-plastics and recycling of marine plastics.

Programme

09:00 Registration, tea and coffee

09:30 Welcome address (Prof Eva Pongrácz – University of Oulu)

Session 1: Setting the Scene – Threats to the Seas in the 21st Century

09:40 Threat of oil spills and plastic to seabirds (Dr Neil James – ERI, University of the Highlands and Islands)

09:55  Environmental Impacts of Maritime Transport in the Baltic Sea (Katariin Ala-Rämi – Centre for Maritime Studies, University of Turku)

10:10  Lake Kallavesi and the City of Kuopio – A Living Laboratory for the Microplastic Pollution Research in Freshwater (Samuel Hartikainen – University of Eastern Finland)

 

10:30 – 10:40 COMFORT BREAK

 

Session 2: Novel Approaches to Marine Pollution

10.40  Circular Ocean (Dr Neil James – ERI, University of the Highlands and Islands)

10:50  Reusing fishnets for building materials (Prof Lisbeth Ottosen – Arctic Technology Centre, Technical Universtiy of Denmark)

11:05  Chemical Analyses and Molecular Modeling of  Micro- and Nanoplastics (Samuel Hartikainen – University of Eastern Finland)

11:25  Awareness raising and dissemination of pollution issues (Julie Crowley – Macroom E)

11:40  Circular Economy Innovation (Prof Martin Charter – Centre for Sustainable Design, University for the Creative Arts)

 

12:00 – 13:00 LUNCH

 

Session 3: Project Showcase

13:00  APP4SEA: Arctic Preparedness Platform for oil Spill and other Environmental Accidents (Niko Hänninen – University of Oulu)

13.20  Using a social enterprise approach to rehabilitate the Baltic Sea (Amanda Sundell – DROPP)

 

14:20 – 14:45    COFFEE BREAK

 

Session 4: Panel Discussion / Workshop

14:45     Questions to be posed include:

  1. What are the most important threats to the Baltic Sea and to the Arctic?
  2. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
  3. How can we better tackle this multiple pressures on marine systems?
  4. What can existing and future projects do to create public awareness and governmental action?

15:30 Closing comments

 

The event is free to attend but advance registration is essential, contact Dr. Neil James at neil.james@uhi.ac.uk