We closed the academic year with an insightful evening looking closer into our relationship with plastics at Lumiere cinema.

In Plastic People, science journalist Ziya Tong speaks with leading scientists from around the world, exposing the presence of microplastics in the environment (and in our bodies!), while exploring the implications for our One Health.

One of the scientists featured in the documentary is Prof. Dr. Barbro Melgert, respiratory immunologist at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Her research examines how inhaled micro- and nanoplastics affect the lungs, and how this may contribute to chronic diseases such as asthma. Barbro joined us onsite for the panel discussion to share behind-the-scenes insights from the film, and discuss the implications of her research.

We were also honored to welcome lead researcher Dr. Esperanza Huerta Lwanga (Wageningen University & Research), whose work focuses on the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems. She discussed her research on food chain transfer (soil → earthworms → chickens), as well as the EU Horizon 2020 MINAGRIS Project, which investigates the effects of microplastics in European agricultural systems.

Cristina Palacios also joined the panel to share potential solutions to (micro)plastic pollution, from different angles: from biotechnology and material science (Maastricht University) to design-led dissemination approaches (KINKLEID). She further reflected on some of the latest discussions and findings presented during 2026 SETAC Europe annual meeting.

You can read a summary of this insightful evening in this blogpost.