Premiere of WASoMI Lab
27. February 2025
News from the world of microplastics
12. March 2025
Microplastic affects us all: New seminar series starts in March and is aimed at everyone interested
Partnership in action for more water without microplastics
Together with BEW - Das Bildungszentrum für die Ver- und Entsorgungswirtschaft gGmbH, the further education institution of the NRW Ministry of the Environment, Wasser 3.0 gGmbH is launching a new series of seminars on the topic of microplastics under the direction of Dr. Katrin Schuhen. Participants will receive a comprehensive overview in four online sessions and one practical day. The special feature: The event is aimed at all interested parties.
Microplastics - from theory to practice
The fact is, microplastics are now everywhere. In the water, soil and air; in our food and in our bodies. Microplastics are not just an environmental problem - they are a huge challenge with global implications. Plastics perform important functions in our everyday lives; they are our everyday helpers. But when they end up in the environment, they lead to ecological and health problems. The extent of microplastics and the resulting effects are not yet fully known, but we already know that they have negative impacts on the climate, biodiversity and our health.
Without knowledge, there can be no meaningful, responsible action!
Anyone who has lost their way can imagine what happens when you wander around without a plan. Not knowing which direction to take towards positive impacts for people and health not only hinders us at a political level when drafting laws and defining regulations, but also massively influences our consumer behavior. Industries and the younger generations also have questions.
The more we are confronted with the problem of microplastics in the media, the more we receive new product suggestions through targeted marketing. More and more products are being advertised that partly exacerbate the problem, products that have zero effect or even products that target or begin in the wrong place. The result of these media-driven marketing campaigns is devastating, as they do not solve the problem of microplastics in the environment.
Knowledge creation - transparency and encouragement
To raise awareness of microplastics, Katrin Schuhen from Wasser 3.0 and the BEW have developed the seminar series “Microplastics concern us all”. This series, consisting of four short online seminars and a practical day at BEW-Essen, offers space for scientific findings and practical solutions. Participants will gain comprehensive insights into the spread of microplastics, the methods used to analyze them, and modern technologies for removing them. They will also learn how microplastics can be reduced through targeted measures and how a circular economy and conscious action can be integrated into the solution approach - be it through sustainable consumption, political strategies, or technological innovations. The interdisciplinary exchange opens new perspectives and promotes practical options for action. In this way, approaches are jointly developed in which everyone can actively contribute to the reduction of microplastics and create sustainable awareness.
Meet Katrin Schuhen at the Climate Book Fair 2025 © Wasser 3.0
Education for sustainable development and how communication accelerates action and impact
Katrin Schuhen and the BEW have set themselves ambitious goals. Together, they want to reach the general public with their series of seminars. “The events will not only provide an overview of specific topics but will also delve deeper into individual subject areas at certain points. To this end, the organizers aim to provide answers and promote exchange and discussion. “There will be no pure monologue. Interposed questions are welcome,” says Katrin Schuhen, explaining the event concept. ”We are focusing on micro-learning, small, complex-reducing impulses that are linked to direct recommendations for action, for example. It is important to us that we provide each participant with information that can be used in the long term. Pupils are also very welcome.”
The BEW sets the evaluation framework with its quality standards for training and further education work. “Regular monitoring and exchanges with participants and lecturers ensure that all processes are continuously reviewed and optimized where necessary,” explains Dr. Saskia Dillmann, Head of the Water Department and Deputy Head of the Wastewater Department. Our successes to date are reflected in the certifications Educational Institution for Sustainable Development (ESD), Ökoprofit and ISO 9001. The seminar series is an ESD-certified event.
