Tackling Microplastics with Sustainable Solutions

Speakers for this event

• Kalimo, Harri

  Kalimo, Harri

  Professor, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

  Professor Harri Kalimo is a Jean Monnet Chair at the Institute for European Studies in the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He is the Director of IES’s post-graduate programme in European and international law (“PILC”). Harri works in the IES research clusters on European Economic Governance, and on the Environment and Sustainable Development. His research focuses on areas where European, American and/or international economic and environmental laws and policies interact, notably in the areas of the circular economy (in particular Extended Producer Responsibility, WEEE and renewable energy), environment-and-trade issues and policy instruments. He collaborates closely with the University of Eastern Finland on these themes.

  Professor, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

• Koistinen, Arto

  Koistinen, Arto

  Research Director of University of Eastern Finland

  Arto Koistinen works as a Research Director at the University of Eastern Finland. He is an expert on biomaterial science, especially on material interactions and chemical analysis. He received his doctoral degree in Physics (material science) in 2012 and was awarded by docentship (adjunct professorship) in biomaterial characterization in 2014. Thereafter, he worked as laboratory head and research manager at the University of Eastern Finland. Currently, he is a department director and a research director, leading research related to material science, surface chemistry, and especially microplastics. He utilizes e.g. modern microscopic and spectroscopic techniques in his research to understand materials’ interaction and their effects at molecular level.

  Research Director of University of Eastern Finland

• Lahtela-Kakkonen, Maija

  Lahtela-Kakkonen, Maija

  Adjunct professor, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

  Docent Maija Lahtela-Kakkonen has a versatile experience in computational chemistry. She started as a graduate student in 1992 at University of Joensuu in Finland. She received her doctoral degree in Physical Chemistry in year 1997. After that she was working at the Finnish supercomputing center (CSC-ICT solutions for brilliant minds) in Espoo until 2004. This time gave her solid background in computational techniques in biosciences and chemistry. Since 2004 docent Maija Lahtela-Kakkonen has been working at School of Pharmacy in the University of Eastern Finland. She has long term experience in many aspects of the drug development on several different targets. She is the head of the sirtuin research group at School of Pharmacy in Kuopio. She has published over 60 scientific articles and supervised 8 doctoral theses.

  Adjunct professor, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

• Mänttäri, Mika

  Mänttäri, Mika

  Professor, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland

  Mika Mänttäri received his Doctor of Science (Technology) degree from the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), Finland, in 1999. He currently holds professorship in membrane technology at LUT. His research concerns separation and purification processes, especially membrane based processes, in biorefineries, water treatment, food, mining and metallurgic industries and development of separation materials. He is interested in refining novel products from biobased materials such as lignocellulosic materials and converting wastewater to value added products. He aims to renew wastewater treatment more toward utilisation of wastewater compounds than only to degrade and dispose of them. Prof. Mänttäri has published about 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and is an inventor in 10 patents.

  Professor, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland

• Radziejewski, Grzegorz

  Radziejewski, Grzegorz

  Member of Mr Jyrki Katainen´s cabinet

  Grzegorz Radziejewski is currently member of cabinet of Jyrki Katainen, European Commission Vice President responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness. He joined Mr Katainen's team in November 2014, and his current responsibilities cover green growth, energy union, transport and budget. In the previous Commission mandate, since June 2012 he was Deputy Head of Cabinet and subsequently Head of Cabinet of Mr Lewandowski, Commissioner responsible for budget and financial programming. Before joining the Commission he served as Financial Counsellor in Poland's Permanent Representation to the EU from January 2007 to May 2012 as the Head of Budget and Finance Section. Before moving to Brussels he worked in the Finance Ministry in Warsaw, Poland from 1999 to 2006.

  Member of Mr Jyrki Katainen´s cabinet

• Saarni, Saija

  Saarni, Saija

  Post Doc Researcher, University of Turku, Finland

  Saija Saarni has graduated as MSc from University of Oulu and PhD from University of Turku. Specialized in aquatic sediments, she has studied climatic, environmental and anthropogenic forcing in catchment processes and sedimentation in seasonal resolution. Saarni has led several field work campaigns in Finnish fresh water and marine environments, attending also international drilling projects in Japan, Egypt, Macedonia as well as ICDP and IODP programs. Deep understanding in microfossil techniques and geochemical processes are gained from research exchange periods in Danish Universities (Århus, Copenhagen) and German Research centre for geosciences. Large multidisciplinary network from national universities and international partners (Universities and research centres in Sweden, Iceland, Japan, UK, Latvia and Germany) is achieved by outgoing, active and enthusiastic attitude. Currently, Saarni’s main research focus is to investigate microplastic influx in coastal freshwater and marine systems in order to increase understanding of the processes controlling the deposition of microplastic.

  Post Doc Researcher, University of Turku, Finland

• Simpson, Peter

  Simpson, Peter

  Senior Scientific Officer, European Chemical Agency

  Peter Simpson is a Senior Scientific Officer at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki. Peter is an environmental toxicologist and works on the risk management of hazardous chemicals under the EU’s REACH regulation, including Authorisation of uses of substances of very high concern (SVHC) and Restrictions. Peter is leading ECHA’s scientific investigation into uses of ‘intentionally added microplastics’. Peter is also working on restriction investigations on ‘oxo-degradable plastics’ and cyclic siloxanes in consumer and professional products. Previously, Peter has worked on restriction proposals for several PBT/vPvB substances and uses of lead in PVC and in shotgun ammunition. Prior to joining ECHA, Peter worked as a chemical risk assessment consultant and for the Environment Agency of England and Wales.

  Senior Scientific Officer, European Chemical Agency

• Virkkunen, Henna

  Virkkunen, Henna

  Member of the European Parliament (MEP)

  Henna Virkkunen is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and a substitute of the Committee on Transport and Tourism. She advocates the Digital Single Market and European Energy Union. She is working with files on Horizon Europe, online platforms, and Connecting Europe Facility. Virkkunen has worked as a rapporteur on blockchain technologies. Virkkunen promotes an innovation-friendly Europe. She is a keen advocate of education and skills as these equip European people for future trends such as digitalisation. She has served several ministerial posts in Finland as a Minister of Education and Science, Minister of Public Administration and Local Governance and Minister of Transport. Virkkunen is a licentiate of Philosophy.

  Member of the European Parliament (MEP)

• Wagner, Martin

  Wagner, Martin

  Associate professor, Norwegian University Science and Technology, Norway

  Martin Wagner is a biologist interested in what plastics and plastics-associated chemicals do to freshwater ecosystems and human health. To study this, he works at the interface of ecology, toxicology, and chemistry. In 2013, Martin received his PhD degree from the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main for his research on endocrine disrupting chemicals leaching from plastic food packaging. Then, Martin became head of the research group Bioanalytical Toxicology at Goethe University, which focused on the impacts of microplastics as well as advanced wastewater treatment in several European projects. Since 2017, Martin is an associate professor for Environmental Toxicology at the Norwegian University for Science and Technology in Trondheim, where he continues his research into endocrine disrupting chemicals and plastic pollution. He has published more that 15 papers on plastic pollution and has recently edited a book on freshwater microplastics. More information: www.biotox.de.

  Associate professor, Norwegian University Science and Technology, Norway

• Zandaryaa, Sarantuyaa

  Zandaryaa, Sarantuyaa

  Programme Specialist, UNESCO Division of Water Sciences

  Programme Specialist, UNESCO Division of Water Sciences

• Żochowska, Monika

  Żochowska, Monika

  Co-founder & CEO, Phenicoptere Sp. Z o.o.

  Monika Żochowska is the Co-founder and CEO at Phenicoptere Sp. Z o.o., a Warsaw based company with sales in over 60 countries. Monika has created a disruptive product under the GLOV brand in the cosmetic industry that revolutionises every day routine of removing makeup. The idea is to remove makeup only with water, simplifying the traditional makeup removing process. Monika is the main visionary behind Phenicoptere’s products and overall strategy, and has received many awards, among others she was named as Entrepreneur of the Year by EY, the most creative entrepreneur by BRIEF, and she was acknowledged by Sukces Pisany Szminką (in collaboration with Forbes) as Businesswoman of the Year in 2016. Aside from working at Phenicoptere, Monika runs a Diamond Advisory company as a Certified Diamond Grader by HRD. Prior to that she worked for 2 years in Antwerp in the Diamond District for Boulle Rough Diamonds as a Marketing Manager developing ultra luxurious diamond jewellery brand. Monika has been living in Jacksonville FL, Valencia, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris, London, Dubai, Warsaw.

  Co-founder & CEO, Phenicoptere Sp. Z o.o.