Seeking to find a solution to the problem of plastic waste, one of humanity’s biggest challenges

First-ever Nature Forum held in Korea  개최 

Korea University hosted a Nature Forum for the first time in Korea in collaboration with Nature, one of the world's leading science journals.  

Korea University Ojeong Resilience Institute (OJERI) (Director Lee Woo-kyun) held an online Nature Forum under the theme of “Plastics and Sustainability” from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

With the rapid increase in the use of disposable plastics since the outbreak of Covid-19, plastic pollution has become an even greater global environmental challenge. In particular, microplastics are infesting land ecosystems, posing a huge threat to the soil and to humanity.

In this forum, world-renowned scholars in relevant fields and the editors of Nature gathered to discuss issues related to plastic waste management, the flow of microplastics around the world and their environmental impact, and possible policy solutions to these problems.  

Scholars from a range of countries spoke, including from Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Norway including Professor Matthias C. Rillig, the world's greatest scholar in the field of plastic-affected ecosystem impact assessment. Among others, Chief Editor of Nature Nanotechnology, Associate Editor of Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Director of Korea University Asia Resilience Center (ARC) Professor Son Yo-whan, and Director of the Association of Pacific-Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Waste Management Program Professor Ok Yong-sik (Korea University Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering) presented their ideas on a variety of plans and policies dealing with the sustainable management of plastics worldwide during a panel discussion.  

KU OJERI Director Lee Woo-kyun said, “In line with the UN SDGs, this forum was organized to examine the impacts of plastic pollution on human society, and to identify solutions. Given that it is the first forum virtually held by Nature in Korea, and world-class scholars attended, including the editors-in-chief of major journals, it was an opportunity to promote research activities that may be stagnating during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to Covid-19, the forum was held online and broadcast live, and there was an open invitation to people who are interested in environmental issues to participate for free. More information is available on the Nature Conference website.  

* More information on the forum: https://go.nature.com/PlasticsForum (case-sensitive)
*For registration, go to https://events.streamgo.co.uk/Plastics-and-Sustainability/register

The organizers of this forum were KU OJERI Director Professor Lee Woo-kyun, Director of ARC Professor Son Yo-hwan, Chief Editor of Nature Nanotechnology Dr. Fabio Pulizzi, Associate Editor of Nature Reviews Earth & Environment Dr. Laura Zinke, and Director of Sustainable Waste Management Program at APRU Professor Ok Yong-sik.