Brainstorming Session on Plastic Pollution, NCPOR.

NCPOR brought together researchers and experts from across India to deliberate on the growing challenge of “𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬”.

The session opened with address by Dr. Thamban Meloth, Director, NCPOR, followed by an overview of the current understanding of plastic pollution in the Southern Ocean by Dr. Rahul Mohan, Scientist G, NCPOR, and remarks by Dr. Rasik Ravindra, Chair, NCPOR RAC & Former Director, NCPOR.

Experts from leading research institutions and universities shared their perspectives, research findings and expertise, focusing on key research gaps, collaboration opportunities, infrastructure sharing, and standardization of sampling, analysis and data reporting. The discussions aim to pave the way for coordinated research, collaborative working groups and a roadmap for monitoring and addressing plastic pollution in the polar regions.