2026 Microplastic and Nanoplastics Workshop

Workshop on Bridging the Gaps: Tackling Microplastics and Nanoplastics Challenges in Coastal Ecosystems

The Gulf Coast Center for Addressing Microplastic Pollution (GC-CAMP) at the University of South Alabama (USA) plans to hold a workshop titled "Bridging the Gaps: Tackling Microplastics and Nanoplastics Challenges in Coastal Ecosystems" from Monday, March 9 to Thursday March 12 , 2026, at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Marriott Hotel in downtown Mobile, Alabama. 

This workshop aims to address the multi-jurisdictional efforts in three leading Gulf Coast states: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern coastal states including South Carolina, Delaware, Maine, and Rhode Island. The workshop will foster discussions on micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) pollution and enhance collaboration among academia, industry, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. The desired outcomes are multifold: 

1.  Identify current challenges in characterizing, measuring, and quantifying MNPs in water bodies, soil, and air;

2. Identify gaps in understanding the transport pathways, degradation mechanism, the impacts of MNPs on human health and ecosystems;

3. Identify available techniques to remove, reduce, and mitigate MNPs; and

4. Define and reshape future research areas, focusing on collaboration, education, and outreach to increase awareness in STEM fields related to MNPs.

We welcome over 100 participants from diverse backgrounds and sectors, including local, regional, and federal government, non-profit organizations, K–12 education, industry, and academic institutions (R1, R2, and community colleges). We believe that everyone’s expertise and interests will make a valuable contribution to this first-ever capacity-building workshop focused on microplastic and nanoplastics issues in the Gulf Coast region.

The drafted workshop agenda include:

• Day 1 (Monday, 3/9, Travel Day): check-in, downtown activities, welcome dinner reception

• Day 2 (Tuesday, 3/10): Breakfast, Keynote speakers and talks (morning), Lunch, Breakout sessions (afternoon), Dinner networking reception

• Day 3 (Wednesday 3/11): Breakfast, Keynote speakers and Discussion (morning), Lunch, Technical tours (afternoon), Dinner networking reception by Osprey

• Day 4 (Thursday, 3/12, Travel Day): Breakfast, Recap and summary (morning), adjourn at 11 am

Drafted detailed agenda see below, which is subject to change.