The life of a microplastic: from creation to contamination — and potential solutions
Microplastics - from creation to contamination and potential solutions
About
Plastic is an integral material in society today, but its fragmentation and abrasion into micro- and potentially nano-sized particles presents a global environmental issue. Harmful impacts have been seen on species across the planet, from birds to turtles and mice to shellfish. More recently, microplastic contamination of the food we eat and the air we breathe has prompted concerns for public health.
This lecture takes you on a journey from how microplastics are created and how they get into the environment, to how they move across boundaries, where they end up and what happens to the life around them when they get there.
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Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
25 Sep 2026
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Organiser
- London Local Network
Registration information
If you wish to attend this lecture, please book a place on the IET website.
During the booking process you will have the opportunity to pre-book an optional lunch at Savoy Place. The cost for a two-course meal with wine is £27.60.
Reservations for lunch can be made up to 11pm on the Monday prior to the event (subject to availability).
Speakers
Fay Couceiro
Professor of Environmental Pollution - University of Portsmouth
Fay has worked in the research field of pollution for over 20 years. The primary purpose of her research is to define the sources and fates of pollutants in the environment and develop interventions to prevent or mitigate their impact. She works in collaboration with industry partners to reduce pollution in the environment using interventions and new technologies.
Fay leads the University's Microplastics Research Group which aims to establish the impacts of microplastics on the environment and human health. She currently supervises several microplastics projects in all types of matrices, such as air, water, soil, fauna and humans.
Reasons to attend
To learn more about microplastics and understand the science behind them and their effect on the world.
Programme
This lecture is preceded by an optional lunch, which is served at 12.00, providing an opportunity to network with colleagues prior to the lecture.
14:00 – The lecture starts promptly at 14:00
14:45 approximately – Questions and discussion
15:30 - Networking time in the Faraday Centre.
Attendees should go to the Faraday Library reception on the 2nd floor.
Event registration will be unavailable from 8am - 10am on Monday 1 June 2026.
We’re upgrading our event registration system to make it quicker and easier for you to register for an event or course.
On Monday, 1 June, 8am to 10am, our registration system will be temporarily unavailable while we upgrade our systems. For any urgent enquiries during this time, please email events@theiet.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience.