The initiative features national and international experts engaged in lectures, activities, and events with high pedagogical value, while also creating unique opportunities for academic and professional networking. Participant biographies are provided below.
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Dr. Scott Coffin is an environmental toxicologist and pharmacokinetics research scientist at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). His work focuses on developing innovative risk assessment methods for emerging contaminants, particularly those lacking traditional animal toxicity data. He applies computational toxicology and novel approaches to evaluate chemical hazards and support regulatory standards. From 2019 to 2024, Dr. Coffin served as the lead scientist at the California State Water Resources Control Board, where he spearheaded the implementation of Senate Bill 1422, establishing the state’s first regulatory framework for microplastics in drinking water. His efforts included defining microplastics, developing standardized monitoring methods, and initiating health-based risk assessments. Dr. Coffin earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Riverside, with research focusing on plastics as vectors for pollutants in aquatic environments. He continues contributing to the scientific community through publications and collaborations to understand and mitigate microplastics’ impacts on human and environmental health.
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Ted Henry is a Professor of Environmental Toxicology in the Institute of Life and Earth Sciences School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure, and Society, at Heriot-Watt University (HWU, Edinburgh, Scotland); Adjunct Professor in The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture School of Natural Resources (UT, Knoxville, TN, USA); and Visiting Professor do Departamento de Química Analítica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil. Ted is the Interim Director of the HWU Institute of Life and Earth Sciences and Director of the Centre for Master’s Training (CMT) within the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES), Kigali, Rwanda. The ACES-CMT provides HWU MSc degrees targeted for emerging economies in the areas of renewable energy development and sustainable cooling and cold chain with individual elective courses provided by partner institutions within the ACES consortium. His research interests within ACES are aligned with the development of sustainable cooling and cold chains for fisheries (aquaculture and artisanal fisheries) from producer to consumer, and creating circular economies for plastics within these systems. Ted is the Director of the HWU ENABLE Scholarship Program designed to enhance the ability of communities within emerging economies (currently: >50 scholars in Africa) to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). Recipients of ENABLE Scholarships complete HWU online MSc degree programs (Renewable Energy Development, Sustainable Cooling, Construction Project Management, and Real Estate) within an incountry program that provides professional network development, field/practical short courses, and partner collaborations (in-country small and medium enterprises, organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions).
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Dr. Natalia P. Ivleva is a distinguished analytical chemist specializing in environmental analysis through advanced spectroscopic techniques. She leads the Raman & SEM Group at the Institute of Hydrochemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), where her research focuses on the development and application of Raman microspectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and stable isotope Raman microspectroscopy (SIRM) for the detection and characterization of micro- and nanoplastics, biofilms, and other environmental pollutants. Dr. Ivleva’s academic journey includes a Ph.D. from the Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, and a habilitation in Analytical Chemistry from TUM in 2019. She has held positions as a research scientist at TUM since 2003 and served as a deputy professor at the University of Tübingen. In 2020, she was appointed a lecturer (Privatdozent) in Analytical Chemistry at TUM. Her notable achievements include the Bunsen-Kirchhoff Award in 2020, which recognizes her contributions to analytical spectroscopy. Dr. Ivleva has been instrumental in advancing automated Raman-based methods for environmental analysis, particularly in identifying and quantifying microplastics in various matrices. Her interdisciplinary approach combines Raman spectroscopy with electron microscopy and mass spectrometry, enhancing understanding of pollutant behavior in complex systems. Currently, Dr. Ivleva is involved in several projects, such as “MikAlp,” focusing on micro- and nanoplastics in the Alpine region, and “SuperTiny,” which analyzes small microplastics and nanoplastics in water and food matrices. Her work continues to contribute significantly to environmental chemistry and the development of innovative analytical methodologies.
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Cristina Nerín is a Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza and the director of the GUIA (University Group for Analytical Research) research group. Her expertise lies in food safety, particularly focusing on materials in contact with food, including packaging. Her work encompasses the study of chemical migration, nonintentionally added substances (NIAS), and the development of active and intelligent packaging materials designed to enhance food preservation and safety. Dr. Nerín has an extensive publication record, with over 490 scientific articles and more than 17,000 citations. She has led over 240 research projects in collaboration with industry and holds several international patents on active and intelligent packaging technologies. Her research also addresses environmental concerns, such as the safety assessment of biodegradable and recycled materials for food contact applications. In addition to her research, Dr. Nerín has contributed to international efforts to improve food contact material safety, advocating for comprehensive testing of chemical migrants to better protect public health.
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Martin Wagner is a Professor of Environmental Toxicology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. He leads the Bioanalytical Toxicology group, which investigates the impacts of plastic-associated chemicals and microplastics on human and ecosystem health. His research integrates exposure science, toxicology, ecology, and analytical chemistry, employing in vitro and in vivo bioassays, non-target mass spectrometry, and computational tools to assess the toxicity of complex plastic mixtures and identify hazardous compounds. Wagner earned his Ph.D. in 2013 from Goethe University Frankfurt, focusing on endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastic food packaging. He subsequently led the Bioanalytical Toxicology group at Goethe University before joining NTNU in 2017, where he was promoted to full professor in 2024. As the lead author of the 2024 PlastChem Report, Wagner highlighted the presence of over 16,000 chemicals in plastics, many of which pose risks to human and environmental health. His work has informed international policy discussions, including United Nations negotiations on a global plastics treaty. Wagner’s expertise encompasses microplastics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, environmental toxicology, and risk assessment. He is a recognized authority in the field, frequently consulting for organizations such as the European Commission and the United Nations.
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Dr Lusher is an influential researcher in the field of marine pollution. For the last five years, she has been recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Environment and Ecology and Cross Field – by Web of Science. She has been at the forefront of microplastic and marine pollution research for over 10 years, and has authored and co-authored over 60 influential peer-reviewed publications. In addition, she has co-authored numerous book chapters, conference proceedings and research reports, and contributed towards several international technical reports. Currently, her research focuses on the necessity of best practice methods to understand distribution, interactions, and potential effects of microplastics in the environment. Actively engaged in method development and optimisation, she works with different environmental matrices including sediments, water column, and biota. Dr Lusher is the Scientific Project Manager for a EUROqCHARM – EU H2020. She is also WP lead for ongoing Norwegian Research Council projects and currently manages several nationally funded projects. Dr Lusher contributes actively to international working expert groups including OSPAR indicators, AMAP WGML, ICES MLWG and formally GESAMP (Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection) Group 40: Microplastics in the Marine Environment (2015-2019), where she focuses(d) on microplastic distribution and the ecological consequences of exposure of biota to microplastics. Dr Lusher an expert advisor for the Ministry of Environment, Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency. She was leading contributor to a Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) assessment of microplastics in fisheries and aquaculture (2017) and contributed to the 2022 follow up. She has been sitting on the steering committee of the SETAC Interest Group on Microplastics since its initiation in 2018.
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Dr. Peter J. Kershaw is a UK-based marine scientist with over 34 years of experience in marine environmental protection. He served as a research scientist at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) until 2014, focusing on the impacts of human activities on the ocean, including pollutants like radionuclides, metals, nutrients, and plastic litter. Since 2014, Dr. Kershaw has worked as an independent consultant, collaborating with intergovernmental organizations on marine environmental issues, particularly the global impact of plastic marine litter and microplastics. He has authored several reports for United Nations agencies, including studies on biodegradable plastics and marine litter. Dr. Kershaw has been involved with the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) since 2008 and has served as its Chair since 2013. He co-chaired GESAMP’s Working Group 40, focusing on the sources, fate, and effects of microplastics in the marine environment. In his role with GESAMP, Dr. Kershaw has contributed to international efforts to improve marine environmental protection, including providing scientific advice to inform policy decisions on pollution regulation. His work has supported the development of guidelines for monitoring and assessing plastic litter and microplastics in the ocean, aiding in establishing global standards and regulations.
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Holds a degree in Chemistry, with a Master’s in Analytical Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Delaware (USA), where he served as a visiting professor in the Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources (1994–1996). He was a visiting professor at the Federal University of Maranhão (1996–1998) and, since August 1998, has been a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). He served as vice-coordinator of the Graduate Program in Chemistry and is currently coordinator of the Multidisciplinary Environmental Observatory, the scientific core of UFPR’s Center for Science, Technology and Innovation. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Química Nova and the Brazilian Journal of Analytical Chemistry, a review editor for Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry, and a reviewer for several scientific journals. He served as director of the Environmental Chemistry Division of the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) from 2000 to 2002 and as Secretary of the SBQ Paraná Section from 2010 to 2012. He frequently serves as an advisor to the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, evaluating projects under the “Lei do Bem” (Innovation Incentive Law). His main research areas include aquatic and sediment chemistry, metal and metalloid speciation, and the behavior and fate of organic and inorganic contaminants in the environment. He is coordinator of the Environmental Chemistry Group at UFPR and vice-coordinator of the National Institute of Advanced Analytical Sciences and Technologies (INCTAA). He is also an associate and representative member of the Brazilian community in the Red para el Análisis de Calidad Ambiental de América Latina (RACAL). Additionally, he is a member of the Scientists Department and the Bioethics Studies Center (NEBio) of the Brazil Soka Gakkai International Association (BSGI), a non-governmental organization affiliated with the United Nations that promotes human values for peace, culture, and education.
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Holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (1986), a Master’s degree in Hydraulics and Sanitation from the University of São Paulo (1991), and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of São Paulo (1994). He is currently a Full Professor at the University of São Paulo and is responsible for the Center for Ecotoxicology and Applied Ecology. He serves as a peer reviewer for scientific journals and as an ad hoc advisor to FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES, and other agencies that support research and human resource training. He develops research projects, community outreach initiatives, and supervises undergraduate students (Biology, Environmental Engineering, and Civil Engineering) as well as graduate students in Environmental Engineering Sciences. His main areas of expertise include aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology, limnology, biodiversity, and environmental impact assessment. For eight years, he served as coordinator of the Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering Sciences. From August 2007 to August 2009, he was Director of the Center for Water Resources and Environmental Studies (CRHEA), at the São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC/USP), a position he held again from May 2019 to June 2024. Between 2011 and 2012, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom) in the field of tropical ecotoxicology. From 2013 to 2019, he served as President of the Brazilian Society of Ecotoxicology. He has also been a faculty advisor to the Enactus São Carlos Campus team since 2014. From February to August 2023, he was Head of the Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation and has served as Vice-Chair of the Culture and Extension Committee of EESC/USP from 2022 to the present, in addition to participating in other institutional committees.
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Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the State University of Londrina (2003), and a Master’s degree (2005) and Ph.D. (2009) in Chemistry (Physical Chemistry) from the University of São Paulo. He completed part of his doctoral research at the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) in 2008. His main research areas include vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and IR), the electronic properties of donor–acceptor systems, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), SO₂ complexes, and dissolved gases in ionic liquids. He carried out a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of São Paulo (IQ-USP) between 2009 and 2010 and conducted one year of research as a FAPESP Visiting Researcher (BPE-FAPESP, 2016–2017) at The Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, Ohio, USA, applying time-resolved spectroscopy techniques.
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He is currently a Livre-Docente (habilitation) and Professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He is a member of the São Paulo State Academy of Sciences (ACIESP). His current research lines include sample preparation for the analysis of organic compounds, chromatographic techniques, mass spectrometry, and data processing. His research group has strong expertise in food analysis, forensic chemistry, metabolomics, and petroleomics. Among his distinctions are the Power List TOP 40 UNDER 40 (The Analytical Scientist, 2018), The John Phillips Award (ISCC/GCxGC, 2019), Young Talent Award (BrJAC, 2019), and Rising Star in Separation Science (LCGC, 2023). He serves as Associate Editor of the Brazilian Journal of Analytical Chemistry and Guest Editor for the Journal of Chromatography A and Frontiers in Chemistry. He is a member of the Early Career Board of Analytical Chemistry (ACS) and of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Chromatography A (Elsevier). He is a Level 2 Research Productivity Fellow of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). He is a full member of the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) and serves as a reviewer and advisor for FAPESP, CNPq, the Inova Talentos Program (Euvaldo Lodi Institute), the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (Fondecyt, Chile), and several international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
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Holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), including a co-tutelle period at Université Joseph Fourier (Grenoble, France), and a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), United States, between 2008 and 2009, where he worked on the development of X-ray scattering techniques for the analysis of soft matter and biomaterials. He is a researcher at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), where he currently leads the Soft and Biological Matter Division at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS). From 2009 to 2017, he coordinated the Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and X-ray microtomography beamlines at the former UVX synchrotron light source. Between 2017 and 2020, he served as Head of the Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Division at the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano). His areas of expertise include materials chemistry, nanotechnology, biophysics, and advanced characterization techniques, with a focus on the nano–bio interface. He develops and applies techniques such as X-ray scattering and diffraction (SAXS/WAXS), vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), nanotomography, and circular dichroism, with applications in nanomedicine, structural virology, microbiology, and materials science. He coordinates and collaborates on multidisciplinary research projects aimed at developing functional nanomaterials for antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor therapies, as well as scientific instrumentation projects in partnership with international synchrotron facilities. He actively participates in the planning and operation of Sirius, Brazil’s new synchrotron light source, contributing to the implementation of beamlines dedicated to biological systems and soft matter studies. He has published more than 60 scientific articles in indexed international journals, with over 3,000 citations, in addition to book chapters and presentations at international conferences in nanotechnology and synchrotron radiation techniques. He also supervises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing to the training of highly qualified professionals in frontier science and technology. He was elected an Affiliate Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences for the 2019–2023 term, in recognition of his scientific contributions to the chemical sciences.
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He is a Full Professor at the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo (IOUSP) and Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability, hosted at the Oceanographic Institute and the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of São Paulo. He holds a degree in Biology, as well as a Master’s and Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Campinas. He was awarded the Kirby Laing Fellowship at the School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University (United Kingdom), and received the Mérito de Tamandaré Medal from the Brazilian Navy. His work is centered on interdisciplinary and integrated research, with a focus on governance and ocean sustainability. He actively promotes the integration between science and society, engaging in formal and non-formal education initiatives, continuing teacher training, and the development of educational materials. He also fosters dialogue with the private sector to advance technological development and innovation related to the ocean. He participates in national forums and organizations (e.g., MMA, MCTI, SECIRM, SIMA/SP) and international bodies (e.g., GESAMP, UNESCO, UNEP, UNEA, IAI), contributing to multi- and transdisciplinary approaches that strengthen the connection between science and decision-making. In addition to coordinating and collaborating in various research projects and networks (e.g., Rede Clima, ReBentos), he has organized major scientific events, including the 5th Brazilian Symposium on Oceanography (Santos, Brazil, 2011), the 2nd International Ocean Research Conference (Barcelona, Spain, 2014), the Third International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans (Santos, Brazil, 2015), and the VII International Sandy Beach Symposium (Ilhabela, Brazil, 2015). He is a member of the Environment and Society Research Group at the Institute of Advanced Studies (USP) and is actively involved in the Science and Environment Coalition and the Network of Nature Conservation Specialists. He serves as Associate Editor of Ocean and Coastal Research (formerly the Brazilian Journal of Oceanography) and Ambiente & Sociedade, and as Editor of the book series Brazilian Marine Biodiversity (Springer Nature). He is also engaged in science communication, contributing to outlets such as Scientific American Brasil, Ciência Hoje, Ciência Hoje das Crianças, and Jornal da USP.
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Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Campinas (IQ-UNICAMP). Since 2014, she has coordinated the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (LQA-IQ-UNICAMP), where she supervises undergraduate and graduate students. She is a full member of the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ), having served as Director of the Environmental Chemistry Division (2018–2020) and currently serving as Treasurer of the same division (2024–2026). She is Editor-in-Chief of Química Nova (PubliSBQ) and Topic Editor at Environmental Science & Technology Letters (ACS Publications). She is the Principal Investigator of the FAPESP Thematic Project PLAST-AGROTOX (Grant No. 2022/12104-4) and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Chemistry Programs at IQ-UNICAMP (2023–2027). She also serves as an Area Advisor in Exact and Earth Sciences IV – Chemistry at FAPESP. She obtained the title of Associate Professor (Livre-Docente) from IQ-UNICAMP in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (2004), a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry (2007), and a Ph.D. in Sciences (2011), all from IQ-UNICAMP. She completed postdoctoral research in Aquatic Ecotoxicology at FT-UNICAMP (2012–2014) and in Water Reuse Technologies at the University of South Carolina, USA (2017). Her research focuses on Environmental Chemistry, with emphasis on water security in urban regions and in the Amazon, addressing the occurrence, fate, and impacts of emerging contaminants, microplastics, and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial systems. She also works on the development and validation of analytical methods for the determination of these contaminants at trace levels. She has played an active role in science communication initiatives, public policy formulation, and the promotion of women’s participation in science.
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Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography from UERJ (1988), a Master’s degree in Inorganic Analytical Chemistry from PUC-Rio (1991), and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom (1997). Since 1998, she has been a Professor in the Department of Oceanography at the Federal University of Pernambuco. Her work focuses on Integrated Coastal Management, particularly in relation to water quality in coastal and marine environments.
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Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Technological Chemistry (1994), a Master’s degree in Chemistry (1997), and a Ph.D. in Chemistry (2006), all from the State University of Campinas. He worked as a faculty member at the Methodist University of Piracicaba and at the University of São Francisco, as well as a high school teacher in the Campinas region. He also served as Development and Engineering Supervisor at STARPLAST. From 2007 to 2010, he was a professor at the State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), and since 2010 he has been an Associate Professor at the Federal University of São Carlos, Campus Sorocaba. As a CAPES-Humboldt Fellow in 2020, he conducted research on the analysis and effects of microplastics in soil. He is an active and proud member of the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ), an Affiliate Member and Social Communications Manager of the IUPAC Division of Chemistry and the Environment, and a member nominated by SBQ to the National Commission on Chemical Safety.