On behalf of the Government of Iceland, we are excited to announce a Call for Abstracts for participation in Atlantic Plastics 2026: Third International Symposium on Marine Plastic Pollution - Arctic to the Antarctic, taking place at Harpa, Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Center, on the 20-22 of October 2026.
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is on March 31, with acceptance being notified by May 31.
Early Bird and Student registrations are now open.
From the Arctic to the Antarctic, plastic pollution has become a defining transboundary challenge for the world’s ocean basins, none more so than the Atlantic and its connected Arctic waters. Across this vast region, plastics disperse through complex physical, chemical, and biological processes: from mega- and macro-debris impacting wildlife and coastlines, to micro- and nanoparticles permeating water columns, sediments, sea ice, and even the atmosphere. These particles act not only as physical stressors, but also as vectors and sources of harmful chemicals, additives, degradation products, pathogens, and biofilms, with growing evidence of risks to ecosystems, biodiversity, food webs, and human health. At the same time, the socioeconomic and cultural fabric of Atlantic and Arctic communities, including Indigenous peoples, faces mounting pressures as fisheries, tourism, subsistence practices, and coastal economies confront the cumulative consequences of plastic pollution.
It is with this in mind that Atlantic Plastics 2026 will convene global experts to advance cutting-edge science, technology, and policy solutions for this rapid development, with the following themes designed to reflect the full continuum of the plastic problem:
- Innovative Plastic Pollution Monitoring and Assessment across multi-scales
- Modelling Sources, Pathways and Fate of Plastics in the environment
- Assessing Impacts of Plastic Pollution
- Circular Economy, Innovation, and Industry Solutions
- Mitigation, Management, and Restoration
- Science–Policy Interface and Capacity Building
Under these themes, presenters may apply for either platform or poster presentations.