Roundtable contribution – Andreja Palatinus
The “From Data to Action” roundtable, moderated by Andreja Palatinus, will address a central challenge in tackling micro- and nanoplastic pollution: how do we move from increasing scientific knowledge to meaningful action?
The discussion will examine whether we already know enough to act, where critical knowledge gaps remain, and whether the data currently produced by science correspond to the information needed by policymakers, municipalities, industry and communities. It will also explore whether new approaches – including citizen science and stronger interaction between researchers and society – can help bridge the gap between scientific evidence and real-world decisions.
Importantly, the discussion will look beyond monitoring and remediation towards upstream solutions and prevention, asking how scientific evidence can support interventions at the source of plastic pollution.
Bringing together experts from different fields, the roundtable will ultimately address a simple but crucial question: once the evidence exists, who takes the next step? By connecting science, policy, innovation and communities, the session aims to identify what is needed to turn data into understanding, understanding into decisions, and decisions into action.
Photo context
The photographs below were taken during the event “Microplastics for Breakfast – Connecting Science with Industry”, held in Ljubljana in May 2026. They illustrate exchange between research, analytical technology, industry and decision-making – the interface at the heart of the roundtable’s transition from data to action.