Final Project Event: Outcomes and learnings from the AURORA research project
- Thursday, May 21, 2026
- 13:30 – 17:00 CEST
- Maastricht Exhibition & Conference Centre (MECC), the Netherlands
- Takes place just after the SETAC Europe meeting
- Register to join in-person or virtually using the form below
About the event
Research into the widespread presence and potential impacts of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have made important strides over the past five years. The EU-funded AURORA project has uniquely contributed by focusing on the role MNPs might play in affecting early life human health. After five years of collaborative work across 11 research organizations, the Horizon 2020 AURORA project is sharing its results and identifying important next steps for science and policy within the field.
Join us virtually or in person on the sidelines of the SETAC Europe conference for the project’s final event on the afternoon of May 21, 2026. This will be a unique opportunity to hear from our scientists about:
- What have we learned after 5 years of applied research?
- Which challenges remain?
- Where should future research focus its efforts?
Insights from the CUSP Cluster
The AURORA project is a member of CUSP, the European research cluster to understand the health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics. This event will feature insights on progress made within the wider CUSP cluster, including the published Research Roadmap.
The five CUSP member projects were publicly funded under a call within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program: AURORA, IMPTOX, Plastic Heal, PlasticsFatE, and POLYRISK.
Program
13:30–14:00
Pre-event Networking Reception
Join us a few minutes early just outside of the event room for drinks and snacks
14:00–14:05
Welcome
Prof. Roel Vermeulen, AURORA Project Coordinator, UMC Utrecht
Research results and learnings from AURORA
14:05–14:15
What do we know about the exposure of pregnant women to micro- and nanoplastics?
Amanda Durkin, AURORA Researchers, UMC Utrecht
14:15–14:25
Do MNPs cross the placental barrier and expose the fetus?
Dr. Laurens Mandemaker, AURORA Researcher, Utrecht University
14:25–14:35
What do we know about the early-life biological effects of MNPs?
Prof. Juliette Legler, AURORA Researcher, Utrecht University
14:35–14:45
What do we know about human health effects of MNPs?
Prof. Roel Vermeulen, AURORA Project Coordinator, UMC Utrecht
Identifying needs and priorities for future action
14:45–14:55
Moving towards the creation of standards for MNP research
Dr. Laurens Mandemaker, AURORA Researcher, Utrecht University
14:55–15:05
Addressing analytical complexities with MNP research
TBC
15:05–15:15
What does this mean for policymaking? Building on the CUSP research roadmap with learnings from AURORA
Prof. Roel Vermeulen, AURORA Project Coordinator, UMC Utrecht
15:15–15:25
What does this mean for science communication and perception by the public?
Dr. Jane Muncke, AURORA Researcher, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Wrapping up and expanding the discussion
15:40–15:50
Summarizing the value of AURORA: Closing words on five years of research
Prof. Roel Vermeulen, AURORA Project Coordinator, UMC Utrecht
15:50–16:05
EU funded research on MNPs and human health: Current status and future avenues
TBC
16:05–16:45
Ask a micro- and nanoplastics scientist
Panel discussion featuring presenters and guests
How to Register
Register to join for free using the EventBrite form below. All are welcome to attend. Registration to also attend the SETAC Europe meeting is not needed to join this event.
For those planning to attend the SETAC Europe meeting, this event will take place on Thursday afternoon after the last SETAC presentation session. It will be held in the same venue as the SETAC meeting and therefore easy to reach (the MECC conference center in Maastricht, the Netherlands). The event will end by 17:00.
For questions, please contact: info<at>auroraresearch.eu
