How scientific networks can help advancing both scientific knowledge and public policies: the case study of the “Plastics, Environment and Health” network

The “Plastics, Environment and Health” research network (groupement de recherche, GDR) created in 2019 gathers the French scientific community working on plastic pollution in all environments (soil, air, water) and their impact on ecosystems and human health. The scientific objective is to rapidly increase knowledge on plastic pollution by supporting collaboration of researchers from different fields such as ecotoxicology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, oceanography and social science. Research is carried out at each stage of the plastic life cycle, (from resource extraction all the way to removal and remediation) and across the entire air-soil-water continuum, integrating transfers of both plastic particles (macro, micro- and nanoplastics) and plastic chemicals (e.g., additives) between different environmental compartments. In this context, the GDR supports the development of multi-scale and transdisciplinary approaches across three main axes: Axis 1 - Air-soil-water continuum: contamination levels and transfer between compartments; Axis 2 - Interactions and transformation of plastics in environmental compartments and living organisms; Axis 3. Plastic pollution risk assessment for ecosystems and human health. To do so, the GDR’s actions focus on (1) training and sharing of scientific knowledge, including developments towards innovation, (2) support for collaboration and interdisciplinarity between network members, (3) dissemination, structuring of the community and its national and international influence, and (4) support for public policy and/or decision-making by strengthening the link between scientists, decision-makers and the plastic industry. To date the research network includes more than 50 laboratories spread across France and over 300 scientists in the field of physics, chemistry, biology, ecology and social sciences. Such a network constitutes a powerful tool to build robust science-based knowledge significantly contributing to the international effort, to disseminate state-of-the-art scientific advances and research priorities needed to tackle plastic pollution to Society and to inform policy makers. This talk will present the French taskforce addressing 'Plastic, Environment, and Health' within the national research network, where the entire community works collaboratively to tackle the urgent challenges of plastic pollution, its environmental consequences, and the associated risks to human health. We will also discuss the importance of building a French-speaking community to support multilingualism in international political science interactions.