The first lecture in the Studium Generale series on 21 October at 6.00 pm, held at the Kamp-Lintfort campus of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Friedrich-Heinrich-Allee 25, Building 01, 2nd floor, room 01 02 105. Attendance is free of charge.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 16 October 2015: The pollution of the world’s oceans by waste is becoming an ever-greater problem. As well as plastic waste, discarded fishing nets are also a major contributor to this problem. 640,000 tonnes of waste end up in the sea every year, accounting for a tenth of the total pollution in the oceans. The ‘Healthy Seas Initiative’ has set itself the task of removing these nets from the oceans and recycling them. The yarn produced from this recycling is used to make garments such as swimwear, underwear and socks. A seemingly useless material is transformed into a product as good as new and undergoes material upgrading. This form of recycling, also known as upcycling, is relatively common in developing countries. In recent years, this form of recycling has also been gaining ground in industrialised nations.
In this way, the Healthy Seas Initiative brings together various partners to protect the environment: fishermen, divers, non-governmental organisations, governments and companies are working together towards the goal of cleaning up the world’s oceans and, in particular, saving marine animals from unnecessary death. At the same time, they are pursuing the goal of sustainability – both for our environment and for the economy. Johan Kieft, the regional representative of the European Centre for Nature Conservation in Germany, will present the Healthy Seas Initiative in his lecture and explain how something new is created from waste.
The lecture, delivered in English, forms part of the Studium Generale programme at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The lecture series is aimed at the general public, students, lecturers and staff at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, and presents current topics in a way that is relevant to everyday life and informative. The lecture series also offers the chance to engage with current issues. “We invite everyone, regardless of age, to attend these fascinating lectures,” says the university’s President, Dr Heide Naderer. She also sees the programme as an opportunity to visit the university’s two sites and the facilities on both campuses.
The Studium Generale lectures at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences are free of charge for all members of the public.
