This Science and Society Webinar, organised by the Association of ERC Grantees (AERG), will explore advanced materials from three complementary perspectives, connecting scientific knowledge with testing approaches, environmental risk assessment and regulatory preparedness.

• Prof. Martina G. Vijver will discuss how laboratory and mesocosm studies can provide a more realistic picture of how advanced materials affect organisms and ecological communities over time.
• Doris Völker will explore the challenges of making advanced materials regulatory prepared, including the development of appropriate methods and tools for environmental risk assessment.
• Prof. Willie Peijnenburg will look at the shift toward anticipatory governance and how we can identify potential environmental concerns earlier in the development of new materials.

The talks will be followed by a Q&A and discussion with all three speakers. Participation in the webinar is free. All information related to this webinar, including a detailed programme and Zoom link, is available in the announcement on the AERG website.

Background

The Association of ERC Grantees (AERG) aims to defend excellent bottom-up fundamental research in Europe, to facilitate networking amongst ERC grantees, and to engage the public around the importance of scientific research for society. In this light, they are organising a series of online seminars ("webinars") designed to highlight, through personal stories and science, the role of fundamental research for a better society and for a better world. Science and Society Webinars are organised to successively explore the three core domains of science: Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. Additional seminars may also address issues related to the role that fundamental research plays in society. Participation in their webinars is free but registration is required. The seminars are recorded and remain available for later viewing. In this way, they hope to contribute to fostering debate about the crucial importance of fundamental research for knowledge-based societies.