Poster Abstract Submission

Symposium: Reducing Marine Debris at the Source: Finding Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic

Dates: September 21–22, 2026

Location: Wells Conference Center, Orono, ME

Poster Session & Prototype Exhibition Time: Monday, September 21, 2026, from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM.

Abstract submissions due by August 18, 2026, 5:00 PM EST

We are excited to invite abstract submissions for the symposium poster session! 

We encourage participants to submit poster abstracts covering a broad spectrum of academic and applied research focused on marine debris. We also encourage posters that demonstrate the science and data behind prototype development or design. Based on the symposium’s focus areas, suitable subjects may include, but are not limited to:

1. Materials Research & New Product Development

• Innovations in Sustainable Materials: Research into new materials that can replace plastic, particularly bridging the gap between research and application.
• Scalability for Production: Studies on the feasibility of scaling up alternatives, such as for industrial paper production.
• Technical Hurdles: Investigations into the challenges of developing alternatives through academic-industry partnerships.

2. Consumer Engagement & The Reuse Economy

• Community-Engaged Projects: Results or methodologies from pilot projects that test reuse systems across different community contexts.
• Foodware Alternatives: Technical and economic evaluations of disposable foodware alternatives, including their performance, cost-parity, and ease of recycling.
• Social Science & Behavior: Research on consumer readiness and barriers to adopting the reuse economy.

3. Industry Case Studies & Commercialization

• Sustainable Packaging R&D: Case studies on the research and development of sustainable packaging for commercial use.
• Retail Sustainability: Research focusing on the retail sector, including circular economy models in grocery or retail environments.
• Transition Pathways: Strategies and frameworks for moving research prototypes into broad, commercial application.

4. Policy & Intervention

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Analysis of current or proposed EPR and reuse policies and their impact on marine debris reduction.
• Strategic Roadmaps: Development of collaborative roadmaps that align industry needs with environmental policy goals.
• Other Related Policy Initiatives: Submissions highlighting additional policy-related research, such as legislative frameworks for plastic reduction, regional reuse strategies, or case studies in policy implementation.

Prototype Exhibition Integration

If your research has resulted in a physical product, we invite you to bring your prototype for display alongside your poster. A prototype is a physical model or an early version of an idea you have created. It is a tangible “draft” of a product that shows how your research might work in the real world. For example, if you have a new idea for a container that isn’t made of plastic, the prototype is the actual object you built to test that idea.

To exhibit a prototype means to put it on display so other people can see it. At the symposium, this means bringing your physical creation and setting it up next to your research poster. It allows you to:

• Show, not just tell: Instead of just describing your work on a poster, you let people see the actual material or product you developed.
• Demonstrate progress: It shows how you are bridging the gap between academic research and a product that could eventually be sold or used in stores.
• Gather feedback: Other researchers and industry professionals can look at your physical model during the scheduled session to understand your design better.

If you have a physical product from your research, then we encourage you to select the “Poster AND Prototype Exhibition” under “submission type” below so that we can make space for you to display it.

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