Center for Interdisciplinary Plastic Research
Center for Interdisciplinary Plastic Research (CIPR) is a pioneering hub for interdisciplinary research, focusing on five core areas: Environmental monitoring and fate; circular economy; citizen science; effects on human health and the environment; and science-to-policy and regulation, all in the realm of plastics. Under these, CIPR aims to foster national and international collaboration and synergy among experts from diverse disciplines to conduct cutting-edge research.
Objectives of the Center
- Foster collaborative plastic research across the university's institutes as well as relevant scientific fields to nurture interdisciplinary and cross-sector exploration
- Disseminate pertinent research findings, information, and updates both internally within RUC and externally to relevant stakeholders
- Establish the center as a premier research hub for plastic pollution and its consequential impacts, serving as a focal point for scientific inquiry in Denmark and beyond.
- Facilitate international collaborations, such as participation in the Scientists Coalition for the forthcoming UN Plastics Treaty, to advance global efforts in addressing plastic-related challenges
- Cultivate a distinguished research profile to enhance the center's attractiveness for future funding opportunities and partnerships
- Serve as a centralized platform showcasing and promoting RUC's ongoing interdisciplinary research endeavors related to plastics
Insights
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Contact
Kristian Syberg, associate professor, ksyberg@ruc.dk
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External network
National:
Technical University of Denmark - DTU (Steffen Foss Hansen, Maria Bille Nielsen & Nanna Hartmann),
Aalborg University - AAU (Jes Vollertsen & Louise M?ller Haase),
Aarhus University - AU (Susanne Pedersen & Jakob Strand),
University of Southern Denmark - SDU (Morten Birkved, Ciprian Cimpman, Lykke Margot Ricard),
Royal Danish Academy - DKA (Else Skjold)International:
Dalhousie University (Tony Walker),
University of Gothenburg (Bethanie Carney Almroth),
NORCE (Farhan Khan), Chelsea Rochman (Toronto University),
KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sofia Lingegaard),
NTTU (Martin Wagner),
Massey University (Trisia Farrely),
AWI (Melanie Bergmann),
Plymouth University (Richard Thompson),
University of Georgia (Jenna Jambeck),
Food packing forum (Jane Muncke) -
Center for Interdisciplinary Plastic Research participates in a number of research projects. Among these are:
MarinePlastic - National center for forskning i marin plastikforurening
MarinePlastic is an interdisciplinary center for cutting-edge research into marine plastic pollution, uniting Danish researchers across institutions (four Danish universities and the National Museum) and disciplinary expertise.
The overall mission is to utilize the acquired knowledge in the consortium by ultimately proposing societal solutions and integrate decision makers. Fulfilling the goals requires that societal development form the point of departure for future research focus and that future policy measures on the other hand learn from scientific state of the art.RePlastic is an R&D project carried out by two Danish universities and 5 industrial partners with the purpose to optimize use of plastic waste reject that is not mechanically recyclable through chemical recycling using thermal pyrolysis. The project entails Technical sphere R&D, Social sphere R&D and Environmental sphere R&D as well as full scale proof-of-concept campaigns. The ambition is to tailor optimized thermochemical processing of individual waste plastic reject fractions to obtain the highest potential value – economically as well as environmentally.
The overall mission for the CircleHealth project is to, over the next few years, map the flows of plastics and textiles in selected Danish hospitals to understand how we can minimize resource use, waste, and CO2 emissions while sustaining the current healthcare standards. As 6 % of the Danish greenhouse gas emissions are directly related to the healthcare sector, and there are yet-to-be-implemented organized efforts on circular public procurement, design criteria, etc. there is immense potential for a national sustainable impact. With partners representing every step of the entire value chain, we consider everything from the design of products, use patterns, and procurement practice to better utilization of end-of-life materials. The goal for CircleHealth is to work as close to and with the people at the hospitals as possible so that the solutions we find will be meaningful and implementable right away.
Find additional projects at the 真人线上娱乐 University Research Portal
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The Environmental Dynamics Section is equipped with modern analytical facilities, as well as with facilities for growing plants and algae and assessing their physiological status. The latter include:
- Photobioreactors (PBRs) for the production of microalgae
The PBRs include two bubble-column PBRs, each of 50 L, and two tubular PBRs, each of 250 L. - Equipment for PAM fluorometry
This equipment include a basic Hansatech FMS-1, as well as a Walz Image-Pam and a Walz Microscopy-PAM. - IRGAs
真人线上娱乐 have two infrared gas analyzers, a CIRAS-3 single channel system for absolute measurement and a CIRAS-3 dual channel system for differential measurements. - Field spectroradiometer
For field as well as laboratory measurements of plant and vegetation light reflection, we have an ASD FieldSpec spectroradiometer.
Other facilities
FTIR Spectrometer Frontier (Perkin Elmer)
- Infrared laser used to quickly and definitively test wavelengths of compound materials, such as plastic.
- Can test macro and micro plastic samples
Cryomill (Cryogenic Mixer Mill CryoMill, Retsch GmbH, Germany)
- laboratory ball mill with cooling system that results in high grinding efficiency for multiple sample types, including plastic.
- creates uniform, small particle sized samples
SEM
- can provide detailed high-resolution images of various sample types
UFO (explicit: AAU design)
- created by Jes Vollertsen, Lasse Rasmussen, Lemvig Vand, the Laboratory for Microplastics and Linda M?nnisalu
- universal filtering objects: able to filter and identify microplastics and fibres in surface water through a triple filtering system.
The workshops at the Department of Science and Environment design and develop advanced equipment for use in teaching and research, in close collaboration with staff and students. The workshops have many facilities and have both manual and CNC-controlled machines, as well as advanced equipment for electronics development.
- Photobioreactors (PBRs) for the production of microalgae
Publications
Conceptualizing sustainability in China's belt and road initiative: A longitudinal analysis of scholarship (2013 - 2024)
Schulhof, V., Hartley, K., Rabe, W., Kostka, G. & Kirchherr, J., 2025, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 212, 19 p., 107891.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Journal article ? Research ? peer-review
Assessment of microplastic pollution and polymer risk in the sediment compartment of the Limfjord, Denmark
Simon-Sánchez, L., Vianello, A., Kirstein, I. V., Molazadeh, M. S., Lorenz, C. & Vollertsen, J., 10 Nov 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 950, 175017.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Journal article ? Research ? peer-review
Ecological risk assessment framework for microplastics in agricultural soils amended with biosolids
Hooge, A., Syberg, K. & R. Walker, T., Aug 2024, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances. 15, 100445.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Review ? peer-review
Activities
Temaseminar om tv?rfaglig undervisning i b?redygtighed, klima og gr?n omstilling p? landets universiteter
Jepsen, P. M. (Participant)
23 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event ? Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Press-media
Ekspert efter jordskandale: - Sv?rt at opdage onde hensigter
01/11/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Forskere f?r midler til b?redygtig rejeproduktion p? Bornholm
29/10/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Base at 真人线上娱乐 University
The research centre is placed at Institut for Naturvidenskab og Milj?
Related research units: Molecular and Medical Biology research group // METRIK research group
PhD programmes: Doctoral School of Science and Environment og Doctoral School of People and Technology
Relevant degree programmes: Environmental Biology // Environmental Science // International 真人线上娱乐 in Natural Sciences
Research from 真人线上娱乐 University
More about CIPS
Additional information about Center for Interdisciplinary Plastic Research:
Contact
Head of center
Kristian Syberg
Associate professor
Phone +45 4674 3776
ksyberg@ruc.dk