Abstract:

Communicating research related to sustainability and circular economy is essential for improving public awareness and fostering scientific literacy. Public engagement initiatives provide valuable opportunities to translate complex research processes into accessible narratives that connect environmental challenges with practical technological solutions.

This work presents a science communication activity developed within the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, a large collaborative initiative funded by the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) that brings together universities, research organizations, and industry partners to develop sustainable marine-based biotechnologies and biomaterials (https://inovamar.pt/en/blue-bioeconomy-pact.html). The activity was implemented during the European Researchers’ Night, a Europe-wide public engagement initiative designed to bring research and society closer through accessible science communication activities (https://noitedosinvestigadores.org/).

The outreach activity aimed to explain how marine plastic waste can be transformed into value-added products through circular material approaches. A demonstration table displayed materials representing the different stages of the transformation process: marine plastic waste, recycled polymer pellets, cork residues from the cork industry, cork@polymer composite pellets, and the final commercial product; composite bottle stoppers used in spirits packaging. Posters supported the explanation of the research context and the material processing pathway.

By presenting tangible materials and guiding visitors through the transformation process from waste to commercial products, the activity created a clear narrative linking environmental challenges, scientific research, and industrial innovation. The experience illustrates how real research projects can be used as effective tools for science communication and sustainability education in informal learning environments, and how material-based storytelling can help audiences understand circular bioeconomy solutions.

References:
[1] Bucchi, M., & Trench, B. (2021). Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203483794
[2] European Commission. (2022). A Sustainable Blue Economy in the European Union: Transforming the EU's Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future. European Commission. https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/ocean/blue-economy/sustainable-blue-economy_en

Keywords:

Science communication, circular bioeconomy, biomaterials, sustainability education, public engagement.