Oiled birds following an oil spill. The continuous and widespread release of thousands of different chemical substances into our oceans, rivers and lakes. These are all events that threaten and impact ecosystems and human health every day. Today, this chemical pollution has become a major parameter of global change, along with global warming and the loss of biodiversity. This issue was at the heart of the 17th annual EcoBIM conference which took place at UNamur from 11 to 13 May.
During these three days, several scientific sessions were organised to allow participants to exchange their knowledge and expertise on various topics related to aquatic ecotoxicology. The latter studies the fate of pollutants, most often of anthropogenic origin, in aquatic ecosystems and their effects on fauna, flora and humans.
The aim of this conference was also to sound the alarm about this problem and to raise public awareness of these fundamental issues. A free public conference open to all was held on Friday 13 May at 7.30pm. Its aim? To take stock of the long-term risks of aquatic pollution with the help of several scientists.
During this evening, the fate of marine mammals (seals, dolphins, whales) will be discussed by an expert in this field: Krishna Das, oceanographer (FNRS, ULiège). The conference will then focus on the impact of the presence of millions of micro-plastics in aquatic environments, with a presentation by Mohamed Banni, Professor of Molecular Toxicology at the Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir (Tunisia). The evening will close with a debate, in the presence of a panel of scientists, on the future challenges of aquatic pollution. This conference will be preceded by a workshop dedicated to the popularisation of science and the dissemination of science, aimed at a varied audience (students, teachers, journalists, researchers, etc.).
More information about EcoBIM
The EcoBIM international network brings together research teams from the French-speaking world in bilateral collaborative actions in the field of ecotoxicology of aquatic environments on a transatlantic axis. Its members also include actors from the economic and cultural world: operators of aquaculture resources, parks, aquariums, etc. At UNamur, it is more particularly within the Iinstitue of Life, Earch and Environment (ILEE) institute that research is conducted in this field.
Participants from France, Canada, Tunisia, Morocco, Switzerland, Romania, Niger, Turkey, Benin, Congo and of course Belgium attended this symposium at UNamur.