Bio
Dr. Layla Hazeem received a master’s degree in Oceanography and PhD in Marine Biology from National Oceanography Center, University of Southampton, UK. Currently she is an associate Professor at University of Bahrain. Her research focuses on environmental pollution. In recent years, Dr. Hazeem has led pioneering studies on microplastic contamination in Bahrain’s critical coastal habitats, particularly oyster beds and mangrove ecosystems, two environments essential for biodiversity, coastal protection and local fisheries. Her work investigates the distribution, ecological impacts, and potential bioaccumulation of microplastics within these sensitive areas, contributing valuable regional data to the growing global effort to address plastic pollution. Dr. Hazeem is passionate about promoting research-based solutions to safeguard marine life in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bio
Professor Lampitt is an observational oceanographer with wide experience. To date he has mainly focused his research on carbon cycling in the oceans and particularly the downward flux of particulate matter in the open ocean. 11 years ago, he founded and now leads the Microplastics Research Group at NOC. The main objectives of the group are to measure the distribution, characteristics and properties of microplastics in aquatic environments from the upper reaches of rivers to the depths of the ocean and to understand the processes responsible for these distributions and how they change over time. Ecotoxicological studies are carried out in collaboration with other organizations.

Bio
Dr. Rabah Boukherroub received a PhD in chemistry from the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. He is currently a CNRS research director at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (IEMN), CNRS & University of Lille, France. His research interests are in the area of functional materials, surface chemistry, and photophysics of semiconductor/metal nanostructures with emphasis on photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and nanomedicine. He has published many research publications, wrote 45 book chapters and co-editor of 10 books in subjects related to nanotechnology, materials chemistry, and biosensors. He has 15 patents or patents pending