From 10 to 14 February 2020, the five-day PhD-WinterSchool "Plastics in the Environment" of the BMBF research focus "Plastics in the Environment – Sources ● Sinks ● Solutions" took place in Döllnsee, Brandenburg.

The aim of the WinterSchool was to enable the 30 participating PhD candidates to exchange ideas and experiences by presenting and discussing their PhD projects. In addition, the students learned about the latest scientific results and methodological findings of several joint research projects and cross-cutting issues such as microplastics analysis and ecotoxicology. A further focus was placed on strengthening interdisciplinary exchange with the aim of enhancing inter- and transdisciplinary research. To this end, a workshop on science communication was organised, which included modules on inter- and transdisciplinary work.

The WinterSchool included – in addition to the presentations of the participants – workshops, discussion formats, inputs from external experts and an excursion on topics such as consumption and consumer behaviour, circular economy and recycling, as well as inputs and fate of plastics in the environment. In the end, the participants jointly developed policy recommendations that will be published subsequently to the conference.