"Plastics: A Systemic Poison" : A conference series led by the FMSH and the Tara Ocean Foundation

Since the 1970s, when the first observations highlighted the omnipresence of visible waste in the ocean, scientific knowledge has evolved considerably. Over the past half century, research has gradually revealed the portrait of a pollution affecting every part of the planet, from ocean floors to mountain summits, from cities to the most remote deserts. In its invisible form as microplastics, it penetrates deep into living organisms. Science now also reveals its climatic and toxic dimensions, as well as its capacity to disrupt ecosystems on a global scale.

By uncovering new facets of this pollution, the social sciences and humanities offer a complementary perspective on plastics. They analyse the economic and social mechanisms that have led to this dependence on plastic materials, question this addiction and critically assess the relevance of the solutions currently being promoted. They show how plastic pollution is also the product of collective choices, development models and power relations.

As the seventh round of negotiations for an international treaty on plastic pollution is expected to open this year, the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme and the Tara Ocean Foundation are launching a series of meetings bringing together researchers and civil society, conceived as a rigorous space for reflection and open public debate.

By crossing disciplinary perspectives and making high-level analyses accessible, the series aims to make visible the systemic dimensions of plastic pollution and to critically examine the levers for action that are truly effective in driving structural transformations of our models of production and consumption.

Organised as part of the programme Oceans: Social Worlds, Living Worlds, the meetings will be moderated by Henri Bourgeois Costa, Director of Public Affairs at the Tara Ocean Foundation and an expert in circular economy and plastic pollution.

17 March 2026 | Plastics: Key Players in the Global Ecological Crisis

How have plastics become the invisible pillars of our economic model? To open the conference series, its moderator Henri Bourgeois Costa will outline the key challenges of plastic pollution, in discussion with Baptiste Monsaingeon, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and a specialist in waste studies. → Register

19 May 2026 | Do Plastics Rule the World?

How do laws addressing the plastic crisis reveal our societal priorities and the power dynamics shaping regulation? Discussion with Béatrice Parance, specialist in environmental and health law and Head of the Health–Environment Research Axis at the Laboratory of Medical and Health Law, Université Paris 8 Vincennes–Saint-Denis. → Register

27 October 2026 | End-of-Life Plastics: A Geography of Waste

How are recycling systems structured in France, and why does this stage of the plastic life cycle attract so much political attention? Discussion with Jeanne Perez, PhD in Geography / Waste Studies at the ESO Laboratory (CNRS), Le Mans University.

15 December 2026 | Plastics and the Ethical Crisis of Our Relationship with the Living World

Can the fight against plastic pollution be envisaged without rebuilding our system of values and developing a new legal framework for the living world?

The Tara Ocean Foundation is the first foundation in France to be officially recognised as being of public interest and fully dedicated to the Ocean. For more than 20 years, it has been working towards a transformative shift to protect life on Earth, driven by the conviction that the Ocean is essential to the balance of our planet. Exploring the Ocean and sharing scientific discoveries to foster collective awareness lie at the heart of the Foundation’s mission.

The Foundation conducts scientific expeditions in partnership with leading international research laboratories to study marine biodiversity and better understand the impacts of climate change and pollution. It raises awareness among citizens, from younger generations to political decision-makers. Through its status as a Special Observer at the United Nations, the Foundation actively contributes to international ocean governance.

Exploring, sharing and protecting the living Ocean is more vital than ever. Together, let us stand up for life. Let us protect the Ocean. Discover the Foundation at https://fondationtaraocean.org/ and through video content.