Protecting Marine Fauna and Flora from Plastic Pollution (SDG 14 – Life Below Water)

On March 5, an open educational event on the topic “Protecting Marine Fauna and Flora from Plastic Pollution” (SDG 14 – Life Below Water) was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, organized by 1st-year PhD students (specialty “8D05104 – Genetics”), K.S. Adilbayeva and B.K. Kamenov, under the supervision of Associate Professor B. Imanbekova and Lecturer M. Myrzagulova from the Department of Pedagogy and Educational Management.

Students from the 3rd-year Biotechnology program of Satbayev University (Kazakh National Research Technical University) actively participated in the event, demonstrating great interest in the topic. A total of 25 participants attended the session.

🔹 Event Goal – To raise awareness about the harmful impact of plastic waste on marine and ocean ecosystems and discuss solutions to reduce pollution.

🔹 Key Activities:

• Students discussed plastic waste management, recycling, and reuse strategies.
• The session covered the types of plastics, production technologies, chemical composition, and their environmental impact.
• The issue of "plastic islands" – massive accumulations of plastic waste in the world's oceans – was explored, including their causes and expansion over time.
• During an interactive discussion, participants proposed practical steps for reducing plastic waste in daily life, explored eco-friendly alternatives, and discussed ways to improve public awareness of environmental issues.

🔹 Event Outcomes:
✔ Students gained new insights into the impact of plastics on marine ecosystems.
✔ They explored practical solutions for reducing plastic pollution.
✔ The event helped enhance environmental responsibility and awareness among students.

Such initiatives play a vital role in fostering ecological consciousness among students and inspiring new solutions for environmental protection. The university remains committed to organizing similar events to promote sustainable thinking and eco-conscious behavior among young people.