RecaP workshop: future phosphorus experts at Wetsus

Last week the first workshop of the RecaP EU project took place at Wetsus. Up to a hundred guests attended part of a week training on a multitude of disciplines to ready early-stage researchers to become future experts in the field of sustainable phosphorus cycling. The Phosphorus theme organized a networking session, a symposium, a company visit, and various workshops as part of this training. The common goal is to create a multifaceted group of scientists that can solve tomorrow’s problems — the Wetsus model.

This workshop week was the first in a series of events organized by the consortium of Horizon2020-funded RecaP project.

“It was a great success,” says postdoctoral researcher Thomas Prot, “people from all over the EU came flying in to share their knowledge with the early-stage researchers.” Like in the symposium. “We had experts on the recovery, reuse, and policy regarding phosphorus. And a team of the P-trap project – a similar Innovative Training network focusing on Fe-P interaction – gave tips and advice to improve RecaP further. Moreover, it was a superb networking activity.”

The consortium saw research from a Wetsus perspective throughout the week – interdisciplinary, involving communication and policy. Activities included a visit to the dairy company FrieslandCampina to try to resolve phosphorus challenges, and a workshop in science communication by Genevieve Metson and Tina Neset from Linköping university. Moreover, a briefing on patents was given by – among others – the patent attorney of Wetsus, and a workshop on the 15^th element’s policy was provided by European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform’s president Ludwig Hermann.

It is a lot for the young researchers to take in, and it takes a lot to change the world. Though undoubtedly, they will bring us a sustainable future.