[Hoboken, NJ – October 6, 2025]
Dr. Wen Zhang returned to Stevens Institute of Technology to participate in the 2025 Hudson River Environmental Society’s Harbor and Estuary Program (HEP) Annual Conference (link).
This visit marked the first return to the HEP meeting since 2018, and much has changed since then. Over the past several years, Dr. Zhang and collaborators have significantly advanced research in the field of microplastics, with a strong focus on their aging, environmental fate, and interactions with co-contaminants.
At this year’s conference, Dr. Zhang presented a comprehensive overview of the team’s recent findings—from polymer degradation mechanisms to colloidal behavior in environmental systems. The presentation highlighted how interdisciplinary approaches and long-term collaboration have shaped a more detailed understanding of microplastic behavior in complex aquatic environments.🍁 It was a productive and inspiring gathering of environmental scientists working to protect the Hudson River and beyond.
