Staffs Professor takes stage alongside leading explorers
A Staffordshire University professor has been sharing research on microplastic pollution at an event celebrating the world’s leading explorers.
The National Geographic Explorers Festival 2023 brings together the most innovative scientists, conservationists, explorers, educators, and storytellers from across the globe. Guests included Bob Ballard, the man who discovered the shipwreck of the Titanic, and world-renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle.
Hosted at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C this week, the festival has been showcasing National Geographic Explorers who are pioneering research to protect the planet and create a sustainable future.
Claire Gwinnett, Professor of Forensic and Environmental Science, joined the exclusive event to talk about microplastic pollution in our oceans after taking part in a National Geographic Meridian grant funded expedition 'From the Shore to the Abyss' last year.
Professor Gwinnett said: “It is a huge honour to take part in this prestigious event alongside leading explorers and to have this opportunity to share our research with an international audience.
“It is incredibly important that we come together to find solutions to protect the planet and hear about all the fantastic work that is happening around the world.”
Professor Gwinnett is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading forensic fibre researchers and was the first to apply forensic science approaches to microplastic research.
She was the first forensic scientist to take part in a National Geographic expedition after being invited onboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus - to map microplastic pollution in waters around the Hawaiian Islands. Professor Gwinnett led the analysis of the samples and helped train others onboard in forensic fibre examinations.
“Plastic pollution is a global problem. We need to understand how much is in different locations, where it has come from, and where it is going. To help do this, we want to enable citizen scientists around the world to engage in microplastic research in a robust way.
“Using the data from our expedition we hope to create an accessible and inexpensive method for identifying microplastic hotspots – and ultimately prevent further plastic pollution.”
In total, 35 locations were sampled for air and surface water, with 21 priority locations being around the island of Lanai and Maui. The team used forensic fibre approaches for the recovery and analysis of the particulates, developed by Professor Gwinnett. This included the use of a patented tape for the recovery of microplastics, called Easylift®.
Preliminary findings indicated that although anthropogenic particulates have been found in the water and air in these areas, the average concentrations of these are relatively low compared to samples taken from other remote locations such as the Everest region.
Yesterday, Professor Gwinnett and her fellow researchers presented the expedition to an invited audience of explorers, National Geographic staff and Disney representatives. The presentation also described their outreach work while onboard, including Explorer Classrooms which were streamed to around 1.5 million children in classrooms across Greece.
Maria Scrivens
Communications Manager
t: 01782 294375
m: 07766 520339
e: m.c.scrivens@staffs.ac.uk
