Microplastics Research and Proposals for Action

Powerpoint / PDF / Zip / Document: 

Final Microplastics In the Ocean Powerpoint.pptx

The purpose of the microplastics collaboration between high school students in Japan and the United States is to collect current data on microplastics in surrounding waterways, ocean and beaches. This includes areas surrounding Los Angeles. To present the findings at science conferences and students, science fairs, and propose solutions.

Yasuyuki Kosaka is the leading high school Marine biology teacher in Japan. At a recent national high school Marine biology teachers conference in November, I met him and his students who are involved in a microplastics research project. We discussed collaboration between his students and students of the Animo high school Marine biology club. We formed a new microplastics team in Los Angeles of 10 students, from 9^th to 12^th grade. They have been collecting data and sharing it with Japanese students as well as Skype regularly to get to know each other and compared data and research techniques.

The Animo students presented at the LA County science fair and will be presenting the joint day that the Intel international science fair in the middle of May.

New teams will be formed each year in Japan and the US. We are intent on broadening out the number of teams in both countries and other countries. Singapore is now on board with the team doing research.