Where does the trash on our beaches come from? And what happens to all that plastic when it breaks down and gets into our waters?

Join us for a webinar to hear the latest information about plastic pollution in the Great Lakes and what can be done to prevent it.

Dr. Timothy Hoellein, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago, will present an analysis of trash collected by Adopt-a-Beach™ volunteers at five beaches in four states. He’ll discuss what the data tells us about where litter comes from and how it can inform strategies to keep plastics and other trash out the Great Lakes.

Dr. Sherri A. Mason, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at SUNY Fredonia, will discuss the first-ever survey for plastic pollution within the open waters of the Great Lakes. She’ll present findings on tiny plastic particles in the lakes — including microbeads from personal care products — and explain how these “microplastics” may absorb toxins that threaten fish and other wildlife.

Information about our guest speakers:

Dr. Timothy Hoellein has a PhD in Biology from the University of Notre Dame. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago. His research focuses on ecosystem processes and biogeochemistry, and incorporating ecosystem function and seasonality in evaluation of human impacts and restoration in aquatic environments. He grew up in western Pennsylvania near Erie, and he has lived in Chicago since 2010.

Dr. Sherri A. Mason graduated from the University of Texas at Austin before completing her doctorate in Chemistry at the University of Montana as a NASA Earth System Science scholar. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at SUNY Fredonia. Her research group examines plastic pollution within freshwater ecosystems with a focus on the Great Lakes. In addition to her primary academic responsibilities, she serves as the coordinator of the Environmental Sciences program at SUNY Fredonia.

Dr. Hoellein and Dr. Mason both organize teams of students to participate in Adopt-a-Beach™ cleanups and beach monitoring.