250 Deliver the Message: Harness Diverse Media and Divergent Methods to Describe and Depict Geoscience Information
A wide-ranging mix of presentations providing thought-provoking ways to communicate geoscience information using diverse media (written, audio, video) and divergent methods (paper, digital) to encourage and engage varied (scientific to non-scientific, neurotypical to neurodivergent) communities.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 302B
Talking about plastic pollution: Connecting science and citizens for change
Paper number: 250-10
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Authors
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the natural environment has been overlooked, which leads to potential risks to human health and wildlife. This paper provides an overview of the citizen science approach to mitigate and manage plastic pollution in natural environments. Also, this talk highlights the importance of citizen science in raising public awareness of environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices. Case studies and different projects, such as “Plastic Pirates”, “Litterati”, “Trash Hunter”, “International Pellat Watch”, and many more projects on the role of citizen scientists, are summarized, which aim to monitor and collect plastic resin pellets from different ecosystems, for example, beaches, seas, and rivers, and also engage various stakeholders, for example, citizen scientists, students, academic and research organizations, non-profits, government agencies, industry, and local communities. Additionally, this talk discusses different methodologies, such as surveys and sampling approaches, using mobile apps, instruments, and kits to collect information on plastic pollution. Importantly, it discusses the need for global partnerships and policies to address plastic waste management and prevent conflict. Likewise, this talk emphasizes the citizen sciences and impacts of plastics on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems to conserve, preserve, and monitor biodiversity through citizen participation. This talk also highlights the significance of community involvement, such as local, coastal, marginalized, or vulnerable communities, in environmental research and the potential benefits of citizen science programs. Overall, this talk concludes with insights into citizen science as a valuable resource tool for researchers, policymakers, and the public interested in understanding and addressing the problem of plastic pollution.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6
doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-413304
© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.