Blue Planet Prize Story

In 2004, a decade after his PhD research, Richard published a paper in the highly regarded academic journal, Science, showing that extremely small plastic particles had accumulated in the ocean. The paper garnered a much stronger response than anticipated, attracting significant attention. The publication had a great effect on his life as a researcher, and the discovery of microplastics would later lead to an encounter with Professor Galloway and Professor Lindeque.

Plastic waste

Ever wondered how are microparticles, smaller than grains of sand, come into existence? To understand this, let’s imagine the fate of a discarded plastic bag. Unfortunately, as we all know, plastic bags often end up littering our riversides and other natural landscapes. If such a bag remains uncollected and enters a river, it will embark on a journey downstream. At the end of the river lies the vast expanse of the ocean. There, it joins the enormous amount of other plastic waste, from discarded fishing ropes to fragments of plastic packaging, that have made their way to the marine environment. Some of this plastic waste is mistaken for food by seabirds, turtles, and other marine animals, causing them to ingest or become entangled in the debris, which can lead to their death. Plastic waste floating in the ocean is subjected to the forces of large waves and strong sunlight. Being exposed to waves and sunlight over time, the plastic debris breaks down into smaller pieces. This is how microplastics are generated in the marine environment.

In addition, small plastic particles can flow into the ocean directly. Plastic fibers shed from synthetic clothing during washing are largely removed in wastewater treatment plants. However, a portion of these fibers still end up in rivers and oceans.

Returning to scientist

After taking a break from her research career, Tamara Galloway worked as a part-time lecturer at several colleges while raising her children. During this time, she met with Peter D. Mitchell at a party, who received Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1978. As she talked to Dr. Michell about her earlier work, she was offered the opportunity to work as a part-time research assistant at his research institute during child-rearing years. This chance encounter rekindled Tamara’s passion for science once again.

Later, Tamara began working in a part-time teaching role at the University of Plymouth, teaching biology to nurses. In 1998, while supervising a PhD student researching the impact of pesticides on the environment, Tamara became more involved in the study of ecotoxicology. Ecotoxicology is the study of the ecological effects of harmful pollutants on the environment. Her research focuses primarily on endocrine disruptors, synthetic chemicals that pose significant ecotoxicological risks when released into the environment. Such chemicals, also contained in plastics, can have serious impact on ecosystems. To further investigate the fate of discarded plastic and understand its impact on marine and aquatic organisms, Tamara initiated a collaborative project with Professor Richard Thompson at the University of Plymouth. The success of this collaboration led to her appointment in 2007 as Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter.

Professor Tamara Galloway first met Penelope Lindeque at an academic conference on nanoplastics and microplastics. While Professor Galloway’s expertise lay in ecotoxicology, Professor Lindeque specialized in zooplankton. Their shared concerns about the environment and co-supervision of students paved the way for a fruitful collaboration that followed.

Entering the field of marine biology

After graduating from the University of Bath, Penelope became a researcher at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, where she specialized in zooplankton. These incredibly tiny creatures, outnumbering any other animal group on Earth, captivated her from the start. She was immediately fascinated by the vital role they played in the global ecosystem. Examining them under a microscope, their unexpected beauty and complexity further captivated her.

Penelope’s research initially focused on the adaptations of zooplankton in response to environmental changes. However, her interest shifted to the relationship between zooplankton and microplastics after encountering a pivotal paper, which was Professor Thompson’s 2004 publication warning about microplastic pollution in the ocean. This paper introduced Penelope to the issue of microplastics, and prompted a desire to investigate the impact of the microscopic particles on the zooplankton, essential components of the marine ecosystem.

When zooplankton mistake microplastics for food, they consume less actual food, leading to malnutrition and reduced viability. In addition, microplastics may contain additives and harmful chemical substances they have absorbed, raising concerns about reproductive abnormalities in zooplankton. The issue of microplastic contamination extends beyond zooplankton. Microplastic pollution is spreading throughout the marine ecosystem, from tiny zooplankton that feed on phytoplankton to small fish that eat the zooplankton, on to dolphins, large fish, and eventually humans.。

3. Searching for Solutions to Microplastic Pollution