What’s your project about...
Adding depth to our knowledge. Not all microplastics float, yet most field sampling only skims the surface, literally. With the Sea-Pump Depth Surveyor prototype, we will add the ability to sample the oceans at depth, in significant enough volumes to reveal more complete microplastic concentrations. Our expeditions apply first-of-a-kind, long-term microplastic studies in the sub 300 µm size range, a scale often overlooked but critical for understanding how plastics move through marine ecosystems and into the food chain. By focusing on these smaller particles, our work contributes directly to ocean conservation, human health research, and high impact scientific publications that inform global policy and awareness. Each expedition not only generates new knowledge but also strengthens public understanding of how microplastics affect both marine life and people.
My project is special because...
Most research groups studying microplastics stop at surface sampling, but not all plastic floats, and we need to look deeper. We are developing methodology that dramatically increases the scientific value of our datasets by sampling large volumes of sea water at depth to compare to surface findings. Our Sea-Pump Depth Surveyor will allow us to collect additional important microplastic data simultaneously with surface trawling, opening the door to much deeper understanding of our oceans and the pollution in them. Sail & Explore will not only expand the importance of our own research but also set a new standard for the field.
This is what I need backing for.
The money raised here will directly contribute to finishing the Sea-Pump Depth Surveyor prototype and field testing to verify the instrument. This will involve primarily spare parts, testing consumables and associated field work.
