Community scientists (citizen scientists) have contributed substantially to our understanding of the global plastic pollution crisis, for example, by collating litter data during beach clean ups, by using dedicated smartphone apps or by taking microplastic samples of aquatic environments. These data are especially valuable for long-term monitoring as other data sources remain scarce. In this lecture, Dr. Tim Kiessling will reflect on how these findings can be made relevant for policy making. He will discuss the quality of datasets collected by volunteers, as well as data harmonisation to compare insights across protocols. Finally, Dr. Kiessling will present a vision for meaningful involvement of community scientists in plastic pollution legislation, exemplified by a proposition for the European Water Framework Directive.
Dalhousie University operates in the unceded territories of the Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati Peoples. These sovereign nations hold inherent rights as the original peoples of these lands, and we each carry collective obligations under the Peace and Friendship Treaties. Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Canada.
We acknowledge that the lands on which Memorial University’s campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province.
