Since 2014, eXXpedition has been taking teams of multinational, multidisciplinary women to sea to contribute to world-changing scientific research.

These previous voyages demonstrated the many different ways plastic pollution enters the ocean and that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. We identified an urgent need for place-based, context-specific data to drive local, tailored solutions.

In this next phase of research, eXXpedition will seek to fill critical gaps in our understanding of locally-specific data on a global scale. The purpose of this is to build a really clear picture of the flow of plastic – into, through, and out of communities. This in turn will help pinpoint the most impactful solutions.

Guest crews will collect and analyse microplastics in surface ocean water and identify polymer types. On land, the team will complete the picture by conducting investigations into litter, consumer goods and waste management infrastructure. They will also work with local experts to gather further insight.

All the data we gather from land and sea will be openly available to help prioritise prevention, cleanup and policy interventions.

“Data is power, and it is crucial to get data into the hands of people who need it to make decisions.” –  Dr Jenna Jambeck

Led by University of Georgia

Our scientific programme is lead by Professor Jenna Jambeck, Distinguished Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia and Circularity Informatics Lab and her team members Kathryn Youngblood and Taylor Maddalene. We collaborate closely with local research partners in each region of our expeditions.

The expedition science will follow the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP). This model – pictured below – provides data for local, regional, or national policy and decision‐making to reduce waste getting into the environment, while increasing circular materials management.

Guiding Principles

  • Knowledge transfer – with local scientists, communities & partners, guest crew and between regions, to complement and build on existing work and solutions
  • Open data – opening up access to make our findings valuable for all
  • Holistic methods – connect sea and land to give a comprehensive understanding and inform solutions
  • Mapping – to visualise the problem and make clear connections between land and sea

MICROPLASTICS IN WATER

What is the characterisation of microplastics in surface water in key ocean basins?

This project aims to generate a comprehensive worldwide assessment of the distribution of microplastics in surface waters, relating these to global ocean currents, and can therefore provide an assessment tool to consider which areas may be most vulnerable to pollution by microplastics.

Litter along the coast & on land

What is the characterisation of litter found along coasts and on land in expedition locations?

Local litter assessments help determine 1) what products are entering the environment, 2) how products end up in the environment, and 3) how we prevent that happening.

Products & waste management in communities

What materials, brands, and formats are sold? What innovations are found in alternative materials and reuse? What does solid waste management look like?

Understanding the products available to consumers and the waste management infrastructure available to handle those materials is critical to optimising circular systems. Combining this data with the litter and microplastic data creates a clearer picture of problematic plastic items, their sources, and what interventions will be most impactful.

Science Partners