The eXXpedition Round the World mission will sail out of Plymouth Harbour on 8th October 2019, on the first leg of our Round The World mission. We are lucky to have Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones on board as Leader of the eXXpedition Science Programme, based at the University of Plymouth. Winnie has joined us full time in order to deliver innovative research into the impact plastic pollution is having on our oceans.
Our exciting science programme has also been developed in collaboration with ocean plastic experts to carry out plastics-related citizen science, both at sea and on land, by Professor Richard Thompson OBE Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth, and Professor Jenna Jambeck, Associate Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. The eXXpedition Science Advisory Board includes a mix of leading academics and industry representatives including Dr Daniel Schwaab TOMRA Senior Vice-President for Circular Economy Strategy.
The research conducted during the mission has been designed to advance a better understanding of the plastics issue as a whole and to work with industry to pinpoint solutions and policy at a global level by addressing knowledge-gaps and delivering evidence to inform effective solutions.
Professor Richard Thompson OBE said:
“In recent years, tackling the plastics in our oceans has become one of our most high profile environmental challenges. It is crucial that we use innovative and informed means to develop greater understanding of the issue’s global scale, and to identify ways to address it. This collaboration will undoubtedly help achieve that, and we are delighted to be working with eXXpedition to generate new knowledge and interest in this important area.”
Emily Penn, Mission Director of eXXpedition, added:
“We’re delighted to collaborate with the University of Plymouth on our Round the World science programme. The plastic pollution challenge our ocean faces is a global one and it will take an inspired army of passionate, skilled and experienced people to tackle it. We’re excited for our 300 expedition participants to work together with scientists from such a prestigious institute to better understand the environmental and human health impact of plastics and toxics, and to use this information to help pinpoint upstream solutions.”
eXXpedition and University of Plymouth have worked together in the past, with eXXpedition’s 2017 Round Britain voyage setting sail from the University’s Marine Station. Students have also participated in previous voyages, with BSc (Hons) Marine Biology student Megan Ross joining the 2017 voyage and Research Fellow Imogen Napper working as lead scientist on a leg of eXXpedition North Pacific 2018.
For more information on our eXXpedition Round The World mission, follow along here.
