November 13, 2023 A fascinating article from The Guardian by environmental journalist Stephen Buranyi recently caught my attention in its discussion of contemporary research surrounding plastic-eating bacteria. Discovered in a trash dump in 2001, a bacterium called Ideonella Sakaiensis uses enzymatic reactions to break down plastic into basic nutrients it can consume. Microbiologists are studying …
Plastic Pollution
September 5, 2023 Through the Coastal Stewardship Certification Course I recently completed in August with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, I met Dr. Allison Fitzgerald, Assistant Professor of Biology at New Jersey City University (NJCU). In addition to her teaching at NJCU, Dr. Fitzgerald brings her doctoral work in oyster ecotoxicology to bear …
June 15, 2023 On June 6th, I had my second class in the 10-week Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Coastal Stewardship Course. The first presenter on this night was Dr. Steven Yergeau of Rutgers, who spoke about watershed management in Barnegat Bay. He explained characteristics of watersheds and their role in the water cycle. He delved …
April 12, 2023 It would be nice to believe that all products labeled as “bioplastics” had no negative impacts on the environment and could be used without consequence. However, a recent literature review warns that we shouldn’t be so quick to make this assumption. A January 2023 article by science journalist Michael Allen notes that …
I recently read an inspiring article about a fantastic young activist and leader named Imani Black, the founder of the nonprofit organization Minorities in Aquaculture. Imani is an oyster farmer whose mission is to preserve wildlife and promote sustainability in the Chesapeake Bay area. She aims to provide greater opportunities for minority groups, specifically women …
October 5, 2022 This summer I had the incredible privilege of participating in the Teen Research and Environmental Education (TREES) program at the University of Pennsylvania. I and six other students were invited to work directly under the tutelage of Dr. Jeffrey Field, Professor of Pharmacology at the Perelman School of Medicine and a world-renowned …
July 22, 2022 Among the most significant crises our planet faces as a result of human activity is the incessant pollution of our oceans, particularly by plastic waste. We have all heard the horror stories of aquatic animals getting caught in nets and choked by plastic bags, but another lesser-known problem is equally in need …