Since their introduction at the beginning of the 1900s, plastics have been finding their way into our oceans, where they persist, breaking into ever smaller pieces. While these microplastics put at risk the health of marine ecosystems, we believe that student literacy of the topic counts among the solution to reverse this risk. It is our hope, that as students develop into adults, they will be able to provide solutions for microplastics as both professional and citizen scientists.

The Plankton, Plastic and Poo resource has been put together to educate students using the pioneering research into microplastics in the ocean at the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The resource covers key scientific principles such as food webs, allows students to work scientifically by simulating the researchers’ investigations, and encourages students to use their findings to have a wider impact.