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MICROPLASTICS COMMUNITY SCIENCE TOOLKIT

The resources, tools and technology you need to help protect the planet from microplastic pollution.

Our tools. YOUR power to make a difference. Together, WE create change.

COLLECT REAL DATA. CREATE REAL CHANGE.

Microplastics are pieces of plastic less than 5 mm in size that have been found in all of Earth’s environments, our food, water, air and even our bodies. While cleaning up plastic pollution is important, we must stop it  from entering the environment in the first place. ​To drive solutions, decision makers need more data.

 

The Microplastics Community Science Toolkit provides the resources, tools and technology for the public to collect real data from their local sandy beach and engage with their community on sources and solutions, while contributing to our global microplastics database. 

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WE ALL have the power to protect our planet from microplastic pollution

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Collect the microplastic pollution data needed to inform local and global solutions

DIGITAL RESOURCES

  • Illustrated learning materials about microplastic pollution and community science 

  • Microplastics sandy beach sampling protocol 

  • Data evaluation guide to identify the types of microplastics to better understand your community's litter sources 

  • Communication and advocacy tools to address solutions

TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY

  • 2 sieves (for the beach sampling) 

  • 1 Saturna Imaging System: the first-of-its-kind technology that uses machine learning to count and characterize the physical properties of visible microplastics from sandy beach samples 

  • Access to the Mariana: a global open-access and collaborative microplastics database that provides heat maps and data visualizations to inform on hot spot locations and priorities for action

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THE TECHNOLOGY

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The Saturna Imaging System

The Toolkit includes first-of-its-kind AI-based imaging technology to  provide size, shape, colour and abundance data on the microplastics you collect during your beach surveys. This data, along with microplastic types, helps to uncover where the microplastics came from, how they move through the environment, which species may be affected and more. ​

 

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The Mariana Data Portal

 Mariana is an open-access database that hosts the data and provides heat maps and data visualization tools to inform on location of hot spots and priorities for action.​

​Used together, Saturna and Mariana empower Community Scientists to fill global microplastic data gaps and contribute to meaningful solutions to stop plastic pollution at the source.

HOW THE MICROPASTICS COMMUNITY SCIENCE TOOLKIT WORKS

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit

1. Order your Toolkit to receive all the resources, tools and technology you need to run a community science microplastic project.

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit 1

2. Read the included illustrated information to learn about microplastics, where they come from and their environmental impacts. 

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit 2

3. Follow the sandy beach sampling protocol to collect microplastics from your local sandy beach.

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit 3

4. Image and upload your data using the Saturna Imaging System and help to populate the global database.

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit 4

5. Follow the Data Evaluation Guide to identify trends and sources of microplastics in your community and solutions. 

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6. Use the advocacy and engagement tools to use the data to inform decision making and change. 

Testimonials

"The ability to take a group out to one of our local beaches and work the entire protocol unassisted was a game changer. Data on paper is just data to most people, but when you can go out and actually be a part of the data collection process this connects them to what the numbers really mean."
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Skye Whitney

Youth Programs Coordinator | Oregon Coast Aquarium

“Participating in microplastic sampling and data collection is one way I feel that I can impact policy change. Involving others with the sampling helped to open their eyes to seemingly small observations that they will be attuned to whenever they visit a beach or shoreline. This heightened awareness can inspire a whole gamut of future action, research, support and knowledge for the protection of our collective waterbodies.” 

Abby McLennan

Co-Founder | Let's Talk Trash

"Collecting data that can be used for advancing environmental policy is an exciting way to do real science, and make everyone feel a part of it."

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Liam Pope-Lau

Student | Youth Ambassador

"I enjoyed being able to get involved within my community and gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening to local beaches."

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Taya Holmes

High School Student

TOOLKIT USES

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MEASURE MICROPLASTICS AND CONTRIBUTE THE DATA TO A GLOBAL DATABASE

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MONITOR MICROPLASTICS IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO INFORM LOCAL RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS

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TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS AT YOUR FAVOURITE BEACHES AND LEARN ABOUT SOLUTIONS

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TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS AT YOUR FAVOURITE BEACHES AND LEARN ABOUT SOLUTIONS

WHO ARE THESE KITS FOR?

Non-Profits and Organization

This kit contains everything you need to conduct sampling to collect data and raise awareness in your community about microplastic pollution. The kit was designed for long-term data collection and monitoring using Mariana.

Post-Secondary

This Kit can be used across post-secondary disciplines and departments. Students can engage with the contents in an exploratory lab space, researchers can use it to collect data and conduct community-based research and individual students can use it as part of an Honours or Masters dissertation. 

Environmental Outreach and Education

This Kit has the versatility to be used in educational spaces for high school students to gain hands-on STEAM skills and conduct real-world data collection. The kit includes learning and advocacy tools that empower students and educators to engage in hands-on learning. 

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit 9-1
Help to fill the global data gaps by conducting Microplastics Community Science project in your town!

Read the Case Studies!

Brooke Community Science
Community Scientists in British Columbia generate the largest microplastics database in the region with the Community Science Toolkit
Read >
North Coast Community Science
Prince Rupert community scientists use the Toolkit to link microplastic pollution to seasonal changes influenced by industry-related activities
Read >
qathet Community Science
qathet region Community Scientists used the Kit to identify sources of local microplastic pollution to add data to shoreline cleanups
Read >
Canva Design DAGNHsMI_Ps
Undergraduate student uses the Toolkit to collect real data for Honours Thesis Project
Read >

Don't have access to a sandy beach?

Explore our other Toolkits!