Community Science Toolkit | Ocean Diagnostics Inc

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.

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.

Microplastics Community Science Toolkit 6

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

"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."

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."

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."

Taya Holmes

High School Student

MEASURE MICROPLASTICS AND CONTRIBUTE THE DATA TO A GLOBAL DATABASE

MONITOR MICROPLASTICS IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO INFORM LOCAL RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS

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

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.