Marine Debris Presentation

Dorothy Horn with research subject.

CoastWatch is collaborating with Bandon’s Shoreline Education for Awareness (SEA) on a series of talks this winter and spring providing background information helpful to both CoastWatch mile adopters and shoreline interpreters.  Of special interest to CoastWatchers is the February presentation, which focuses on marine debris.  All CoastWatchers report on marine debris on their miles, and many participate in our citizen science marine debris survey.

The event takes place on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m. at the Washed Ashore Gallery space (325 2^nd St., S.E.) in Bandon.  The event is free and open to the public.  Wine and cheese will be served.

Lead speaker will be Dorothy Horn, a PhD candidate at Portland State University who is studying marine debris, and in particular the impact of “microplastics,” very small plastic bits in the environment that can work their way up the food chain. 

Horn is a Marine Corps veteran and a Graduate Research Fellow for the National Science Foundation.  She received her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science and Resource Management at California State University Channel Islands, where she began her studies of microplastics.  She is now a PhD student at Portland State University in the Environmental Science and Management program where students, researchers and faculty work with non-profit organizations, as well as local, state and federal partners, to conduct important research and find collaborative solutions with science and policy. For her PhD dissertation she is studying the impacts of microplastics on Pacific Mole Crabs, Surf Perch and other nearshore invertebrates along the Oregon coast, Hawaii and Costa Rica.

A speaker from Washed Ashore will describe that organization’s work to repurpose marine debris while educating the public about plastics in the ocean.  Washed Ashore engages volunteers in creating fantastic sculptures composed of marine debris, which are toured around the world to raise awareness.

For more information, contact Bill Stenberg of SEA, (503) 593-5010, billberg47@gmail.com, or Fawn Custer of CoastWatch, (541) 270-0027, fawn@oregonshores.org.