Our Team
Modern Marine Activists
Riya
In the 5th grade I learned about the great pacific garbage patch (an island of trash twice the size of Texas just floating in the Pacific Ocean). I thought it was outrageous that we had created something that big out of trash! I soon learned that all this trash was endangering marine life. I knew I couldn't just sit here and let it happen. Since then I have tried to bring awareness to the subject and reduce my own waste. I have made it my mission to help with the ocean plastic crisis.
Kyle Hanson
I first dove into ocean pollution just over a year ago, when I conducted a local research project to identify how many microplastics were in different bodies of water in the area. Ultimately, the goal was to find where to target for monitoring waste in my community using maps and the data collected from the experiment. From this experience, I was able to see how bad the issue of ocean pollution truly was not only in my area but in other places around the world. Since then, I've been on a mission to cut down on my personal waste production and have made efforts to keep our oceans clean.
Ingrid L.
I've always had a strong passion for marine life since I was little. I would read all kinds of books regarding the species of fish, turtles, dolphins, etc living in these vast oceans and seas. Yet none of these books informed me of ocean pollution. I stayed blissfully oblivious until, one day, my family and I were walking along a beach. Suddenly, I saw a seagull and it was laying, unmoving, on the ground. I naively thought: Wow, I could get really close to a seagull! However, as I got nearer and nearer, I realized the seagull was dead - rings of plastic around its neck had choked it to death. After this horrifying experience, I was exposed to the dark truth that ocean was filled with man-made debris. Through research upon research, my desire to turn the tables on ocean pollution increased rapidly. I've participated in many clean-ups and presented about ocean pollution multiple times (in and out of school) to raise awareness and stir action. Personally, I have adopted eco-friendly practices including conserving water, saving energy, going to zero-waste stores, etc.
Maya
I have always been really passionate about the environment, and I believe making change is important. Marine life is interesting and beautiful, and the fact that we are endangering it makes me incredibly frustrated. I live very close to the beach, and I always see plastic on the sand or plastic stuck in trees. It feels distant and seperate to us, because we are not living in the ocean, surrounded by plastic and trash. But, it is a reality that millions of animals face. It is important to be educated about ocean pollution, and it is crucial that we take action. I have spent time cleaning up beaches, raising awareness at my school, and changing my routine to reduce water and waste. It may seem daunting and out of our control, but we caused this problem and I know we can fix it. As long as we care, we can make change.