Come and be a 'Scientist for a Day' with AUSMAP around Cooks River!

Interested in learning more about microplastics across NSW, the impact on humans and the environment, that contributes to authentic data collection of microplastics?

Come and join this volunteering event facilitated by the Inner West Council featuring AUSMAP and Cooks River Alliance as a part of Plastic Free July!

About the day - What will you learn?

On the day, Inner West Council, the Cooks River Alliance and AUSMAP come together to engage, educate and empower to the community in understanding why preventing plastic litter is so important, and some practical steps to reducing plastic use.

* Join AUSMAP Research Director Dr Scott & Abbey for the day - learn about the global plastic issue and be involved in an immersive science experience collecting microplastic samples. The data will help AUSMAP researchers understand the microplastic issue nationally, and be added to the national database to help find effective remediation strategies.

* Gain a broader environmental awareness on the issue of plastics and deeper insight into the microplastic problem

* What are microplastics, where we can find them in our local community, and how AUSMAP is helping to reduce this problem, along with your help!

* Learn about the current state of affairs across NSW and learn how we can manage these issues.

* Gain hands-on experience by undertaking a scientific microplastic sample along the shoreline of Cooks River and in the mangroves! And contribute to authentic data collection.

* We will then analyse what we find and be part of the discussion for effective mitigation strategies and waste management to help be part of the solution to Microplastic Pollution!

The Cooks River Alliance with the help of Inner West Council will engage and educate community members on the day using their large 3D river catchment model, set up adjacent to the AUSMAP sampling area.

Inner West Council will encourage community members to make a litter pledge and all pledgers will receive a reusable coffee cup!

Experts: Dr Scott Wilson (AUSMAP Research Director)

Location: Cooks River Foreshore, Marrickville (near Mackey Park)

TIME: 9:00am - 1:00pm

AUSMAP Microplastic field sampling:

Session 1 - 9:30am -10:30am

Session 2 - 11:00am-12:00pm

About the Program

It’s hard to solve a problem you can’t see - until recently microplastic pollution presented scientists with a crisis that was invisible to the naked eye. Now we have AUSMAP.

By translating data into vivid maps of plastic pollution hotspots all over Australia, the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) makes it easy for everyone to see the scale & nature of this growing problem.

We need to know how much is out there before we figure out what to do with it. We also need large numbers of Australians to engage with behaviour change, so we can stop any more plastic from entering our waterways.

Data collected by citizen scientists help create an entire ‘source to solution pathway’, from identifying microplastic hotspots that can then be used to recognise potential sources, to help implement reduction strategies to improve management.

FAQs

What do I need to bring?

* You will be required to collect water to help sieve, so if you have a pair of waterproof shoes/boots, please bring them.

* Outdoor wear & sun/rain protection.

Please no single-use plastics!

For more information, please contact events@ausmap.org

DONATIONS ARE WELCOME! AS A REGISTERED CHARITY, ANY DONATION OVER $2 IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE!