Actions and Oceans

How our Actions Today Affect the Oceans tomorrow This blog started as part of a Girl Scout Gold Award project to educate the public about marine debris. Now, Katherine Ball continues her work on engaging people with the issue. She works to find innovative ways to educate the public and innovate marine debris research methods to increase engagement. Here you will find updates on Katherine's work, as well as articles and current work being conducted by others. B.S. Oceanography, University of Washington 2016 MSTP Arizona State University, in progress

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Plastic pollution in the sea doesn't just mean bottles and bags. Citizen scientists around the world are helping researchers assess the impact of tiny, often invisible particles called microplastics.

Citizen scientists from all over the world are currently contributing to the study of microplastics. Fast, simple, easy. What could you do to help?

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Eight trillion microbeads pollute aquatic habitats every day — and scientists are calling for a ban

800 trillion of the plastic beads from toothpaste and face wash go down the drain every day, and it needs to stop.

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Data collected on Actions and Oceans participants show an increase of knowledge in all areas. The average perceived knowledge of the issue, within the Puget Sound and globally, was approximately 4.12 in the pre-event survey raising in both areas to about 6.85 after the event. The perceived scale of the issue was the highest at 8.17 before the event, raising minutely to 8.41.  The awareness of the individual’s impact was the lowest on both surveys, though it still rose from before the event to an average of 4.24.

The pre and post event surveys did not encompass all participants at Actions and Oceans and only 17 participants completed the post-event survey compared to the 41 who completed the pre-event. The Survey was also based on the individual’s view of ‘little’ and ‘extensive’ when it came to each question. A persons perspective may have changed between the time the completed the pre-event survey, attended the event, and post-event survey. Both of these may lead to statistical errors though the goal of the survey was to check for over-all increase of knowledge and active thought about humanities addition to the issue of marine debris.

These data show the first annual Actions and Oceans to have been its success with its main goal, to educate and inspire the community in an issue. An additional question was added to the post-event survey asking participants to share how the event impacted them. Their responses ranged from checking that their “bath products [have] micro-beads that are bio-degradable” to commenting on that they had “NO AWARENESS of fishing gear” and being “inspired to start a blog about marine debris” or considering how the “largest impact would be made at the legislative level.”

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Photos from the event last week at the Port of Everett.

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Held and Near Done

March 6th and I'm nearly done with my project. To think for the past month or so I've mostly just been waiting for the day to happen and now that it's past I have thank you's to send, some survey analysis to do, and a report to write up.

That is all.

After the 125 hours I've put into this already that sounds like nothing. No more emailing people I've never met or talked to and inviting them to my event. No more sudden communication to figure out financial misunderstandings or re-configuring things due to sickness.

I never expected it to run so well.

Apparently my memory and thoughts on how things like this run was accurate. No major set-backs. We ran a bit behind schedule for a short period of time, but that was to be expected with the rather crazy rain (leading to crazy traffic) we've had the past few days. But all the booths and talks and everything were only about 15 minutes late.

Not bad, not bad.

I had 40 people pre-register and it looks like about 20 people were walk-ins who are not getting included in my event-impact data. Still, 60 people a good third at least who I didn't know isn't bad at all.

Though Julie was sick and unable to attend to participate in the panel I still get to meet her in a few weeks for my senior project research. Ian and Peter were both super enthusiastic about being invited to participate and said they'd gladly help me out in pursuing oceanography in whatever ways they can.

Contacts, experience, and spreading knowledge.

I'd call that a job well done.

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The event is tonight everyone!

As I've already sailed past the 120 hour mark it comes as a bit of a relief, but I've loved putting this event together and I hope the event goes well.

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One week until the event! If you have yet to sign up, please do!

Registration is not mandatory unless you wish to attend the panel.

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Just had an interviews with the Everett Herald for their Star Kids section.

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Press release is up!

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journeytotheplasticocean

Just another WordPress.com site

Blog about plastics. Has some great thoughts in it.

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Advertising has begun!

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81.75 hours

I've broken 80! Now time just to get everything squared away.

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Registration is now open!

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A video from Interface America about one companies project to reduce derelict fishing gear.

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I just had a great talk with my adviser. Put into good perspective just how well along I am. Things aren't so lost as I thought they were.

Key things we brought up for me to do:

Draft a booth request to send out on Monday to organizations; has been on hold while I figure out my new budget (thanks people) and might not go out until later next week

Send an email to connect my three panelists and Rebbeca so she (as panel moderator) can make sure they'll be on the same page.

Figure out how many microphones I need

Other then that things are in time and all is well.

So the question is, will you come find out What's In Our Waters?

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Since I reserved my location as a non-profit I've got to submit a new budget to my council and ran into a question. I was planning on 20 posters to advertise my event, but that's going to equal something along the lines of $400 unless there's a bulk fee. I'll also have a few people with more business cards for advertising.

So, what's a good number of posters to set up around a county to advertise? Would five or six be enough?