Ms. Elizabeth Linske – The Global Threat of Plastic Pollution to Oceans
"A Global Threat of Plastic Pollution to Oceans"
Every minute, two garbage trucks’ worth of plastic enter our oceans. It is now estimated that over 15 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. Plastic can be found in the deepest depths of our seas and the highest mountain peaks of our lands. Plastic can be found in the air, in the rain, and in our drinking water. Plastic pollution impacts us all and continues to worsen every year.
This presentation will focus on the impacts of plastic in our oceans and the varying types of plastic polluting our seas. Elizabeth will share firsthand experiences of seeing plastic adversely affect marine animals. The lecture will also emphasize where plastic is coming from and common myths surrounding the top plastic polluters on our planet.
Elizabeth Linske is an Environmental Metrology and Policy graduate student at Georgetown University, studying environmental chemistry and the connection between science and Federal policy. Before returning to graduate school, she spent six years working as a marine scientist specializing in marine animal conservation. During this time, Elizabeth helped to save over 1,500 sea turtles as well as hundreds of seals, dolphins, and whales. This work enabled her to visualize the connection between animals, the ecosystem, and how anthropogenic impacts are affecting both. She witnessed population shifts, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, entanglements, and plastic ingestion. This allowed Elizabeth to recognize that she wanted her actions to protect marine life to be on a larger scale, spurring her decision to return to graduate school to further her knowledge on how science informs Federal policymaking. Over the past year, Elizabeth worked at Oceana on the Plastic Campaign team where she co-authored a national report title, Choked, Strangled, Drowned: The Plastic Crisis Unfolding in Our Oceans. Elizabeth is always looking to educate as many people as possible on how to reduce their plastic use and help make the planet healthier.
