SIMCoast: Socio-ecological Impact of Microplastics in Coastal Ecosystems

Small fragments of plastic debris known as nano and micro scale plastics (NMPs) are threatening the health of coastal ecosystems globally, including in Rhode Island, where it has been estimated that the top two inches of the Narragansett Bay’s floor contain more than 1,000 tons of NMPs. These pollutants pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human communities who rely on healthy marine resources and flourishing coastlines.

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SIMCoast (Socio-ecological Impact of Microplastics in Coastal Ecosystems) is a multidisciplinary research incubator that addresses the challenge of NMPs by building physical and human capacity and prioritizing workforce development in this increasingly important field. Through our stakeholder-driven research model, we aim to study the dimensions of microplastic pollution that are of the greatest concern to local communities and leaders to inform policy development and impactful mitigation approaches.

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