We work to quantify the sources, causes, and impacts of plastic pollution, as well as develop reduction strategies, especially through circular economic and mixed method quantitative and qualitative approaches. A protocol we developed in my Circularity Informatics Lab, the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP), facilitates city circularity. CAP has been used in 56 cities in 16 countries, continuing to grow. Our research incorporates culturally relevant tools and technology for solutions to plastic pollution and solid waste management, including citizen science. I also conduct extensive outreach, science communication, and policy-informing activities locally, nationally, and internationally.
Current Projects
2024-2027 NSF Convergence Accelerator Track I Phase II, NSF
2018-2028 Debris Tracker mobile app, Morgan Stanley (gift)
2023-2024 Circularity Assessment Protocol in Aruba, Government of Aruba
2023-2024 Urban Ocean 3 Cohort, Ocean Conservancy
2023-2024 Circularity Assessment Protocol in Orlando FL, Ocean Conservancy
2022-2024 Perpetual CAPs, ETAP, MDT, US Model, ERG/US EPA
2022-2024 Urban Ocean 2 Cohort, The Circulate Initiative
2022-2024 Circularity Assessment Protocol in Dominica, Dynamic Planet
2021-2024 Organics Recycling in Cities, Walmart Foundation
2023-2024 NSF Convergence Accelerator Track I: A Tale of Two Cities Optimizing Circularity from Molecules to the Built Environment, NSF
2021-2024 Marine Microplastics Analysis: Pristine Seas National Geographic Society
2021-2024 Circularity Barriers in the Southeast US EPA
Recently Completed Projects
2023-2024 Circularity Assessment Protocol in Maldives, eXXpedition
2023 Mississippi River Apex Analysis, UNEP
2022-2023 Towards Solutions for Global Equity and Justice Concerns in the Full Lifecycle of Plastics, Ocean Conservancy
2022 MS River: Delta Region, UNEP
2021-2023 CAP in FL Keys, Ocean Conservancy
2021-2022 Implementation of UNEA Resolutions on Marine Litter, UNEP