Chelsea Rochman

is this year’s recipient of the J.C. Stevenson Award sponsored by Canadian Science Publishing.

Dr. Chelsea Rochman, Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto

Chelsea Rochman is an Assistant Professor in Ecology at University of Toronto and co-founder of the U of T Trash Team. Chelsea received her PhD in Ecology from UC Davis and San Diego State University. In addition to her research, Chelsea routinely advises governments on policies related to plastic pollution.

The J.C. Stevenson Memorial Award Lecture:

Plastic pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes: the state of the science and how it informs policy

Abstract: Plastic debris is accumulating in ecosystems across the globe. As concern rises around the risks of plastic debris in valued ecosystems, more studies have documented the presence of plastic debris, both macro- and micro-, in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin. Plastic pollution has been reported in sediments, surface waters, and biota across the Great Lakes basin. It has also been reported in drinking water. In addition, studies have demonstrated that microplastics can lead to toxicity in local fauna, and risk assessment frameworks suggest some species may be at risk. This talk will: 1) characterize the monitoring and research efforts regarding plastic pollution across the Great Lakes; 2) synthesize the current understanding of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes; 3) suggest effective strategies to track and report plastic pollution in the Great Lakes based on management objectives; and 4) propose metrics for using plastic as a science-based ecosystem indicator.