Rhode Island PBS will host a panel discussion on the issue of plastic pollution on Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. in room 170 of the University of Rhode Island’s Avedisian Hall. The event will feature a screening of the Rhode Island PBS Weekly segment, Green Seeker: Plastic Pollution, followed by a moderated discussion with local experts.
Last year, Rhode Island PBS Weekly reporter Michelle San Miguel interviewed University of Rhode Island researchers for her Rhode Island PBS Weekly segment, Green Seeker: Plastic Pollution. In the piece, researchers revealed a staggering estimate: the top two inches of Narragansett Bay’s floor contains more than 1,000 tons of microplastics.
To delve deeper into the consequences of this plastic pollution, San Miguel will lead a conversation with University of Rhode Island experts Dr. Jyothi Menon, Dr. Jaime Ross, and Dr. John (J.P.) Walsh.
The panelists will share the latest research on the impact microplastics can have on human health, particularly the aging brain. They will shed light on how humans are becoming increasingly exposed to plastics, and they will explain how plastic pollution is harming water bodies and marine life.
Breaking Down Plastics: A Conversation on How Plastic Pollution Affects Us All is free and open to the public. To learn more and to RSVP, click here.
Event Details:
Date: Aug. 21, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Room 170, Avedisian Hall, University of Rhode Island
Moderator:
Michelle San Miguel- Michelle San Miguel is a reporter and co-host for Rhode Island PBS Weekly, an in-depth newsmagazine. She covers a range of topics including politics, health, and science, and has been honored twice by the National Educational Telecommunications Association for her reporting. She previously worked at WJAR as well as television stations in Colorado and North Dakota. She is bilingual.
Panelists:
Dr. Jyothi Menon - Dr. Jyothi Menon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the URI College of Pharmacy, specializing in nanomedicine, drug delivery, biomaterials and tissue engineering. Dr. Menon’s key research interests include: nanotechnology, biomaterials and tissue engineering to develop nanocomposite systems for regenerative medicine; polymer- and lipid-based drug delivery systems for controlled release of therapeutic agents; and three-dimensional tumor/ tissue models to better understand mechanisms associated with disease development and drug resistance.
Dr. Jaime Ross - Dr. Jaime Ross is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience within the George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the URI College of Pharmacy. Dr. Ross’s overall research interests investigate fundamental questions of aging. Her lab focuses on genetic and genomic approaches to understand the basic mechanisms of disease, especially brain aging disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. She is most interested in understanding the interconnectedness of mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetics, and chronic inflammation in aging and disease states in order to develop novel biomarkers and therapies.
Dr. John (J.P.) Walsh - Dr. J.P. Walsh is a Professor of Oceanography in URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. His research focuses on marine geology and coastal sedimentary processes and hazards. Walsh has conducted research around the world including in the Philippines, New Zealand, Antarctica, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, France, the Gulf of Mexico and around the U.S.He recently spearheaded efforts to measure microplastics on the shoreline and seabed of Narragansett Bay and is working on several projects examining coastal change in New England.
