Students Ask Scientists – How Scientists Study Emerging Contaminants: Microplastics as a Case Study
This Students Ask Scientists presentation will discuss how environmental chemists study “emerging contaminants” – unregulated chemicals and particles in the environment – using microplastics as a primary example of an emerging contaminant. The four key concepts that will be discussed are: (1) the sources of microplastics, (2) the processes governing the transport of microplastics, (3) the fate of microplastics, and (4) the impacts of microplastics on human and ecosystem health.
Join Bryce Cook, a physical scientist at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) – Upper Midwest Water Science Center. Specifically, Bryce works at the USGS M3 (Mercury, Metals, and Microplastics) Research Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, where he studies micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Bryce graduated with his B.A. in chemistry with a minor in environmental studies from Grinnell College in 2021. He graduated with his M.S. in agricultural and environmental chemistry from U.C. – Davis in 2023.
Learn more about the work at the USGS M3 lab
- What: Students Ask Scientists is an interactive virtual program where students and educators connect with scientists to learn about current Great Lakes topics and issues. This session explores microplastics and how scientists study their impacts on people and ecosystems.
- Who: Middle school students and up and their educators, although all are welcome
- When: October 27, 2026 @ 8:00 am CDT – 9:00 am CDT
- Where: Virtual via Zoom
- How: Please pre-register for Zoom-based event
Questions about the event? Contact Anne Moser or Ginny Carlton.