Plastic pollution threatens the environment

According to the UNEP, marine plastic pollution, including microplastics, was recognized as a worldwide threat to aquatic environments and society.

In the last 10 years, marine plastic pollution got more attention among scientists, stakeholders, and society. Understanding the impact of ocean plastics on marine organisms and the environment is critical to solving this problem.

Mission of COPS

• Determine the plastic pollution flow from the land to oceans via rivers

• Monitor ocean plastics in estuaries and surrounding oceans

• Model present and future plastic pollution presence based on global datasets

• Assess the impact of plastic pollution on marine organisms

• Contribute to the creation of action plans to achieve the SDG 14 "Life below water" based on scientific evidence

Started the collaboration with Chulalongkorn University

The Center for Ocean Plastic Studies (COPS) was established in 2022. At the same time, we started collaborative research between Kyushu University (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics) and Chulalongkorn University (Aquatic Resources Research Institute and Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science).  The aims include collaborative research on ocean plastic pollution, academic activities, and the exchange of researchers between the two universities.