This webinar occurred at 11 AM CST on March 25th. The purpose was to learn about community science data collection with the Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative. In this session, you will learn how to use the Debris Tracker app for this project to gain a better understanding of plastic pollution along the Mississippi River. Then, stay on to hear a panel discussion of community science and environmental justice from the perspective of local organizations along the Mississippi River and in our three pilot cities. Links to download the app are here: https://debristracker.org/
About the Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), the University of Georgia, National Geographic Society, and other partners are working together on an initiative to generate a first-ever snapshot of the state of plastic pollution along the river.
The data will be generated through a ‘citizen science’ approach, enlisting the participation of thousands of community volunteers covering as large an area as feasible along the river, using the Debris Tracker, a free mobile phone app. The data gathered in selected locations will be analyzed to understand the state of plastic litter in these river cities. The goal is to generate as rich a picture as possible within a dedicated timeframe, of the extent and type of litter that makes its way to the river.
Visit www.unep.org/mississippi for more information on the Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative.