The Coastal Estuarine Research Foundation’s biennial conference was held at the Mobile, AL convention center from Nov. 3-7. Caitlin Wessel co-chaired a session on Nov. 5 during the conference on marine debris called, "Marine plastic pollution from nano- to macro-scale: fate, effects, solutions." New research from microplastic and shoreline debris abundances to impacts of plastic on the nitrogen cycle were discussed during the half day session. Zola Roper, Marine Debris Program Intern, also presented on her research, which focuses on spatial and temporal trends in 28 years of marine debris data collected by citizen-scientists during the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup events in the U.S. Virgin Islands

The focus of the conference was to connect science and society in the collective goals of preserving coastal and estuarine habitats, resources, and heritage. This year, more than 1,700 scientists and researchers from all over the world came together to collaborate and discuss how to be "Responsive | Relevant | Ready."

For further information please contact Caitlin.Wessel@noaa.gov.

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