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OR&R Staff Present at Public Webinar Hosted by the National Nanotechnology Initiative
June 5, 2023 — On May 22, the NOAA Marine Debris Program's Chief Scientist, Amy V. Uhrin, gave a presentation during a virtual public webinar hosted by the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Seven speakers across as many federal agencies each provided a broad overview of their key research activities addressing micro- and nanoplastic pollution. Each of the speakers are members of the informal U.S. government nanoplastics interagency interest group that coordinates activities on this subject across federal agencies. Uhrin highlighted the Marine Debris Program generally, followed by a dive into how the Program funds research, a history of allocations and research priorities over the years, and a spotlight on four currently active projects that are addressing research questions related to microplastics.
Additional speakers represented the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, US Geological Survey, and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
As research into micro- and nanoplastic pollution progresses, interagency coordination and communication will be increasingly important, and this webinar was a key step in furthering those connections.