Citizen Science: Science educators and researchers focusing on microplastics in Minnesota lakes
Completed
Challenge
Sampling and analysis of microplastic pollution in Minnesota waters requires many resources and has typically required expert input. This leaves a knowledge gap in comprehensive comparisons of microplastics in lakes that have a diverse set of natural (e.g., streams or ground water) and human (e.g., agricultural or recreational) inputs in different seasons.
Impact Goal
Fill major knowledge gaps about the amount and distribution of microplastics in Minnesota lakes by implementing a citizen science approach to sampling lakes – focusing on urban, rural and remote systems – to generate a dataset that enables a more generalizable understanding of plastic pollution and informs future policy and curricular materials. This will involve developing a standardized sampling protocol and kit in collaboration with Minnesota science teachers.
Funding
Partner Organization(s)
Project Lead
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
Understanding the Amount and Distribution of Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that have broken off bigger objects (e.g., clothing, bags, containers) or are intentionally manufactured as small pieces (e.g., microbeads).
These tiny pieces of plastic are problematic. Organisms ingest microplastics, which can severely disrupt digestion, sometimes even resulting in death. Additionally, microplastics can absorb contaminants (e.g., pesticides or heavy metals), which means that microplastics are potential vehicles for transporting those contaminants within the environment and delivering them to organisms that eat those microplastics.
Microplastics pose a major threat to protecting and maintaining clean water in Minnesota. This project partnered with K–12 teachers in a citizen science effort to expand the sampling network, enabling broader lake coverage and more robust data collection to assess the distribution, concentration and ecological impacts of microplastics in Minnesota’s lakes.
Outcomes
- Developed and disseminated accessible microplastic sampling kits and curricula for middle and high school science classrooms across Minnesota
- Sampled with 10+ schools and student groups and are continuing to build partnerships with schools across the state
- Created a baseline dataset to build from to establish a database of microplastic contamination in Minnesota
Meet the Project Team
Project Lead
Melissa Maurer-Jones
Associate
Since 2021
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Additional Team Members
Project Status
Last Updated
Aug 05, 2026
Impact Location
Stillwater, Janesville, Minneapolis, Greater Minnesota