News
Nathan Eddingsaas

RIT experts are at the forefront of research that aims to better understand the impact of microplastics on the environment. RIT’s interdisciplinary microplastics team has received nearly $10 million in funding since 2020.

The new funds are on behalf of the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program’s $23 million investment to intercept and remove marine debris with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

A team of researchers at RIT is expanding its work in studying the impact of marine debris beyond the Rochester region and into nearby Great Lakes communities.

RIT is spearheading a transformative $7.3 million research hub in collaboration with the University of Rochester. The center will study the lifecycle of microplastics, including its origin as plastic waste, distribution, and movement in the Great Lakes freshwater ecosystem.

Professor Christy Tyler from the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences and Associate Professor Matthew Hoffman from the School of Mathematical Sciences secured two NOAA Marine Debris Program awards to lead interdisciplinary projects with big environmental implications.

The Globe and Mail features work by Christy Tyler, associate professor in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, and Nathan Eddingsaas, associate professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science.

A team of RIT researchers will explore how tiny particles of plastic pollution are impacting Lake Ontario thanks to new funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The multidisciplinary group will examine how microplastics are transported and transformed in the lake, where they ultimately end up and what effects they have on the ecosystem.