Waste to Waves
The 5 Gyres Institute has traveled to the 5 subtropical gyres, where plastic pollution accumulates and impacts marine life, including the fisheries we harvest to feed the world. This exhibit presents a global perspective on plastic pollution, from source to sink, with special emphasis on realistic solutions for the individual, industry and community. The exhibit includes the JUNKraft, which traveled over 2,600 miles across the North Pacific Gyre from California to Hawaii floating on 15,000 plastic bottles. There are also three 3-sided kiosks made from doors salvaged from homes destroyed by hurricane Katrina, The kiosks describe the plastic pollution issue with photographs and artifacts. The purpose of this exhibit is to bring global attention to plastic pollution accumulating in the world’s oceans. The concept of waste has no place in the 21st Century.
Waste to Waves Exhibit PDF
This three-sided kiosk contains samples of all five gyres that can be spun around by the visitor in order to view the contents. The other two sides describe the problem and solutions of plastic marine pollution. A tangled fishing net found in the North Pacific Gyre hangs in the middle. The window frames used to make the kiosk were salvaged from a home destroyed by hurricane Katrina.
Two assembly programs and an albatross bolus dissection activity are available for your school. We will come to your school to provide a basic understanding of plastic marine pollution solutions, all correlated to California science standards. The albatross bolus dissection activity allows students to observe and sort the contents from an albatross’s stomach regurgitated on Midway Atoll. These two 45-minute assemblies and classroom activities leave teachers and students with an excellent overview of the issue, but also a look at how scientists do their work and arrive at their conclusions.
Plastic marine pollution begins on land, on our beach, parking lot, or along the bank of a river or stream. A scientific survey of plastic pollution gives you the facts you need to make statements about the impact of waste in your community.