An interview with Sonia Nagorski — a professor at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.
What is a microplastic?
“A piece of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size, about the length of a grain of
rice or smaller.
Where did most of the Juneau microplastics come from?
“Given that many of the microplastics in the rain seem to be coming in from elsewhere,
I can only suspect that most of it is coming from the Pacific Ocean, because this
is the source of most of our wind and rain.
“Other researchers have looked into the mobilization of microplastics off the upper
ocean, noting that they are generally low-density, lightweight, accumulate near the
surface, and can be aerosolized easily by wind or wave action.”
“It is really important that more research goes into producing sustainable substitutes
for plastic and promoting less consumption, better waste management, recycling, and
microbial breakdown of existing plastic.”
Contact: Ned Rozell
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Director at High North Center Nord University Frode Mellemvik and Vice Chancellor
Aaron Dotson at University of Alaska Anchorage, signs the agreement in Reykjavik,
Iceland. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
The University of Fairbanks will investigate whether seaweed farms could be developed
with the harvest of rare earth elements in mind. 
The cover art for “Kuhaantí.” (Image courtesy of Goldbelt Heritage Foundation)
