NASA Microplastics Research and Education Center (Minority University Research and Education Project Institutional Research Opportunity - MIRO)

NASA Microplastics Research and Education Center

Funder: NASA (through the Minority University Research and Education Project Institutional Research Opportunity - MIRO)

Geographic Scope: Alaska and Arctic waterways

Focus Areas:

• Microplastics research and detection in Alaskan waterways
• Traditional drinking water sources
• Urban and rural watersheds
• Glaciers
• Coastal waterways
• Ocean column analysis
• High-altitude microplastics deposition
• "One Health" approach integrating Alaska Native Traditional Ways of Knowledge with Western science methods

Eligibility:

• Students in Marine and Environmental Sciences program at APU

What They Fund:

• Internships
• Tuition stipends
• Funded research projects
• Collaborations with NASA scientists and academic institutions

Key Research Areas:
Microplastics have been detected in almost every ecosystem globally and in subsistence foods and waterways in Alaska. The center aims to determine the extent and impact of microplastics on human, animal, and ecosystem health.

Research Partners:

• Dr. Dee Barker (Principal Investigator, APU)
• Nate Anderson (APU collaborator)
• Dr. Jason Geck (APU collaborator)
• Dr. Denise Thorsen (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
• Dr. Chris Ruff (University of Michigan)
• Shelly Moore (Institute of Plastics Research, California)
• California Water Board-accredited laboratory for microplastics detection

Infrastructure:

• Alaska and Arctic Waterways Analytics (AAWA) lab at APU
• Remote sensing capabilities for ocean surface anomalies
• NASA SWOT satellite system integration (polar regions)

Program Goals:

• Enhance capabilities in the sciences
• Increase workforce diversity
• Support APU's goal to serve Alaskan communities in science programs
• Provide culturally responsive educational programs in partnership with students, communities, and tribal partners