This class exercise, designed for ENVS 7711, delves into the critical issue of ocean pollution and plastic waste. The assignment begins with an overview of the problem, highlighting the pervasive presence of plastic in oceans, its non-biodegradable nature, and the consumer culture driving the issue. The exercise aims to raise awareness of the hazards of plastic deposit in the oceans and the impacts of our throwaway culture, with the students expected to read course materials and conduct additional research. The 90-minute classroom activities are divided into various tasks, including an introduction with visual aids, a PowerPoint presentation, answering questions based on personal understanding, a case study, and group discussions. Learning objectives include developing research, evaluative, and analytic skills, leading to the formulation of a fact sheet and proposed solutions. The exercise covers topics such as the sources of plastic pollution, the impact on marine life, the effectiveness of recycling, and potential solutions, including regulatory legislation, awareness development, bans and restrictions, and clean-up efforts, culminating in the development of implementation procedures for the proposed solutions. The case study explores the garbage patches, their sources, and the challenges associated with the plastic trash, including the lack of biodegradability and the difficulty of proving causation. The assignment concludes with an estimation of the quantity of plastic debris in the ocean.
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